Austin 8 1946 (G) SALOON 4Door

Wonderfully correct and original very few owners; only 49,700 miles lots of history a proper Forties time capsule successor to the muchloved Seven, the Austin Eight was another excellent little car but had the misfortune to be launched in early 1939, just a few months before Germany invaded Poland, sparking off an unfortunate chain of events that would soon turn every car plant into a munitions factory. speed was a respectable 60mph.Some 20,000 were made, mainly for military and government use, before production was halted in 1942, over half of them saloons and the rest tourers. The Eight was brought back into production from late 1945 until 1947, but only in fourdoor saloon form, another 36,000 of these being sold.we really rate this car here as it is so charming original and I feel if I had to do a vintage rally this would be a cracking car to do it in as I have confidence in its ability to get to me where I expected to go .First registered in Birmingham in August 1946, this wonderful fourdoor saloon has had just five owners from new, according to the V5C, and shows only 49,699 miles on the clock which is believed to be correct and is certainly reflected by the overall condition of the car.A buff logbook shows that by 1958 it was owned by a Mr F Breakwell of Rednal (presumably the first owner) who kept it right up until 1982. A Shell service book shows that he had the car serviced every year from 1959 1968 by Tessall Garage of Birmingham, during which time the mileage crept up from 34,355 to 41,695. In 1982 the car was acquired by a Mr B Jenkins of Northfield at which point it had been laid up since 1971, judging by the 19 old tax discs on file. There are lots of invoices to suggest a light restoration and thorough recommissioning over the next couple of years before the car passed an MOT in 1985, at which point it was showing 44,166 miles.In 1987 ownership passed to a Mr WG Morris of Tamworth, moving to a Mr M Stevens of Bedworth in 1999 and then to a Mr R Luddington of Bedford in 2001, a valuation certificate showing that it was insured for £3,500 in 2002 a hefty sum for such a car back then.Mr Luddington kept the car for the next 15 years, invoices showing that it was serviced by Allon White of Beds in May 2005 at 46,932 miles; had a cylinder head rebuild in June 2012; was fitted with LED indicator bulbs in 2013 and the gearbox was reconditioned and a new clutch kit fitted in 2015. Inertiareel seatbelts were also fitted for safety reasons.The . He car drives as well as it looks and it has certainly been starting promptly and running nicely ,with healthy 35psi oil pressure.Many old MOTs show that it has only covered some 5,500 miles over the last 40 years and the sub50k miles currently displayed seems entirely credible. It comes with a large and interesing history file (some of it shown in the photos), including period road tests and much useful technical literature relating to the model.As you can see in the photos, this gorgeous little Eight is a proper Forties time capsule with that priceless patina that only comes from decades of careful use. So take a break from the modern world and all it stresses and strains and step back into the 40s and a slower pace of life.