1952 Austin A40 Sports Convertible

Built in 1952, this left-hand-drive Austin A40 Sports is believed to have spent the first four decades of its life somewhere in the US of A, before being repatriated in September 1992 by Austin droptop enthusiast Jeremy Gibbs.

It has had two further UK owners since, the last keeping the car as part of his collection for over 26 years.

The last three decades in UK ownership hasn’t stopped the Austin adding to its story. We understand that it has spent time in a museum in Sweden as well as a spell on loan to the Haynes International Motor Museum in Somerset. It was also in Geneva for a year or so with the owner’s daughter.

The car has had a repaint some while ago and the original engine has been replaced with a later 1500cc unit fed through a single SU carburettor. Otherwise, it is a very original car in a good condition for its age.

Now in his eighties, the collector is slimming down his garage to just the cars that he uses day to day and this gives a new owner the chance to enjoy this charming little car and make improvements as they see fit.

We think that the car was originally a slightly more muted Spring Green colour, but has been repainted in a brighter and more eye-catching Apple Green some while ago.

The paintwork looks good from 10 feet away (3m in new money) but up close you can see some micro blistering here and there as well as a number of small dings, dents, scrapes, chips and flaking paint around the body.

There’s no major damage that we could see though, and for a 70 year old car, it looks amazing and still turns heads out on the road.

The chrome bumpers are a little pitted here and there, and the front overriders in particular are starting to corrode. The other brightwork fittings and trims are presentable and in reasonable condition - including the rear luggage rack, which would look good sporting a wicker picnic hamper.

The beige folding roof fabric is only a year or two old and looks very tidy and well-fitted.

The A40 Sports sits on 16-inch painted steel wheels with chrome hubcaps. The paint on the rims is a little tired and flaking in places but the hubcaps look bright with just the odd tarnishing mark. All four corners are fitted with Firestone white walled tyres.

The look of the inside of a convertible is as important as the exterior - and this interior appears largely original with a superb patina across the leather seats, which are beige with a pale green piping. They are still comfortable and the rear seats offer more than just a +2 accommodation - even with the hood up.

The vinyl-covered dashboard and banjo-spoke steering wheel are original too, complementing the character of the seats. This being a later Sports model it has the column-shift for the 4-speed gearbox. It does, however, still have a foot-operated headlamp hi-low beam switch. A switch for a Kenlowe fan has been added discreetly under the dash.

The carpets look as though they’ve been replaced fairly recently, but are well fitted and in keeping with the rest of the interior. As for the folding roof, the frame is newly reconditioned and painted gloss black, blending in nicely with the black lining of the new hood.

The rear boot space is bare and rather untidy looking but is solid underneath. The addition of some carpeting or a simple lining would make a huge difference and be more suitable for decent luggage. A spare wheel and wheel brace are housed inside along with a few spares.

The engine starts nicely on the button (literally) and idles smoothly once warm. It’s no longer the original 1200cc motor but a later 1500cc unit fed by a single SU carb with pancake air filter rather than a twin setup.

We imagine that this offers more power than the earlier engine but performance could be further improved by adding another carburettor - subject of course to the transmission and brakes being up to it. The vendor reports that what is there currently provides a smooth, powerful and enjoyable driving experience.

The undersides look solid and undamaged. There is some surface rust breaking through the older underseal coating on the chassis and floor pans, but the car is ultimately very solid. The exhaust looks serviceable with a newly fashioned rear hanger.

The Austin’s last MoT expired in August 2012 and as exemption for classic cars didn’t come in until 2018, it is evident that the car spent several years off the road during the last decade.

The car comes with a large history file - too much to include in our gallery - which the new owner can enjoy working through to piece together more of the car’s story.

Of note are the import documents and invoices for parts from the Austin Counties Car Club - and also more recent bills from the Haynes International Motor Museum who also have a workshop that welcomes external customers’ cars.

During the course of 2020, they gave the car a carburettor service and tune up, a flywheel reconditioning, new clutch and an overhaul to the rear brakes.

Other items coming with the car include some period manuals, car club magazines and some old photographs of the car.

Sometimes cars like the Austin A40 Sports make more sense as classics than perhaps they did when they were new. A compact and stylish sports convertible with a body that won’t rust and economical mechanicals that are easy to maintain, taken from a popular saloon car of the period, has a lot now going for it.

Even though it wasn’t so much of a hit Stateside, the Austin’s format is far better suited to the UK’s A and B-road network and the A40 Sports has become something of a sought-after design icon.

This example, one of only 20 or so surviving in the UK, has been well maintained mechanically and has a beautifully original interior. The exterior would benefit from a good strip-down and repaint, but it is very usable in its current state and still turns heads when out and about on the road.

We think this rare Austin A40 Sports convertible will sell for between £13,000 and £16,000 and would make a charming addition to any collection.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Lymington, Hampshire; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.