AUSTIN A40 COUNTRYMAN GREY

1961 AUSTIN A40 MARK I COUNTRYMAN

A rare Austin Countryman "Basic Saloon". Austin A40s are a rarity amongst classic cars now. Mark 1 saloons are rarer. Mark 1 countryman cars are rarer still. The A40 Countryman "Basic" saloon is even scarcer still! This is what you are looking at. The Farina club has verified that few of these cars have survived making it possible the least known variant of the whole production run from 1958 - 1967. On the basic model the rear side windows were fixed and a heater was an optional extra. thankfully 173 NKT was fitted with one which works very well.

Registered in Kent and sporting its original Maidstone plate. 173 NKT has had two previous owners. The last lady owning it for 30 years and taking and passing her driving test in it. She was used as the family car to transport the children around in and when they grew up was stored in the garage until the lady's husband went to night classes and spent a couple of years restoring the bodywork. by this time the car was over 40 years old.

I bought the car as a daily driver and although the bodywork had been attended to the engine bay and interior were as original. With such a good bodywork and decent re-spray I then changed my mind and decided to spend time and money on it to detail the engine bay. clean up the interior and replace the carpets.

I have had a new clutch fitted. changed the oil and filter. had the brake and clutch pipes cleaned out and replenished with new fluid. new brake shoes on front. clutch slave cylinder re-built. new radial tyres all round and a petrol leak repaired. In addition to this I have removed and dismantled the carb and cleaned it all through. wire brushed it and re-fitted it. cleaned and re-painted air-filter. dismantled the starter motor sanded. painted and re-fitted. removed and cleaned and painted the dynamo. fitting new brushes. removed cleaned out and fitted new thermostat. replaced top and bottom hoses with NOS. cleaned out heater and fitted new hoses. There is much more but it would take too long to list.

The original brochure from the supplier . maintenance service book. accessories booklet. original warranty with suppliers name. original handbook. original manual. Austin countryman parts list manual. jack and starting handle in cover and receipts totaling over 3k as well as a wallet of paperwork are all included

There are a lot of valuable spares to come with the car should I realise the price I am looking for. you would need a small trailer to collect them. I will list a few to give an idea.   Headlamps. tail light clusters x 3. new brake shoes. prop shaft. dynamo's. exhaust. windows. one seat. speedo cables. air filter. chrome headlamp surrounds x2. brand new boxed track rod ends. chrome hub caps. back box and tail pipe. one engine and gearbox from a good 50. 000 mile car. distributors etc. etc.

Things to do:

Possible brake master cylinder leak. repair kit included although it was weeping a little from the top of the filler housing where the pipe screws in but it seems dry now on driving!! The brakes would benefit from another bleed though. There is a rattle over rough road. which I have investigated and found to be the tailgate . this is a combination of a defective hinge on the bottom and softened rubbers. number four inlet rocker is worn so the tappet couldn't be adjusted (good ones on spare engine. just needs changing over to give a silent tick-over). one glass block missing from passenger side window.

A very nice and rare car that drives superbly. a few paint imperfections but more importantly no filler! except for skimming when body was restored. Very usable with the drop down tailgate and opening rear window and very nice unspoilt seats and trim with brand new made to measure carpets.

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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