[Doggie 1]

I have an old (one previous owner) Austin 1800 in the shed, that has been parked there for several years and is in need of a full restoration.
I drove it in there many years ago with a blown head gasket, after buying it for the princely sum of $375 and it hasn't moved since, but I've always had it in the back of my mind to do it up "one day."
I even sold it once on Ebay for $400 but the buyer paid me then didn't come to pick it up.
About a year later he sent me an email saying he had been away (????) but could he come now to get it.
I said yes, but he never showed.
So I figure I'm just meant to keep this car.
Anyhow, I've been aware for quite some time that there was an 1800 "guru" in Perth but he'd disappeared and no one knew where he was.
Just before Christmas I found him and he's a really nice guy and very interesting to talk to. What he doesn't know about Austin 1800s isn't worth knowing.
He's also a qualified motor trimmer (specialising in, you guessed it, Austin 1800s).
I think I might do something soon to get the old girl back on the road and thought I'd post a couple of photos as she is now.
It's a 1969 model, Mk 11, Sugarcane in colour with blue trim.
This guy has even designed & developed an air conditioning system for them to make them suitable for Perth 
It brings back memories for me as my dad had an MG 1100 in England when I ws a kid, then when we first came to Australia he bought a Mini 1100K (an Australian model) which we had for a while.

[Shambles]

I wish I had that as a project. I love those 1800s 

[Doggie 1]

Wouldn't they be a dime a dozen in the U.K.?
There are a few over here but I would have thought there'd be heaps in England.
I would actually like to get a ute (pick up) version. I nearly bought one many, many years ago for $700 but I'd have to pay a lot more than that these days as they are a bit sought-after.

[Shambles]

I haven't seen one on the road in over 20 years

Maybe they're all in folk's garages

[Doggie 1]

I guess that generally speaking, we don't have the same rust issues in Australia which might explain it.
Check out  http://landcrabs.proboards.com/index.cgi if you're interested. It's based in the U.K. 
I know this a Mini, and it's red, and it has stickers all over it, and mine's an 1800, and it's sugarcane, and it won't have stickers all over it.
But other than than it's pretty identical 
I actually like the quality of the restoration of this U.K. Mini and would like to replicate that quality in mine if possible.

[ElleB]

Wow , the old "land crab"!!!
 My dad bought the Mk1, our first new car.... so comfortable to travel in as kids.... had it smashed and written off on Christmas Eve 1968, replaced it with a Mk2, which we had for a good few years after his passing in 1969.
 I was on "P " plates,    they had just come in....had a very close... experience in it driving  with a car load of college mates to Wagga Wagga, for inter college basketball. We were 4 up and I went to pass a truck going up a hill dropped it back a gear and got half way past this semi..... the old girl then ran out of "puff ".... steep drop the the right and rise on the left, the road was cut into the side of the hill. Yep.... you guessed it, another semi came round a corner and was travelling downhill towards us ....

*)#&%()*

 Pulled over to the right as far as the road would allow, no space to drop back behind the semi I was passing....( I think thet the "truckie" saw the situation and eased off and dropped back...) so there we were, stationary, with this semi bearing down........hearts pumping...prayers being said..
  The approaching semi weaved his way between us and the uphill bound truck, with the aplomb of a F1 driver......the Austin 1800 rocked.... we all had our eyes closed..... but... survived..

  No one said a word for 30 minutes....

 When we got to our destination,  we inspected the back passangers corner of the vehicle....
 Wow... ... there was a thick black line on the corner of the chrome bumper bar....likely from the mud flaps  or tyre of the truck as it "brushed" past!!!.

 Wiped it off with a little "elbow grease" and ....."mum's the word" !!!!
 ( she still does not know, to this day!!!) 

 Still see the occassional one over here in the East....I will keep an eye out for a ute..., you never know!!!

Anyway, thanks for the "memory"..  as if I needed to relive it !!!   

Great story my Dad have a pale green mk2 his first new car.

[Dazzler]

Wow. That was amazing Tony  (wasn't your time) 

[2i30s]

a Friend of mine had a Tasman for his first car [20+ years ago]with a straight six engine in it, they look very similar to the Austin 1800.

[Asterix]

That Austin sure do need an overhaul.

I do remember them from my (very) young days.

[Doggie 1]

 When we got to our destination,  we inspected the back passangers corner of the vehicle....
 Wow... ... there was a thick black line on the corner of the chrome bumper bar....likely from the mud flaps  or tyre of the truck as it "brushed" past!!!.

 Wiped it off with a little "elbow grease" and ....."mum's the word" !!!!
 ( she still does not know, to this day!!!) 

 

Probably had to clean the seats too I imagine 

[Doggie 1]

There is a Jaguar specialist in New South Wales called Graeme Lord and he has/had an Austin 1800 ute which he did up quite nicely:

[Dazzler]

Not bad for a car of that age... My Stepdad was a BMC dealer for a while selling Minis Morris 1100 and Austin 1800 ( I was in primary school)

He and his brother (who owned the business jointly at the time) seemed to swap brands quite a bit ..While I was at school (at different times) they sold BMC, VW, Volvo, Lotus, Jensen and maybe a couple of others I can't remember 

[Doggie 1]

Not bad for a car of that age... My Stepdad was a BMC dealer for a while selling Minis Morris 1100 and Austin 1800 ( I was in primary school)

He and his brother (who owned the business jointly at the time) seemed to swap brands quite a bit ..While I was at school (at different times) they sold BMC, VW, Volvo, Lotus, Jensen and maybe a couple of others I can't remember 

Some interesting marques there - I bet you didn't mind getting dropped off at school!
My dad also sold the BMC range for a while in Perth while I was at primary school. I'm trying to think of the name of the dealership but can't yet (is that old age  )
but it was on Stirling Highway, Nedlands. It will come to me........don't you hate that?

