1950 Austin A40 Devon
No Reserve

Registration No: JNP 570
Chassis No: GS2501760
MOT: Exempt

• A clean example that was subject to a comprehensive overhaul in the late 80s / early 90s
• Floor gearchange example
• Sporting a delightful original 'special order' interior
• Subject to recent cylinder head overhaul and attention to the bodywork

Introduced in 1947, the A40 was Austin's first 'clean sheet' post-WW2 family saloon design. Based on a sturdy chassis frame equipped with independent front suspension, a 'live' rear axle and four-wheel drum brakes, the newcomer was powered by a 1200cc OHV four-cylinder engine allied to a four-speed manual transmission. With 40bhp on tap, it was reputedly capable of over 70mph. Once production was in full swing and the principal Devon (four-door) and Dorset (two-door) saloon models firmly established, other variants joined the A40 line-up including a Jensen-designed sports four-seater, 10cwt Pickup, 10cwt Van and Estate car (or 'Countryman' as it was known).

First registered on 29^th July 1950, ‘JNP 570’ is a rare example of an Austin A40 Devon, that was supplied from new in the attractive colour scheme of Black over a special order Grey interior with a rare Smiths clock rear-view mirror and a floor-change gearbox. Little is known of the early history of the Austin, however, it has been evidently very well looked after and has retained much of its original interior, even following a comprehensive body restoration during the late 1980s / early 1990s.

Purchased by the vendor in 2015, ‘JNP 570’ has been cherished as part of a small private collection and has been maintained impeccably throughout his period of ownership. Recent works include a cylinder head overhaul during which hardened valve seats were fitted so that the car could comfortably be run on unleaded petrol. The front of the body has received much attention to the metalwork and paint. Now offered at No Reserve at our Duxford auction, the Austin is described as being in ‘very good’ order all round and will instantly transport any prospective owner back to an age when these now rare cars were de rigueur on the streets of Britain.

PLEASE NOTE: A previous owner has been in contact and described that this A40 Devon is a very well known car with an extensive history file.

We are indebted to previous owner, Mr David Whyley for his description:

The car was first registered on 29^th July 1950 to Victor Morral of the Motor House Broadway Road Evesham and in the early 1980’s, the car was then taken in payment for a job by a worker at a house in the Evesham area. It would later be offered for Auction at a Wolverhampton car auction and then Trevor Bradley acquired it on the 20th March 1981 when it was re-commissioned for the road. David and Anne Whyley bought it from him on 30/05/8 when it had covered just 49,000 miles. David and Anne would be custodians of the A40 for thirty years during which time it would be featured in many magazine articles and documentaries including "The Car is the Star". David also overhauled the engine at 89,000 miles and replaced all of the chromework with new old stock fittings. David is a highly regarded Austin historian and described 'JNP 570' as "one of the best preserved examples left in existence today."

For more information, please contact:
Lucas Gomersall
lucas.gomersall@handh.co.uk
07484 082430