1948 Austin A90 Atlantic Rare Barn find

convertible

2660 cc

35562

Clear

Ok If you made it this far and are still reading about this rare and unusual automobile you know how rare it is. Only 7,981 Atlantics made from 1948 to 1952 only about 350 were left hand drive and only a few of these convertibles. Estimates have less than half dozen still in existence. This one is chassis number 35562 making it #56 off the production line after the 6 pre-production are taken into account. The model has a great pedigree and it failure in 1952 is the reason Donald Healey and Lenard Lord got into business and made the Austin Healey 100-4 that shares the same engine and drivetrain made from left over parts of the failed Atlantic stocks. This car has been off the road since approximately 1963 and in its most recent storage garage since 1980. I chased the car for the past 7 years and finally got it home a month ago to start restoration. Upon closer inspection it is apparent the task is just beyond my skills and facilities to do properly. Do not get me wrong it is restorable but I am not up to the task and I do not want to see it sit unloved for more years in my shop. The good news: The car is intact and has not been stripped for parts or otherwise molested. I cannot emphasize this enough . THE CAR IS 95% COMPLETE. It was stored properly on jack stands with the engine oiled and in clean dry, but unheated condition since 1980. Storage conditions unknown prior to this but likely not the best resulting in degradation of the top and seats and rust issues. When the car was set down on the new bias ply tires that still have labels on the tread it rolled right away so the brakes are not seized. In fact there is still hydraulic pressure and braking in the rear wheels. The Radiator was full of proper antifreeze so not empty and open to the air. This shows the cooling system and block are intact. The oil was full but dirty. Here is the amazing thing the block turned easily with a hand crank and when a battery was installed it turned on the starter and has compression in all 4 cylinders . I could not coax a spark but did not really want to run the engine anyway. Just checking for compression. The four speed column shifter linkages look like it is working fine all the way to the transmission. The twin SU H4 carbs are with the car I found them in the house cleaned and probably rebuilt wrapped in gauze and plastic wrap. The air cleaner was in the trunk. Front and rear seats are accounted for but are just frames and springs with enough covering to see the original white leather with red piping trim. Easily restored. The aluminium door cards, kick panels and various trim pieces are all either reusable or could be used as templates to finish the interior. We even have a (rotten) front floor carpet for a pattern. The dash board is complete and intact with all the gold face art deco style gauges and the wonderful white knobs and trim. We put a battery in the car and the headlights and horns work but cannot turn the key to check other electrical parts. Door glass and fixed vent windows are all good the central part of the 3 piece front windscreen is usable but showing some delamination bubbles on the edges. Both of the curved front corner windows are intact but broken and would need to be replaced. The original is there for a pattern. The bonnet and boot lid are made of Aluminium and are in great shape with the chrome stripes and badges and edge trim pieces all there. Bumpers are not banged up but obviously all the chrome is in need of a do over. The fenders are made from very very heavy steel and in pretty good shape that any average body shop could patch and pound out. I do have both of the rear wheel “spats” or covers. The worst rot is the rocker panels, where the top is stowed when down, the trunk floor and the rear inner quarter panels. This has also led to loss of some of the outer frame members and body stiffeners. The frame looks and sounds pretty solid overall but I suspect more frame repairs will be needed once the body is off. (And that is the part that is beyond my ability) The car was painted with primer back in 1980. The top bows are complete but the wooden parts will need to be replaced. The bad news: there is rust as you would expect. Much of it in easy to replace flat panels like the fold away top storage area and trunk floor. But there will be frame repairs needed as mentioned above. The seats will need complete rebuild and a new top made to fit the car. The original steering wheel is missing as is the bracket to hold the air cleaner. The cover for the storage box under the rear seat and 5 of the 6 lower body chrome trim strips are missing. These may still be found in the garage as further cleanup is going on. All the chrome needs to be redone, a new top made and hours of fettling to bring this