1934 AUSTIN 18HP CABRIOLET

Bob & Steve Hayes

YOU WANT an Austin with some interesting history? Take a look at this recent arrival from New Zealand. The Austin Six Tourer with its unique Hayes Variable-Speed transmission is jointly owned by father and son Bob and Steve Hayes and, since early 2017, resides in Brisbane.

“I’m getting on so it’s time to hand custody over to Steve who will get more use out of the car over here,” Bob said.

Early in life the Austin was sent from England to NZ in anticipation of a Royal Tour by the Prince of Wales; shortly to be crowned King Edward VIII. However, upon his accession the Tour was cancelled and the car sold to a doctor in Timaru.

Bob acquired the car 1992 and restored it in 1996. It qualified for a second repaint in 2014 and remains in very ‘regal’ condition. Fortunately the transmission has remained operational because this is one of only two vehicles with this transmission left running in the world – the other in the UK.