[Dazzler]

My Stepdad and His Brother had Bessant Motors (his brother was Robin Bessant who used to race Mustangs amongst other things)

Yeah, we had lots of nice cars to ride around in.. Jaguars and even a really nice S type Valiant with the round spare wheel thing on the boot and the fins and stuff 

[ElleB]

"R" Model with the wheel, "S" with the chrome ring...... we have a good smattering of them in the Chrysler club, in fact they are more sought after now, along with anything up to the CM because members, as they age, are finding it more difficult to drive the older ones, like my '35. They still want to be participating in the club activities, so the more "modern" vehicles are the way to go...and it still keeps the marque out there...

Not me, I will stick with the '35..... even if I am 60..

[Dazzler]

"R" Model with the wheel, "S" with the chrome ring......

I remember it being flash It could have been an "R" it was 40+ years ago..

[Eureka]

Just saw this thread.  In the 70s a friend had an Austin 1800, dark red.  Once he drove to Broken Hill, with me and another friend.  There, one of the rear suspension units failed.  I think it was the left.  A local saw us, offered to help, got a replacement unit from a wrecker, I think, put it on for us and we were good to go.

I remember that the rear seat had heaps of leg room. 

That black ute looks nice.

And the pic of yours is a lesson on the benefits of storing an old car, for a long time, in watertight surrounds.   

I am also reminded of seeing Morris 1100s etc bearing window stickers (or transfers?) that said "This car floats on fluid".

[Doggie 1]

That's right. It's the hydrolastic suspension.

[Just Rick]

Like most others have great memories and a nightmare about the little 1800,reat memories was the mates Mk11 Auto,this thing had all the bells and whistle,Con he was Greek and an only son,so Mum and Dad funded his lavish little car,like driving around in a lounge room and just as comfortable.

In 74 mate and I were riding from Syd to Melb,stopped at Yass roadhouse at the bottom of the range(all changed now)had a meal,came out,and noticed an old couple who had been in having a meal,get in there 1800,not looking just belted out onto the hwy,everyone was screaming at them to stop,coming down the hill full tilt was a Empty Greyhound Coach(roadhouse was well before the township then)straight over the top,flattened the car,won't go into anymore detail,other than to say they had to pry the coach drivers fingers off the wheel,he was ashen grey,all he kept saying was they didn't even look,over and over,couldn't look at an 1800 for many years after that without having nightmares and I'll admit it breaking down,stuffed if I know how emergency crews do it day in day out.

[Doggie 1]

They just do it day in and day out Rick and then have problems later, when they stop, like PTSD etc.
A sad story.

[Just Rick]

Not bad for a car of that age... My Stepdad was a BMC dealer for a while selling Minis Morris 1100 and Austin 1800 ( I was in primary school)

He and his brother (who owned the business jointly at the time) seemed to swap brands quite a bit ..While I was at school (at different times) they sold BMC, VW, Volvo, Lotus, Jensen and maybe a couple of others I can't remember 

Now there's a car I would like the Jensen Interceptor

[Dazzler]

Not bad for a car of that age... My Stepdad was a BMC dealer for a while selling Minis Morris 1100 and Austin 1800 ( I was in primary school)

He and his brother (who owned the business jointly at the time) seemed to swap brands quite a bit ..While I was at school (at different times) they sold BMC, VW, Volvo, Lotus, Jensen and maybe a couple of others I can't remember 

Now there's a car I would like the Jensen Interceptor

There were several at the Devonport car show this year (blast from the past) 

[Eureka]

Slightly off-topic, but today I saw a 1960's Beetle looking really nice.  Cream paint, whitewalls.  A Beetle could be a really practical, usable classic.

(My memory is jogged: a friend who came from Daylesford - 25 or so years ago we went for a drive in his sister and bro-in-law's very early 1950's Beetle convertible.  Genuine article, not a Beetle with the roof chopped off.  Somehow, we lost one or two hubcaps and could not find them.  Some time later, I was told that the car was sold to a VW dealer from Sydney.)

[Keith]

I was just 17 and working in a factory as an apprentice. Passed my driving test and 2 weeks later, as i was a available and least productive, i found myself driving the gaffers Jensen FF home for him as he was called away on business and the factory was insecure.

[Doggie 1]

There are a couple of nicely restored VWs around where I live.
A very nice Beetle and a VW Kombi ute split screen.
They are worth big dollars over here.

[Eureka]

Keith - I can't really say why, but there must be a lot of great stories from the English car and motorbike factories.

DB - a few years ago I was driving out one of the freeways here and going in the other way there was a Kombi with an old Esso (I think) sign on the side.  It looked like a genuine 1950s/1960s ex-commercial. 

The old VWs, especially Kombis (???) are worth some real $$$, I think.  There is something really cool about them. 

[Doggie 1]

Very true. 

[Surferdude]

Not bad for a car of that age... My Stepdad was a BMC dealer for a while selling Minis Morris 1100 and Austin 1800 ( I was in primary school)

He and his brother (who owned the business jointly at the time) seemed to swap brands quite a bit ..While I was at school (at different times) they sold BMC, VW, Volvo, Lotus, Jensen and maybe a couple of others I can't remember 

Now there's a car I would like the Jensen Interceptor

There were several at the Devonport car show this year (blast from the past) 

Isn't that a Jensen Interceptor that Inspector Lynley drives?

[Dazzler]

That was a Bristol...

Sorry, in the early series it was a Jensen Interceptor