1939 | Austin 18

From time to time a car comes along that is truly unique. In the history file for FXD 177 is a copy of Motor Magazine for the week ending Christmas day 1965.

Along with classified ads for new ‘Sunbeam Tigers for immediate delivery' and a 1965 E'Type Jaguar roadster with just 7,300 miles at a modest £1845 is a six page feature on our Austin 18 Norfolk.

In their road test article 51/65 Motor's tester asks

"Were those the days?” comparing a ‘near perfect' then 26 year old Austin with just 10,500 miles to cars of 1965 standards and values.

Here's the thing. Some 59 years later, this astonishing museum piece has covered just another 1600 miles. The article is quite amusing, describing the Norfolk as

"big, high, ponderous, sluggish and heavy but …… after a hundred miles the car felt quite normal”

An 85 year old car with a year's typical mileage is pretty unusual, but this car had an unusual beginning. It was bought new by Sir Herbert Benjamin Cohen, 2nd Baronet, Major and Barrister. He bought the Austin just two months before the outbreak of the Second World War when he was already 65 years old. It is suspected that the car was bought for one of his sons to use, who sadly son perished in 1943. The car was unused through the war and not put back on the road until 1956. The Austin was kept by the family, hardly used until 1963. Hence the 10,500 miles when Motor tested it two years later. It was then part of the Sharpe family Collection in Essex and kept along with many other cars of the era at their garage in Wickford and their motor museum in Ramsgate. That's probably how Motor came across it.

A subsequent owner had some paintwork done and a new carpet, but this car has the most original leather interior we are ever likely to see in a pre-war car.




The Austin has a smooth six-pot side valve engine which ticks over like a sewing machine. The four speed gearbox with synchro on all but first and reverse is a delight to use and the ride is extremely comfortable. This example has a factory fitted steel sliding sunroof. Unfortunately, moths have done some damage in a few areas, but nothing our own trim shop could not sympathetically put right. The words ‘time warp' don't really do this car justice. Underneath it is in quite incredible condition and appears to have its original factory supplied spare wheel.

It belongs in an episode of Inspector Foyle or Miss Marple and in all seriousness, this is the sort of original period condition that should make it a prime candidate for lucrative film and TV hire.




An unrepeatable gem.