Letters to the editor
Looking for an A40 Convertible
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As my brothers and I grew up on the family farm south of Dunedin we seemed to have an innate desire to own motor cars that have now become rare classics, among them being a 1935 Chrysler Convertible, a 1953 Austin A40 Somerset Convertible and later a 1961 Skoda Felicia Sports. Now having reached an age in life where time is available to do some research I have embarked on trying to track down what became of these vehicles. Having pretty much traced the history of the Chrysler, the remains of which lie in storage in Oxford I am turning my attention to the Austin.
The Austin A40 Somerset Convertible was acquired by an elder brother from a family friend. It was swapped for a V8 coupe. The friend had, he believes, purchased the Austin from Garret & Kramer Car Sales in Dunedin in the late 1950’s. My brother subsequently traded the Austin in for a Ford V8 Single Spinner, and that is the last we know of the Austin.
The Convertible Austin A40 Somerset body was produced by Carbodies of Coventry and only about 500 were produced. One model of the A40 Somerset Convertible was, I understand, brought to New Zealand by the former world champion Speedway racer, Barry Briggs. This car was restored in Christchurch and was advertised for sale in a 1999 motoring magazine. It is believed it was sold to a purchaser living in Ashburton. It may still be there, but that was not the car my brother owned.
On reading your publication The Best of Classic Driver – A Dashboard View I discovered in the article The Racing Legacy of Dunedin a photo at the bottom of page 35 a racing A40 Somerset Convertible. I expect this is the same car my brother later owned.
The photo attached was taken in the snow at home where we lived. It is a fitting photo as it is snowing in Dunedin as I write this.
Any information your readers can provide on the car and whatever came of it will be very much appreciated. Best contact is email adept@paradise.net.nz John Cuttance Port Chalmers TH Congratulations John! You receive $50 in MTA Vouchers.
An Australian Welcome
I have been buying the magazine for 10 years, every issue from the beginning until early 2009 when I shifted to Sydney, and I had been buying NZ Classic Car since it came out too, there is room for them both as far as I am concerned.
Since then I have bought them every time I return to NZ, sometimes I will strike it lucky enough to be there just as a new one comes out and the current one is still on the shelves. My last trip back was April.
It’s good to see I can get my fix of Classic Driver from the local bookshop, here in North Lakes, near Brisbane, Queensland.
Some years ago I gave my collection of Motorman magazines to Allan Dick at his Straight Eight office in Mount Eden. They dated from about 1964 to early 1980s some up to around 1984 when it seemed to disappear.
I am looking forward to the next issue, and hopefully you can get some trans Tasman input, especially around the Historic/Classic meetings at Lakeside and Queensland Raceway, Ipswich.
I get to go to Lakeside several times a year and love the low key atmosphere, a bit like Pukekohe was back in 60s-70s, (and still is for Classic meetings, well, it was in 2008 the last time I went) where you can get close to the track and wander the pits, talk with the drivers and crew.
I hope the venture works out. Roger Dowding North Lakes, QLD TH Thanks Roger. We have always had a core of dedicated Australian subscribers but it is a very exciting move for us to have Classic Driver on the newsstands in Australia. Tell all your friends!