MYSTERY SOLVED

Whilst trawling the internet looking for all things Armstrong Siddeley, and in and where is it now?”

I can fill in some of the gaps if they haven’t been provided by your Australian readers !

The AS Whitely Station coupe ute was sent to Buckles in Sydney in 1951 or 52. Price: approx. £1,200 compared to a Holden ute for £700 (which is why AS utes quickly lost out to Holden).

Before being sold, it and possibly two others (one which may survive in Australia), were converted to Station Wagons by Sydney interest wherever it went. He passed away a year or so ago then I bought the vehicle. I intend keeping it as original as possible as it has had such an interesting life, travelling to Australia and back being just part of it. An anomaly to which I can’t find an answer – the original fuel tank was removed from the nearside under the vehicle and a replacement square tank fitted behind the driver’s seat and the filler neck relocated to the offside, why?

Please note: Some of the vehicle’s early life is quoted from various reliable and documented sources, but some may be apocryphal.

I also own two other AS, a 1959 Star Sapphire automatic and a 1951 Hurricane 18hp 2.3-litre manual (a rolling restoration). Also of possible interest, The Armstrong Siddeley Owners Club in the UK is a strong and well supported club, as is the Australian Armstrong Siddeley club, from whose members some of the ‘down under’ information was supplied.

Kind regards,

Jeff Jann

ED: Many thanks, Jeff. It never fails to amaze us how many mysteries like this are solved, given a little time.