1983 Beige Austin Ambassador

[Motown]

Ive been to see this today as its literally a stones throw away from my house so close i could probably push it home if it wasnt at the bottom of a hill

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/583799510251469/

It started on the first turn of the key when ran on an external tank the engine and box seemed good. Its got a Spanish transmission so that kinda rules me out as i can only drive Automatico but id really like to save/restore it. Unfortunately the rear arches are rather crispy and theirs a hole in the front passenger footwell/floor plan where it looks like a jack has gone through. The interior is very good though not even the headliner is sagging and its looks to be complete i would probably give it a shot if i could weld but i cant.

Tax disc said 1995 so i assume thats when it was last on the road am going back tomorrow with the Mrs to have another look so il take some photos and post them here somebody really should rescue it.  

[Datsuncog]

Oh wow - now that's something you don't see every day (well, not since the mid-90s or so).

Impressive patina going on!

One for the Wedgister... and does look well worth saving.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

Seriously rare, save it!

[sutty2006]

That’s on stoke number plate too. Can you get a close up shot of the front plate? 

[Motown]

2 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

Oh wow - now that's something you don't see every day (well, not since the mid-90s or so).

Impressive patina going on!

One for the Wedgister... and does look well worth saving.

Its not nearly as bad as it looks in the pictures might be a little beyond my expertise though sadly  

[Motown]

Just now, sutty2006 said:

That’s on stoke number plate too. Can you get a close up shot of the front plate? 

Am going back tommorow so will take some pictures but pretty sure the front plate had a shrewsbury dealer at the bottom.  

[sutty2006]

Just now, Motown said:

Am going back tommorow so will take some pictures but pretty sure the front plate had a shrewsbury dealer at the bottom.  

Possibly not an original dealer plate then. 

[Motown]

2 minutes ago, sutty2006 said:

Possibly not an original dealer plate then. 

Yup it did have all the original stickers on it though in the engine bay etc even had the Rover anti scratch stickers around the door locks proper time capsule....

[sierraman]

Get it bought. Give the welding a go, by sounds of it be a useful skill to have  if you are around old cars. Even a cheap shit one will stick two bits of metal together to a satisfactory standard. 

[tooSavvy]

20 minutes ago, sierraman said:

Get it bought. Give the welding a go, by sounds of it be a useful skill to have  if you are around old cars. Even a cheap shit one will stick two bits of metal together to a satisfactory standard. 

...... Aye, ovallers would just line it out with scaffy board + 5/8" bolts....

😕

[grogee]

5 hours ago, Motown said:

Ive been to see this today as its literally a stones throw away from my house so close i could probably push it home if it wasnt at the bottom of a hill

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/583799510251469/

It started on the first turn of the key when ran on an external tank the engine and box seemed good. Its got a Spanish transmission so that kinda rules me out as i can only drive Automatico but id really like to save/restore it. Unfortunately the rear arches are rather crispy and theirs a hole in the front passenger footwell/floor plan where it looks like a jack has gone through. The interior is very good though not even the headliner is sagging and its looks to be complete i would probably give it a shot if i could weld but i cant.

Tax disc said 1995 so i assume thats when it was last on the road am going back tomorrow with the Mrs to have another look so il take some photos and post them here somebody really should rescue it.  

I don't accept you need a whole donor car to make this automagic.

There's not an ECU on the car to get fussy about the transmission, and (assuming 1.7 auto was a factory option) the box should bolt straight on. Then you need the interior bits and cables from shift lever to box, job done.

All that said, this is a project that requires time, space and money even without the transmission swap. 

For my Maestro I'm farming out the bodywork to a Man Who Can. I'd happily have a go at welding, but filling and painting outdoors is not fun. 

[Lankytim]

2 minutes ago, grogee said:

I don't accept you need a whole donor car to make this automagic.

There's not an ECU on the car to get fussy about the transmission, and (assuming 1.7 auto was a factory option) the box should bolt straight on. Then you need the interior bits and cables from shift lever to box, job done.

All that said, this is a project that requires time, space and money even without the transmission swap. 

For my Maestro I'm farming out the bodywork to a Man Who Can. I'd happily have a go at welding, but filling and painting outdoors is not fun. 

Do the autos and manuals have different cranks like on the Mini though? 

[grogee]

2 minutes ago, Lankytim said:

Do the autos and manuals have different cranks like on the Mini though? 

I'm guessing no, but flywheel might be different.

There may also be some throttle link gubbins for kickdown, not that it would make any difference in a O-series automatic.

This is based on extensive* experience of working on 1 (one) Ambassador in 1993.

