LocostUSA.com

Chuck, I did a little more digging, and rarity indeed. According to the Austin 8 register there are only 4 known LHD / US Spec 8's in existence. I won't know if this is one of the 4 or a previously unknown car until I see the number plates.

Regardless of number, this one surely lost value with the "hot rod" engine swap with the Spridget motor.

Spridget and hot rod should never be used in the same sentence, but a base A Series had double the hp of a prewar Austin side valve motor.

_________________
Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216

One of four in good ol' USA is certainly rare. I had no idea. Even with the hot-rod powertrain, I wouldn't take it any further away from what it is. Even being rare, it probably isn't a very valuable car.

It is your car now, so do what you will. We'll be here to follow you whatever you decide to do.

_________________
Chuck.

“Any suspension will work if you don’t let it.” - Colin Chapman

Visit my ongoing MGB Rustoration log: over HERE

Or my Wankel powered Locost log : over HERE

And don't forget my Cushman Truckster resto Locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=17766

Not very valuable. The 8 was kind of the red headed stepchild of the Austin family.
The 2 door saloon and van are both much more desirable than the Tourer and both of them are much less desirable than a Big 7 or A30 / A40.

I won't make any decision until I see what is there vs what is missing. If the bonnet side trim is missing the chances of finding it are insanely slim.
But if it is missing, I wouldn't feel bad about removing the bonnet sides and running it open.

The challenge will be finding brake and clutch bits for an oddball prewar Brit car. If I can't find replacement parts it makes doing some tasteful upgrades sensible.

For now I'm just watching the clock until I drive up tomorrow to load it on the trailer.

_________________
Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216

Wifey Dearest and I rolled out at 7:30 this morning, quick stop at Biscuitville, then on I-40 West to Hickory, NC

9:30 am rolled up at a big brick industrial looking building at the back of a residential neighborhood. There's a guy in his 60's unloading a VW bug off his rollback. He tells me to park and come inside.

Inside the warehouse is something else indeed. First car in the door was a 60 MGA convertible beside a white 79 Trans Am and a 72 Monte Carlo, and a square body C-10 pickup.

Then my glasses adjust to the dim and I look around a bit.
5 MGA coupes
7 or 8 MGBGTs
4 or 5 MGB convertibles
Bugeye Sprite
Mini Countryman
Roll Silver Cloud
67 Mustang GT fastback 390 4 speed car
62 Lincoln
86 CRX HF
67 Cougar

and a whole slew of stuff I'm forgetting.

Some details about the car
Yes I bought it!!!
floors have been patched. Trunk pan, A and B pillars have glass and bondo
Nearly all the trim is there in boxes
running boards are there
top frame wood and metal is there in many many pieces

Fenders are remarkably mostly steel as are the inner fenders.

Engine is Sprite, looks like a 948 attached to a smoothcase transmission.
Brakes are still 100% mechanical, but actually work.
3 or 4 tires hold air
front and back sets are there and have been homes to a number of mice.

more to come

_________________
Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216

948 and smooth case should not be THAT far off from the original drivetrain experiance.
At least it has remained Austin, so I would say updated rather than hot-rod.

_________________
If I must be a one-man PC free zone, so be it!

Finally some car pics.
Rolled it off the sellers rollback straight onto the trailer. Chains and straps, then ready to roll east back to Greensboro


2 hours later we're at home and the car is off the trailer ready to go in the garage.




I looked up the number on the engine. 9C-U-H-15485. As near as I can tell it's a 1958 Bugeye motor. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Dash is mostly complete. Several knobs / switches have degraded beyond saving. The original speedo is there as is the Tri Gauge


I can't express how much I hope it works. If it doesn't I'll be on the lookout for a specialist rebuilder that can make it run on 12 volts. Without a doubt the 6 volt generator and battery will become things of the past. The generator will go into a box in case someone wants it, but no future in my life in 2022.

I checked the Austin 8 registry and this serial number isn't listed, so I guess that bring the total to 5 LHD tourers known.

_________________
Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216

Now seeing it in its totality, I think it could be a heck of an interesting car if it was just restored. I guess it would be a "restomod" as they say due to the engine and transmission not being original. But, as Richard pointed out, it would be pretty darn close.

I'll be looking forward to the build whatever path you choose.

Cheers,

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Damn! That front slip angle is way too large and the Ackerman is just a muddle.

Build Log: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=5886

Oh Yeah. Trafficators and a fold down windshield with a spindly rear-view mirror. What a find! Please get it running and driving and don't touch the rest.

