1934 Austin 10 Ripley Sports Tourer

Car Number: GE 45

How nice to find a pre-war four seat tourer with four separate doors, which is not only easy to run, thanks to the excellent support in advice and spares from the Austin Ten Driver’s Club, but it is fun to drive and less as expensive than similar exotica.

First sold in 1934, the original Ripley models cars had uprated mechanicals to give 30bhp. The engine would have had a high lift cam, aluminium head, down draft carburettor and was coupled to a close ratio gearbox. Indeed some were sold to the Derbyshire Constabulary as pursuit vehicles in 1938.

This particular motor car was apparently number 45 of 120 Ripleys built and was first registered in 1935. It was found in a Dorset builder’s yard in the 1970s, stored by the new owner for about ten years , then rebuilt from the chassis up. The engine and gearbox were beyond redemption so it is likely that standard units were used as replacement. The Austin was returned to the road in 1989 by the same family whom are offering it for sale due to lack of use.

The coachwork is described as sound and the leather upholstery is clearly very good, with particularly smart wooden dashboard holding the correct array of instruments. The coachwork and actual turquoise blue paintwork would benefit from improvement. Hood and side screens are intact and serviceable. A new petrol pump was fitted in 2020, and two mechanical AC pumps are included in the sale.

The Ripley comes with a V5C registration certificate and its replacement, a handbook, plus a Book of The Austin Ten, together with further technical notes, a wiring diagram and photos of the restoration. Numerous spare parts will also be offered with the Ripley, including parts for the headlamps and fuel pump, gaskets, thrust bearings, regulators and spark plugs, a brass petrol tank, three wire wheels, a gearbox, a front axle assembly, and an oil pressure gauge.

SOLD