Opened up another time capsule.

[Des]

This little Austin saw daylight earlier for the first time in a decade, taxdisc dated 2002.

 

 

I rocked up with hammer, screwdivers, can of petrol, battery, and a leccy fuel pump to see if I could get it running.

2 sideboards, a rocking chair, a table, a stool, 1950's bar, half a dozen framed mirrors and a big iron medical stand were blocking it in, I climbed through and fitted the battery, checked for oil and water then jumped in to see if it was going to turn over, wanted to spin it until the oil light goes off before getting busy. When I turned on the ignition the things own electric fuel pump kicked in, really wasn't expecting that, then as it ticked away for a while I wondered if it's tank might be empty, that would simplify things for me as I wouldn't have to run the thing off a can, but no, the ticking slowed down to nothing while it dawned on me that I'd just filled the carb with 10 year old stale, skanky petrol. Marvelous. Nothing sucks like making work for myself, why didn't I stop as soon as I realised the pump was working? Could have simply pulled the pipe off the carb and emptied the tank, then at least have a chance of getting it running the easy way. Fuck it thinks I, lets see if it spins over, the little bastard only went and started, fired on the first turn and then quite promptly on all 4 and sounding rather good, how can this be? Laws of physics and all that.

[dollywobbler]

Brilliant. Look forward to seeing it surface!

[Albert Ross]

Because it's British. It's small bore, and has an SU. Nuff said. I'd hit it.

[Guest]

Its an A series - bloody good engines.

[Micrashed]

Fluffing Orsum.

I had a H plater in white with the 1300 donkey (4 door) and loved every minute of it

[mouseflakes]

Ace! I love ADO16s.

[Rocket88]

Try doing that with a Picasso....[other unreliable modern cars are also available]

[messerschmitt owner]

Try doing that with a Picasso....[other unreliable modern cars are also available]

I've done it twice with Citroen XMs in the past 18 months - both locked away for 4 1/2 - 5 years and both started literally off the button - both thrown in for MoTs and neither failed on anything major (beyond an exhaust for the petrol one).

[nigel bickle]

Cos the fuel in it is PETROL -not the synthetic rubbish we have now. It might have gone piss yellow, but it'll still run the car OK.

 

Fill it with the current 'improved' high octane shite & leave it a couple of years.....

[Wilko220]

Great save!

 

Is that the eBay photo?

[scruff]

Kin hell Des. Another cracker. What's left?

[bigstraight6]

Nice one Des, warms the heart this story, looking forward to more pics of the old girl

[Pete-M]

Top chodding.

 

I quite like ADO16s. Mum had an 1100 when I was very young. G reg it was. I remember the inside of the door had rotted through by the interior door handle, not often you see that on a five year old car now...

[Des]

Drove the bugger home.

 

 

I'd forgotten what a joy they are to drive, almost Mini like handling, just as bouncy only not the spine jarring bouncy. I dug it out to free up a garage that is now needed, a quick MOT and sell it, but I think I'll use it for a while, free tax, probably under a ton to insure and sould easily do something well into double figures MPG wise, although it is the decadent 1300, auto as well.

 

Gave it a wash.

 

 

Lots of little rust spots, white paintwork makes them stand out like poo stains on a wedding dress, will keep me busy treating before it turns into a collander. It's not an ebay find btw, I'm the bastard that shut it away 10 years ago, it's my last shameful stash to unearth, unless there's more I've forgotten.

[Micrashed]

Lush, really lush and almost identical to my first car VTC 263H, though mine was four on the floor not a baderbox.

 

They are great these cars.

[purplebargeken]

Lovely little car, good on you for dragging it into the sunlight. Auto.... hmmmm. Whats the interior like? Nice cars, bloody rust prone though. Keeping or selling?

 

Ken