1951 Austin A40 SPORTS CONVERTIBLE

Estimated Price: £14,000 - £18,000

The 1951 Austin A40 Sports was an elegant, aluminium-bodied four-passenger convertible born from a unique post-war collaboration between the Austin Motor Company and Jensen Motors

Conceived by Austin's chairman Leonard Lord as a 'halo' car to boost the brand's global appeal, the new model featured modern elegant lines styled by Eric Neale with the dependable, everyday running gear of the Austin A40 Devon saloon

Neale's work on the A40 heavily influenced his later, iconic British car designs, most notably the Jensen 541

First registered in 1951, this delightful Austin A40 Sports was acquired by our vendor's late husband approximately ten years ago and has formed part of a small private Collection since

Appearing to have benefited from an older restoration, the car continues to present attractively today in cream with a black hood and matching black-trimmed interior

Having been stored in more recent years, the Austin will be offered as a running and driving example, although will require an element of recommissioning before returning to regular road use

The engine bay presents in tidy condition and the car appears complete, making it an appealing proposition for an enthusiast seeking an uncommon British convertible requiring only sympathetic preparation rather than a full restoration

Only 4,011 units were manufactured during its entire production run between 1950 and 1953 and they are highly sought-after by collectors, with fewer than 50 functional examples believed to survive worldwide