1950 AUSTIN A-70 HAMPSHIRE. YOU WON'T EVER FIND ONE OF THESE AT YOUR LOCAL CARS AND COFFEE. AND YOU WON'T FIND ANY CAR THERE RESTORED TO THIS LEVEL EITHER. THERE WERE ONLY 2 PRODUCED FOR THE NORTH AMERICAN MARKET AS LEFT-HAND DRIVE VEHICLES.

THEY WERE ONLY BROUGHT INTO CANADA BECAUSE OF THE BIG ENGINE AS AMERICA WOULD NOT ACCEPT THEM. ONE IS SITTING IN A MUSEUM IN CALIFORNIA AND I OWN THE OTHER. THIS CAR HAS HAD AN EXTENSIVE RESTORATION AND IT WAS COMPLETED ONLY A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

NO EXPENSE WAS SPARED. IT RETAINS ITS ORIGINAL 2199CC ENGINE. THIS WAS A BIG ENGINE FOR THE TIME PERIOD. THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY REBUILT AND WHEN I SAY IT RUNS GREAT THAT IS PROBABLY AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

THERE IS NO SMOKE OUT OF THE EXHAUST AND THERE ARE NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF LEAKING. THERE ARE ALSO NO FUNNY NOISES. THE TRANSMISSION WAS UPGRADED TO A TOYOTA 5 SPEED. SO NOW IT IS A CAR THAT CAN EASILY BE DRIVEN DOWN A HIGHWAY.

AT THAT TIME THE COLUMN SHIFT WAS MOVED TO THE FLOOR. AT THAT TIME A SMALL HYDRAULIC RESERVOIR WAS ADDED UNDER THE DRIVERS FLOOR. THERE WAS A SMALL ACCESS HOLE MADE IN THE FLOOR FOR EASY ACCESS. I DO HAVE MANY ADDITIONAL PICTURES FOR THIS CAR AND THIS WOULD BE ONE OF THEM.

THIS CAR IS A BLAST TO DRIVE AS IT RUNS AND SHIFTS GREAT. THE BRAKES ARE HIGH AND STOP THE CAR VERY WELL. THERE ARE NO SUSPENSION ISSUES AS THERE ARE NO NOISES OR ANY SHAKING WHEN YOU GO OVER BUMPS. THE DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE HAS COME LOOSE SO YOU SEE IT FACING DOWN.

I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE UPHOLSTERY SHOP TO TAKE OFF THE DOOR PANEL SO IT CAN BE RESCREWED IN. IT WILL BE FIXED BEFORE THE CAR IS SOLD. THE WHEELS WERE PAINTED TO MATCH THE REST OF THE CAR AND THEY LOOK GREAT.

THE TIRES ARE LIKE NEW AS THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY DRY ROT OR CRACKING AT ALL. THE EXTERIOR IS NOTHING SHORT OF AMAZING. THE CAR WAS DISASSEMBLED COMPLETELY AND EACH PANEL WAS STRIPPED. ALL THE GLASS AND RUBBERS WERE TAKEN OFF AS WELL.THERE IS NOT A DROP OF BODY FILLER AND THERE IS NOT A RIPPLE IN THE CAR.