28th Apr, 2023 10:00

April Classic Vehicles & Memorabilia Auction

 
Lot 310
 

310

1956 AUSTIN SIX WESTMINSTER

Sold for £5,000

Note that some lots may be sold provisionally


Lot details

Make: AUSTIN
Model: SIX WESTMINSTER
Registration: RDF 783
Engine Size (cc): 2639
Year of Manufacture: 1956
Date First Registered: 01/02/1956
Current V5: YES
Location: PICKERING

The current V5 is present, Paperwork includes invoices for parts and works.

We sold this car to the Bangers & Cash Restoring Classics team in December 2022. They wanted to get a taste of the classic rally scene and thought this was a good starting point. They have had a fair amount of work done by a well known local engineer to bring it up to scratch and get it to the starting line again.

The team writes:

What a car this is.

As soon as we got to know the Mathewsons, we quickly learned rallying was a family obsession. So when we saw RDF 783 pop up in December’s auction we knew we had to give it a go, and hatched a plan for a Mathewson to put the car through its rally paces.The Westminster looked a bit rough around the edges but was clearly built to drive through anything, and probably had.

This car has been a regular on the classic rally circuit for many years, a respected competing car that had had many uprated and improved parts over the years - including a fair bit of Austin Healey in the mix. The car had some success with its previous owners, but it hadn’t been out for a while. It was a good basis for a recommission to get it back competing. We gave the venerable Westminster to well known Yorkshire rally prep. engineer Charlie Gabb. Charlie completed the brief to make it not quite as quick an Integrale, but probably more reliable. Crucially he got it to stop efficiently. We straighten some of the bent bits to help get it through scrutineering before letting Dave Mathewson loose in it. There is a short film of this below.

So , where did the money go?

  • Old seats and poor mountings removed
  • Fitted new seat mountings and decent seats
  • Make chassis panels and weld
  • Strip steering and replace ball joint gaitors as needed.
  • Free off all joints and reset tracking.
  • Service engine , reset tappets, modified one rocker ( rubbing on head bolt)
  • New plug leads , rotor arm , spark plugs, air filter , fuel filter, oil and filter.
  • Test compression, all cylinders down on compression - sort.
  • More welding to the sill and off-side inner wing,
  • Fit missing rear seat
  • New luxury carpets and door cards
  • New battery and sort charging out,
  • New fan belt.
  • Replace n/s/r wheel bearing, oil seal, gasket
  • Clean out the boot and trim out the boot sides and inside the boot lid.
  • Grease round
  • Strip brakes, free off and clean up, and adjust.
  • Fit new choke cable
  • Repair and repaint o/s/r wing
  • Refit trims
  • Fit two new tyres , change tyres around on the rims. Spare slightly damaged
  • Fit s/h jack and wheel brace
  • Free off anti roll bar link
  • Repair all lights internally and exterior
  • Tidy wiring
  • Buff up paint work where possible and polish
  • More welding…and more bits.

There is still a bit to do to the car - but the basis is now well and truly there. The car carried Dave Mathewson around a stage at the North Yorks Classic Rally in April this year. All filmed and documented. Although we did not compete, we were told he made the 2nd fastest time! We’re sure that wasn’t all down to Dave’s driving skill…

There is also a really nice bit of history and file from the previous owners' classic rallying days and we have a filmed restoration and a days rallying in a forthcoming episode of Bangers & Cash: Restoring Classics. We would love to film it competing again.

 

Make: AUSTIN
Model: SIX WESTMINSTER
Registration: RDF 783
Engine Size (cc): 2639
Year of Manufacture: 1956
Date First Registered: 01/02/1956
Current V5: YES
Location: PICKERING

The current V5 is present, Paperwork includes invoices for parts and works.

We sold this car to the Bangers & Cash Restoring Classics team in December 2022. They wanted to get a taste of the classic rally scene and thought this was a good starting point. They have had a fair amount of work done by a well known local engineer to bring it up to scratch and get it to the starting line again.

The team writes:

What a car this is.

As soon as we got to know the Mathewsons, we quickly learned rallying was a family obsession. So when we saw RDF 783 pop up in December’s auction we knew we had to give it a go, and hatched a plan for a Mathewson to put the car through its rally paces.The Westminster looked a bit rough around the edges but was clearly built to drive through anything, and probably had.

This car has been a regular on the classic rally circuit for many years, a respected competing car that had had many uprated and improved parts over the years - including a fair bit of Austin Healey in the mix. The car had some success with its previous owners, but it hadn’t been out for a while. It was a good basis for a recommission to get it back competing. We gave the venerable Westminster to well known Yorkshire rally prep. engineer Charlie Gabb. Charlie completed the brief to make it not quite as quick an Integrale, but probably more reliable. Crucially he got it to stop efficiently. We straighten some of the bent bits to help get it through scrutineering before letting Dave Mathewson loose in it. There is a short film of this below.

So , where did the money go?

  • Old seats and poor mountings removed
  • Fitted new seat mountings and decent seats
  • Make chassis panels and weld
  • Strip steering and replace ball joint gaitors as needed.
  • Free off all joints and reset tracking.
  • Service engine , reset tappets, modified one rocker ( rubbing on head bolt)
  • New plug leads , rotor arm , spark plugs, air filter , fuel filter, oil and filter.
  • Test compression, all cylinders down on compression - sort.
  • More welding to the sill and off-side inner wing,
  • Fit missing rear seat
  • New luxury carpets and door cards
  • New battery and sort charging out,
  • New fan belt.
  • Replace n/s/r wheel bearing, oil seal, gasket
  • Clean out the boot and trim out the boot sides and inside the boot lid.
  • Grease round
  • Strip brakes, free off and clean up, and adjust.
  • Fit new choke cable
  • Repair and repaint o/s/r wing
  • Refit trims
  • Fit two new tyres , change tyres around on the rims. Spare slightly damaged
  • Fit s/h jack and wheel brace
  • Free off anti roll bar link
  • Repair all lights internally and exterior
  • Tidy wiring
  • Buff up paint work where possible and polish
  • More welding…and more bits.

There is still a bit to do to the car - but the basis is now well and truly there. The car carried Dave Mathewson around a stage at the North Yorks Classic Rally in April this year. All filmed and documented. Although we did not compete, we were told he made the 2nd fastest time! We’re sure that wasn’t all down to Dave’s driving skill…

There is also a really nice bit of history and file from the previous owners' classic rallying days and we have a filmed restoration and a days rallying in a forthcoming episode of Bangers & Cash: Restoring Classics. We would love to film it competing again.

Auction: April Classic Vehicles & Memorabilia Auction, 28th Apr, 2023

Welcome to our April Auction!

Prospective buyers are encouraged to view specific lots pre-auction and inspect paperwork if available.

The main viewing period for this auction is Monday 17 April - Thursday 27 April.

This auction is now fully consigned. Any enquiries will be considered for the June Auction.

Viewing

Monday 17 April - Thursday 27 April

Mon to Fri: 9am – 5pm

Sat: 9am – 1pm

Auction Days are closed.

View all lots in this sale