awesome car back to life. This will be a long process but well worth the effort. The Atlantic was a true drivers car and received rave reviews in the day. (copies included with purchase) and set the world alight in 1949 with a seven day 24 hour a day trial at Indianapolis speedway It covered almost 11,000 miles and set scores of National, track and stock car records with an average speed of over 70 MPH. Be the first (and only) on your block to have one today. Car is sold as is where is with bill of sale only as the original registration has been lost to time. I would prefer to sell complete but will reluctantly part out if no interest in the complete car. So let me know via eBay if you have interest in all or parts of this fine car. I will help in any way I can with shipping. I have trailer and can cover much of the eastern seaboard to deliver. As most of these cars ended up in Australia I will prep the car and parts and ship via container from Saint John New Brunswick Canada at buyers cost to any port worldwide. Cost to Australia estimated at $5 to $6,000. Europe or UK would be very close to $2,500 to $3,500 . The car would need to go in enclosed container as it is open to elements and not able to be driven on its own. Much additional information on the car is available thru Wikipedia or the Austin owners club in the UK. In a few short weeks I have met lots of enthusiasts online that are a wealth of information and support. I wish I had the skills and space to work this car back to life after chasing it for so long. Good luck with bidding and please contact me with any questions further comments: the hood / bonnet in the photos is simply laying on the car and is not attached so the shut lines are not lined up and showing well. in reality the hood closes perfectly with tight shut lines.: yet further digging in the garage and I found a piece of the chrome horn ring from the original steering wheel yesterday and suspect the original was broken and therefore removed. this is a relatively easy part to source out as the convertibles and hardtops shared the same piece. On 06-Oct-14 at 05:44:06 EDT, seller added the following information: THE RESERVE IS OFF, THIS CAR WILL BE SOLD. I DO NOT EXPECT YOU WILL EVER SEE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO BUY A CAR LIKE THIS IN RESTORABLE CONDITION AGAIN THANK YOU FOR BIDDINGOn 06-Oct-14 at 12:29:02 EDT, seller added the following information: still looking into container shipping cost . please note there are now over 100 people with this on the watch list so last minute bidders beware.On 06-Oct-14 at 15:45:13 EDT, seller added the following information: Correction to shipping details. The company for shipping across the border to the USA should be Deringer’s not Dillenger as I had noted They are looking into the details of getting this car across the border and also carriers to move it but certainly do not anticipate any issues. I shipped a car using them a few years ago and it was a painless 15 minute operation at the border crossing. On 08-Oct-14 at 06:35:46 EDT, seller added the following information: NEW SHIPPING DETAILS: For buyers along the east coast between Maine / New England and Florida with potential to go inland a bit. My wife and I am considering a vacation in or around Florida or the Gulf coast in early November and will for $1.20/Kilometer plus $50 day deliver the car directly to the buyer in my own enclosed car trailer. this is as competitive an offer as I have found and a lot less complicated than a commercial carrier. (And, as my Wife pointed out, I can then go shopping to find a project car down there.) Cross border paperwork is still the responsability of the buyer but I will help with that also. Distance calculated by google maps door to door On 10-Oct-14 at 09:31:20 EDT, seller added the following information: The push to the finish Auction will end Sunday afternoon/evening and with over 3000 page views and now 140 watchers I am simply blown away by the interest. It is hard to let this one slip between my fingers but I know this is the correct thing to do and all the interest will ensure it is going to go to an enthusiast for restoration. good luck with the bidding On 12-Oct-14 at 06:43:10 EDT, seller added the following information: Ok here it is the final 12 hours till completion Thank you for all the dozens of questions about the car and all the interest shown from all over the world in this rare auto . bidding has been slow but with 4100 page views and 125 watchers it might get busy in the closing minutes. Good luck. I look forward to talking with the new owners and sharing with them the worldwide contacts from other "Atlanticans" I have made. These folks have been a great source of help and information about the Atlantic and future parts supply sources. Thanks for looking, thanks for bidding Dogtoller