Topic: British saloon on Austin A40 Sports base?

[neilshouse]

Does anyone know anything about this car?

Based on an Austin A40 sports.

[SACO]

About the Austin A40, maybe a relationship with this car (a Bristol ? )

[nicanary]

This photo is the subject of much debate on another forum. I show an enlarged section of a bigger image of parked cars in an English market town.

Many have suggested a Lancia Aurelia\ but I doubt it. Not a Vanguard or a Pobeda. Any ideas?

[Wendax]

With its V-shaped flat windshields and the sliding windows in the doors it looks like a home-built body to me.

[nicanary]

Thanks. I agree with you, unless it's a temporary body fitted to a prototype chassis. It has an odd protruding radiator grille similar to an Austin of the period. Maybe the grille came from a scrapyard!

[Wendax]

I guess a prototype wouldn't have such a huge roof rack. 

[neilshouse]

Regarding the Britischer Eigenbau

It reminds me of this, I don't know who built it but it's said to be based on an Austin A40 Sports

[gte4289]

1952 Austin A40 Sports 'Birch Special', offered for sale last year in Cadmore End, UK:

This is a very unusual one-off 'Special' motor car. It started out life being first registered on the 12th May 1952, as a standard Austin A40 Sports. That car is the aluminium Jenson bodied four-seater convertible, with the Austin A40 Somerset chassis and running gear. Just over 3000 Austin A40 Sports were made in the early 1950's.

This A40 Sports has been modified and has been referred to as the 'Birch Special'. Its original chassis has been lengthened by approx 12" and it has a modified saloon body fitted with a sliding sunroof. I measured the wheelbase of an original A40 Sports at around 236cm. This 'Special' has a wheelbase of around 260cm. The front wings and scuttle are modified and lengthened aluminium versions of the standard original Sports wings, the bonnet is fibreglass with a A30 front grille and the doors are original aluminum. The rear wings look similar to the standard Sports rear wings, but the rear boot and roof structure is a one off in fibreglass. The petrol tank inside the boot is bespoke.

The car does not run but the 1200cc pre-B Series engine, with its twin SU carbs, does turn over by hand...

No mention of when or by whom the modifications were made.

[barrett]

I believe the car was built by a Dr Birch in Southampton in the late 50s or early 60s, but I would have to check. I don't think there are any period reports of the car to confirm.

[neilshouse]

Thank you for the information, much appreciated.