1970 Austin

Sedan

4 - Cyl.

Manual

AA2SDUA11069M

Gasoline

Hello and Thank you for looking at the auction for my 1970 Austin America. Background: I have owned this car for 11 years and since then I converted from a 1300 Automatic to an 1100 4 speed manual, Singer has spent most of the last several years waiting on a truck load of ambition and money. I will be moving shortly and he will be losing his garage and I don’t have space at the new house. Singer was rescued from Richmond, VA and holds the honor of being the only British car we ever purchased that drove onto the trailer. Now Singer is a driver, he starts, runs, drives, the clutch engages and disengages properly, and he even stops. Currently he isn’t registered, but following the proper paper trail would pass the PA state inspection as the lights, horn, wipers, and mechanicals all work. For a more detailed assessment of my friend Singer’s activities, I trust the following sentences such be sufficient. Driveline: As I mentioned Singer began life as an ADO 16 variant with an automatic and a 1275 with a single HS6. The auto transmission went south and we had a 1966 MG 1100 in the yard. The 1100 engine was rebuilt using STD high compression pistons, new STD rod bearings, new STD main bearings, and a copper head-gasket. The pin-drive camshaft was sent to Jerry at Delta Cam in Tacoma, WA for a regrind as a street performance profile with the machined lifters. A flywheel was sourced from a Mini Clubman S from New Zealand; this was machined and fitted with a new clutch kit sourced from Doug at Mini City. The Clubman S also had a big valve head (12A185), the valves were ground and it went on with the standard single HS6, creating a rather healthy lump. The 45DE4 with blue points was also harvested from the Clubman S; this is mated to a 40,000 volt Lucas Sport Coil via Lucas Bumble-Bee ignition wire. Singer recently received new motor mounts, remote shifter bushes, trans mounts, and a spin-on oil filter adapter with an oil cooler to boost cooling and capacity. Last week he got fresh Castrol GTX 20w-50 oil and a filter, at idle the pressure is 50 psi and it jumps to 65 psi at rev. I attempted to give Singer a twin SU HS2 setup with a Stage II header, to allow him to breath, but there just isn’t the room with out trimming the floor and sub frame. This unfortunate discovery resulted in the addition of a NOS exhaust from manifold to tip, sourced from Jim Knight at British Racing Green in Newark, DE. The drive axles have received new U-joints with rebuilt CV ends. These are the same units used on Cooper S Minis. Rolling Chassis: Singer just got two brand new Yokohama 145SR12s last week on the front. The front suspension was rebuilt with new ball joints, fulcrum bushes, tie rod ends, bearings, and leading arm bushes. The front brakes were replaced over winter with pads and new brake hoses. The brake master cylinder was replaced recently with a two piston unit from a newer Mini, and several of the steel lines were replaced in the process. The clutch master and slave were just refreshed and both systems were flushed with new silicone fluid. The rear brakes received new springs, shoes, cylinders, hoses, steel lines, and a proportioning valve. Both the braking and clutch hydraulic systems are in tip-top order, with a firm brake pedal and a responsive clutch. Interior: The black interior was replaced with dark blue from a 1971 model, they are still plush and the fronts recline, slide, and fold, all things the 1970 model couldn’t do. It could do with a cleaning and there are two heat cracks in the seats. One in the LH shoulder of the driver’s seat and one in the LH shoulder of the back seat. The dash-top has been recovered and the dash has some extra switches as the previous owner replaced the light switch with an aftermarket unit, I added a switch for the optional reverse lamp, and a mechanical oil pressure gauge was added to replace the rather vague yellow beacon on the dash. The reverse lamp was replaced with a NOS unit; it needed an external switch as the 1100 being a 1966 was not fitted with such opulent accessories. The steering wheel is original and is in very good condition. The speedometer was just replaced with a new ribbon-type, so the odometer reads 12 miles, while driving it up the road I had an enormous grin as in the last 11years I have never had a working speedo or odometer. While the engine was out last time I replaced the speedo cable with a new one, as that is the only time it is accessible, without removing the LH CV shaft. The carpets that remain, are shabby, I use floor mats on the tin. The floors were cut and patched where necessary, I painted them inside and out as well as seam sealed the edges, when they were replaced to resist rust. Exterior: The chrome is pitted and original, the front bumper bar and lower valance are bent from various altercations with immovable objects. It did come from Richmond; maybe they move cars the old fashioned way there!? The rear bumper is pitted but straight and would be worth re-chroming, as is the external mirror and all four hubcaps. The paint is faded black over Robin’s egg blue, a fresh finish would really do it good but it isn’t imperative. The front by the bumper has some minor rust spots forming that could easily be dealt with. Both rocker panels have the text book ADO 16 golf ball sized rust spot below the B pillar, the drivers side is still pretty good. The rear quarter corners behind the wheel also have some cancer, but would be an easy fix and the right quarter glass frame has a small spot on the bottom where the water lays. The sunroof leaks like every other sunroof, one of the clicks is broken, so it closes but drips on your knee as you drive. Luckily when turning left you can catch the passenger off guard with a light shower! The seals throughout are the originals and could use freshening up. Afterward: Singer has been a good friend of mine, and I would drive him where ever I still have cell phone signal. He is typically British and has a few quirks, but that is the difference between my 2005 Chevy and British motoring … personality. Happy motoring and thank you for your time. Chris