Peter Wood's Austin A30 'Albert ' is our car of the Month for April...
"I owned an Austin A30 back in the early 1970s and really loved it, so I have always wanted to get another. Eventually I found Albert at Sussex Classics Ltd and I bought him in June 2021.
Although he’s a long way from concours condition, he has brought back happy memories for visitors to the Goodwood Classic Breakfast Club and at Amberley Museum’s classic car show.
According to a plate under the bonnet, he was supplied by Henly’s (Bristol) Ltd in November 1955.
The A30 was produced by Austin from May 1952 to September 1956. It was launched at the 1951 Earls Court Motor Show as the “New Austin Seven”, and was Austin's competitor to the Morris Minor. At launch, the car cost £507 (equivalent to about £17,000 in today’s money) undercutting the Minor by £62.
The A30 was the first car to have the legendary ‘A’ series engine, which was developed for it. Originally only a 4-door saloon, 2-door variants (like Albert) were introduced in late 1953. Optional extras included ashtrays, heater, passenger sun visor, overriders, passenger wiper and a radio! The A30 was replaced by the A35 in 1956, after 223,264 had been built.
Albert has a 948cc engine developing 34 bhp at 4,750 rpm (he has been upgraded from the original 803cc). His estimated top speed is 75 mph, with a theoretical 0-60 time of around 30 seconds!