_________________
Chuck.

“Any suspension will work if you don’t let it.” - Colin Chapman

Visit my ongoing MGB Rustoration log: over HERE

Or my Wankel powered Locost log : over HERE

And don't forget my Cushman Truckster resto Locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=17766

This is going to be very interesting!

You go Tommy!

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Larry in Seattle

Nice find Tommy, boy does that bring back memories of the Topolino build.

Looking over your pics, are there running boards? I see bolt holes below the rocker and maybe on the fenders.

_________________
Perry

'If man built it, man can fix it'
"No one ever told me I couldn't do it."
"If you can't build it safe, don't build it."

Perry's Locost Super Che7enette Build
Perry's TBird Based 5.0L Super 7 L.S.O
Perry's S10 Super 7 The 3rd
Perry's 4th Build The Topolino 500 (Little Mouse) Altered
Perry's 5th Build the Super Slant 6 Super 7
Perry's Final Build the 1929 Mercedes Gazelle

Just my thinkin' out loud

forget this a a 4 seater- move the rear skin down so it follows the character line on the rear quarter and make it a 2 place car

Very cool! Looked for additional photos and saw this site. Suspect you have already seen this!

http://smclassiccars.com/austin/401233- ... drive.html

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Thom

A cool project either way. A 1275 could get you around town without turning the chassis into a pretzel.

Hey Gang,
I haven't been ignoring all of you, just traveling for work. I had to speed a week in NW Ohio doing a tools and fixtures audit on a supplier.

now responses and thoughts.
Lonnie the more I look at it the less I want to change. There is still a strong desire for good seating, decent shocks, and hydraulic brakes. Brakes have to upgrade before any noticeable power enhancements. Going is great, being able to stop is better.

Chuck, I so want the trafficators to work. If they don't I am aware of a rebuilder in the UK thanks to Mike and Ed on Wheeler Dealers. The windshield wiper is manual to add to the period fun.

Benny_toe. thanks it's going to be a fun challenge.

Perry -the running boards are in the car. Along the lines of "mods". I've been thinking about splitting the rear fenders to add 2 inches width and give her some hips. Then I have to decide whether to wide the boards at the rear to match. decision for another day though.

Twentyover - My minds eye sees a rear tonneau that brings the rear level up to the height of the B pillar. With a little graceful crown to it. It would prove interesting to make it fit the drop curve at the back of the B pillar. It would be much easier, but not easily reversible to make it in 18 ga steel and cut off the drop section / blend it all into a continuous line.

Bostonwill - that's where I first saw the 4 known, then conformed it with Hermann Egges at the 8 registry

vroom a 1275 with a ribcase would be nice but not until the brakes get upgraded.

Yesterday I headed out to the garage for a little bit. Pulled the plugs and shot some penetrating oil down the holes, down the carb throats, then pulled to rocker cover and sprayed down all the rockers. I'll give it a few days, then see if the motor turns over by hand. I'm following Gerard's advice on reviving a long sleeping car. Rushing this bit could destroy rings on an otherwise sound motor

_________________
Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216

I worked on the Austin for the first time in almost a year over the weekend.
If you all recall the 948 is stuck, brakes are mechanical and I "think" it's a 58 or 59 smooth case trans.

Since it's a Brit car I grabbed my 3 wrenches. For those not experienced with Brit cars you can do >95% tear down with a 7/16, 1/2, and 9/16.
Set about removing sheet metal from the front end. an hour later this is what it looked like.



Plenty of space to work on the engine. I put a wrench on the crankshaft bolt and couldn't budge it. Well I could loosen it, but not free the pistons.
So, off with it's head!

Note the copper head gasket. I think someone has been in here before...

Pulled out a trick from the old school mechanics and poured mineral spirits on top of the pistons and let it soak for a bit.
Then grab a block of wood and a mallet. Put wood block on #1 piston and tap tap tap, then #2 piston and tap tap tap.
Be gentle with the tapping. It's a tap not a WHACK.

Fourth cycle of tap tap tap and it breaks free. Grab a bunch of paper towels to clean off the tops of the cylinders of mineral spirits and shoot some 30w oil into the piston gap. Grab the wrench for the crank bolt and can turn it easily.

I spun it over about 10 times paying attention to see if there are hard spots and thankfully there aren't.
I'll know more when I do the full tear down, but pretty sure I can save this engine.

Cheers.

_________________
Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216