1938 Austin 18/6

The sellers have only owned it for around nine months, but it has delighted them in this short time with its reliability and sheer usability; it just sits in the corner making no demands, yet is always ready and willing to join them in a spontaneous adventure!

The seller describes the blue-over-black coachwork as “respectable”, a modest sleight of hand prompted by the presence of a few stone chips here and there (primarily on the rear wheelarches) alongside the odd small ding; this is a serviceable, honest example of the breed rather than a concours trailer queen, a car you can jump into and park anywhere without fear of an inconsiderate driver ruining a pristine finish in the car-park. And a bright change from the frequent all-black examples.

The boot lid has clearly seen some filler in the past and suffers from the odd bubble and dent; a fastidious owner might want to restore it properly at some point in the future. Other than that, the bodywork looks largely original, with only a few scratches having been touched up here and there.

Of course, most descriptions of this ilk are thinly disguised puff pieces carefully crafted to keep the seller out of the civil courts while simultaneously preparing the unlucky new owner for a decade of pain while restoring a rotten bodyshell. Hopefully you know us better than that by now; when we say that the problems extend only to a few stone chips and the odd ding, that is exactly what we mean; the seller tells us that there is no rust to speak of other than a light dusting on the underside and the chassis is solid and completely free of rot, as are the running boards.

The (extensive) exterior chromework is all in fine order.

The blue leather interior looks to be in very good order and we are told that it is original, which is quite some feat for a car that is celebrating its eightieth birthday. The rear bench seat, in particular, looks almost untouched, although the two rear ‘jump’ seats are a bit more worn.

The dashboard and dials are in similarly good order and are also said to be original. Some light patination is there, of course, but it’s a charming place to be and can be enjoyed in its current, unmolested condition for many, many years to come.

Again, an exacting owner with a mind-set that tilts towards the concours might want to consider refurbishing the painted steel dashboard and gear lever. 

The seller tells us that the big Austin fired up first time this morning after three weeks of slumber. No special attention was needed; just a flick of the switch saw the 2.5-litre straight six leap into action after which it quickly settled into a steady tickover with no fuss, no drama, and no smoke.

That it is so undemanding is partly due to solid engineering but a contributory factor must be a recent comprehensive service that included a new battery and control box. Thus fettled, the old girl is ready for another few years of steady, unremarkable service – and lest you think we’re damning with faint praise, undemanding, steady and unremarkable are exactly what you should be looking for when you’re considering buying a vintage car…

The four-speed gearbox – complete with synchromesh on the top three gears – changes sweetly and without effort, and the rod-operating Girling brakes bring it to a halt in a majestic, if not abrupt, fashion. The exhaust and tyres are in good order, and the handbrake operates as it should.

The underbonnet area is honest in appearance, with just some light surface rust to some of the components and surfaces.

The car comes with an original handbook but unfortunately little else by way of paperwork. It is important, therefore, that potential bidders set their bids based on the car’s current condition. To help that, there is an extremely comprehensive Gallery with plentiful views of the underside included.

The modest price of vintage cars never ceases to amaze us, with relatively small sums capable of bringing extraordinarily high levels of cool to your motoring world - and this lovely old Austin 18 is no exception. We expect this solid, honest example to sell for around £10,000, which seems an absurdly small amount to pay for a solid, seven-seater car with suicide rear doors, a proper starting handle, and a straight-six engine under the bonnet. (or look at it another way: the world’s first 7-seat MPV with reach-adjustable steering wheel…probably)

And, while the purchase price might be modest, good vintage cars are a safe place to keep your money; they might not appreciate in the same way as some more modern and fashionable metal, but then they’re less likely to be a flash-in-the-pan, either…

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen at the vendor’s premises in Lincoln; 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’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.