Registration No: BF 8797
Chassis No: 5756L6
MOT: Exempt

• Originally delivered to Kopenhagen, Denmark
• Fitted with a rare Tickford All-Weather Saloon body by Salmons
• Full ownership history from new
• Presented in excellent condition mechanically and cosmetically
• Recent expenditure of £23,000, including complete engine overhaul

Introduced in 1927, the Sixteen Six (16/6) and its derivatives formed a staple part of Austin’s model range for the next decade. Capitalising on the vogue for six-cylinder engines and the greater refinement and performance they implied, the newcomer borrowed heavily from its 12/4 siblings but employed a smoother 2249cc straight-six in place of their coarser, smaller capacity, four-cylinder units. Updated over time, the Sixteen Six gained synchromesh on second gear (as well as third and fourth) for 1935 not to mention a facelift complete with a painted radiator shell and spare wheel-encompassing boot. Riding on semi-elliptic leaf-sprung suspension and equipped with four-wheel drum brakes, the Austin was capable of some 60mph. Available in a variety of five- and seven-seater saloon guises and with the option of a larger 2510cc powerplant, some 12,731 were made up until 1937. Though, today survivors are comparatively few and far between.

This particular Austin Sixteen Light Six All-Weather Saloon was originally ordered by K.M. Laursen & Co, who were a Premier Car Dealership in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was first registered on March 12, 1929 and delivered to its first owner, cork manufacturer Kr. Pedersen. The Car Body and Chassis Numbers are dated from around November 1928 and this is confirmed by door handles and other parts all stamped with dates in Nov 1928. Interestingly the car was fitted with what must be one of the earliest new (non-H gated) gearboxes, as this is also stamped Nov 1928. In 1938 the car was re-registered to a grocer, Kr V.A. Michelsen, Amager of Landevej 15 Copenhagen, which was close to the airport. During WW2 the car was thankfully stored without damage, but unfortunately, the owner appears to have had been unwell and died in the beginning of the fifties. His widow kept the car and over the following years used it very little. The car was then bought by Count Preben Ahlefeldt-Laurvig Bille, whose family still owns the beautiful Egeskov Castle on the island of Fyn, which dates from 1405. In 1967 the count sold the car to Hans Sørensen in North Seeland who did some unlisted work on the car and who then sold the car to a baker on the small island in Kattegat Læsø, who bought it as an investment. A few years later the Tickford was again sold for long term ownership to Asbjøm Rømn-Simonsen, who owned the car from 1980 till 1998. In 1998 Asbjøm decided to sell the car and although many wanted to own it, unfortunately, no one in Denmark wanted to pay the asking price! It was then that a well known Irish car collector, Jim Boland, decided to add it to his large collection of historic vehicles. After Mr Boland’s death, his family put the car up for auction in 2018 where the current vendor acquired the Austin.

Since this acquisition, the car has undergone a full mechanical, electrical and brightwork overhaul costing well over £23,000 with invoices for all the works completed being kept on file. The engine was completely overhauled by the well-respected engineering company, Formhall Racing at a cost of over £12,000, including new pistons, timing chain, valves and bearings and comes with a “Lifetime Warranty”. The car was also treated to a new clutch, radiator, water pump, starter motor and inlet & exhaust manifolds. Furthermore, all brightwork was nickel plated at a cost of over £2,000 and the rear bearings and seals were also replaced.

According to the vendor, the Austin runs and drives beautifully and is presented in excellent condition, ready to give the next owner years of enjoyment.

For more information, please contact:
Julian Pinkster
julian.pinkster@handh.co.uk
07889 223 904