[junkyarddog]

6 hours ago, Motown said:

going back tomorrow with the Mrs to have another look

If you wish to remain in a harmonious domestic relationship,I'd be leaving that fucker where you found it!🤣

[JMotor]

18 minutes ago, junkyarddog said:

If you wish to remain in a harmonious domestic relationship,I'd be leaving that fucker where you found it!🤣

Also known as... 

"Ahhh I see you have chosen death!" 🤣 

@Motown If you buy this. PM me your address, as I've got a few Ambassador HBOL's that I'll happily send you one FOC. BUT! Only if you do a buy and haven't been killed to death by the wife lol. 

 

[Motown]

1 hour ago, junkyarddog said:

If you wish to remain in a harmonious domestic relationship,I'd be leaving that fucker where you found it!🤣

The car or the wife?  🤣

[somewhatfoolish]

The Shuttleworth limited edition.

[Motown]

2 hours ago, grogee said:

I don't accept you need a whole donor car to make this automagic.

There's not an ECU on the car to get fussy about the transmission, and (assuming 1.7 auto was a factory option) the box should bolt straight on. Then you need the interior bits and cables from shift lever to box, job done.

All that said, this is a project that requires time, space and money even without the transmission swap. 

For my Maestro I'm farming out the bodywork to a Man Who Can. I'd happily have a go at welding, but filling and painting outdoors is not fun. 

If i did buy it i would probably just restore it and then find it a good home rather than convert it to automatic

[Motown]

52 minutes ago, JMotor said:

Also known as... 

"Ahhh I see you have chosen death!" 🤣 

@Motown If you buy this. PM me your address, as I've got a few Ambassador HBOL's that I'll happily send you one FOC. BUT! Only if you do a buy and haven't been killed to death by the wife lol. 

 

Thats very kind of you! Any chance you do welding and divorce settlements FOC aswell?

[sierraman]

3 hours ago, grogee said:

I don't accept you need a whole donor car to make this automagic.

There's not an ECU on the car to get fussy about the transmission, and (assuming 1.7 auto was a factory option) the box should bolt straight on. Then you need the interior bits and cables from shift lever to box, job done.

All that said, this is a project that requires time, space and money even without the transmission swap. 

For my Maestro I'm farming out the bodywork to a Man Who Can. I'd happily have a go at welding, but filling and painting outdoors is not fun. 

I find filling quite relaxing actually, it reminds me of summer. Between May and August I often didn’t have fingerprints back in the day. 🤣

[JMotor]

22 minutes ago, Motown said:

Thats very kind of you! Any chance you do welding and divorce settlements FOC aswell?

Can weld. Maybe for FOC, but too much my own shite needs done first! 

As for divorce... 

Honestly Lionel Hutz would a better job than me 🤣. 

 

 

[Macscrooge]

Epic!

[junkyarddog]

1 hour ago, Motown said:

The car or the wife?  🤣

That choice is entirely up to you.

[adw1977]

4 hours ago, grogee said:

assuming 1.7 auto was a factory option

It was.

[brownnova]

On 01/01/2023 at 20:51, somewhatfoolish said:

The Shuttleworth limited edition.

Y Reg, Y Reg it’s an Austin Ambassador Y Reg! 

[MorrisItalSLX]

1 hour ago, brownnova said:

Y Reg, Y Reg it’s an Austin Ambassador Y Reg! 

Don’t keep asking me why, Reg

It just happens to be that year!

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Here are the full lyrics for those who'd like to sing along.

JOHN SHUTTLEWORTH

Y Reg Lyrics

 

My Austin Ambassador Y reg, Y reg, Y reg

My Austin Ambassador Y reg is a car that I revere

My Austin Ambassador Y reg, Y reg, Y reg

Don't keep asking me why, Reg

It just happens to be that year

 

Now you may covet a Clio

Or a Mondeo

Marvel at the Montego

Fine but not me, no

 

Now you may be utterly sold on

Your Peugeot, your Proton

Your Mitsubishi Shogun

But I'll always dote on

 

My Austin Ambassador Y reg, Y reg, Y reg

 

I'd even say no ter

A Rolls with a chauffeur

A brand new Toyota

A Skoda? Give over!

 

I've got an Austin Ambassador Y reg, Y reg, Y reg

Don't keep asking me why, Reg

It just happens to be that year

[Angrydicky]

^^^
 

 

Now you may covet a Clio

Or a Montego

Marvel at the Mondeo

Fine but not me, no

 

EFA - you got the Mondeo and Montego the wrong way around.

[Talbot]

@Motown

Did you go back in the end?  Price seems slightly fruity at £875, but I guess the days of tatty old 80s barges being £50 are long gone.

[motorpunk]

That's a £150 car. I bloody love it. But it's £150, tops. Shit new, shitter now, unloved and 'orrible. (Soz @vulgalour)