There are lots of photos below the description text. Feel free to contact me if you need any other specific photos before bidding.
Summary:
Reg no LJO522 (with buff registration
document, old style V5 and new V5 documents).
The plate is shown on the V5 as being transferable. Engine and frame numbers
all match manufacture (and the V5) so this would make a lovely end
result. This car
was last taxed in 1967 and still has that disc in the windscreen. Apart from bald tyres,
it’s not obvious why it was taken off the road, although as now, trends
had changed, technology had advanced and many drivers wanted newer cars. It appears to have the ‘De
Luxe’ spec with sunroof and ‘unspillable ashtray’ among the proclaimed
features.
The H type was built from 1939-1947, with
a gap in the middle while the company built Churchill tanks, but don’t
let that put you off. When
they were introduced, they were very advanced for their time with a
number of important innovations, like independent front suspension with
double-acting dampers, an economical OHV engine, synchromesh gearbox,
4-wheel Lockheed hydraulic brakes and ‘draught-free’ ventilation. More significant, this was
the first ‘unitary’ (chassisless) car that Vauxhall built and the first
in this country. The
cars built prior to the war had a few internal and external differences
but share the majority of parts and the post war cars are much fewer in
remaining numbers – for pre-war cars (with the vertical slatted
radiator grille) there are about 150 known to remain and only about 30
post-war Vauxhall 10s, which made it even more appealing. Another appeal is that
these cars would work with modern traffic – they have a top speed of
60mph and a combined fuel economy figure of 40mpg.
I saw it as a weekend toy that I could choose to commute
to work in on nice days through the summer when I wanted to.
My car was barn stored for 41 years prior
to me buying it in 2009 after seeing it at the Vauxhall Heritage Centre
in Luton. I’ve
dry-stored it in a garage since then so it’s not seen any weather since
(it seems) 1967.
When I bought it, it was completely
untouched, apart from having its tyres pumped up, the main attraction
for me was that it was completely unspoilt by any previous restoration
attempts and despite that, it was sound in body and frame and will make
a relatively easy restoration. I’m
effectively passing it on in that same unspoilt state.
No extra holes in the dash, no non-matching switchgear or
fittings. It truly
is original.
I didn’t want to rush into a restoration
straight away as I realised I had not got the time yet to do a good
job, so I started to look at mechanical parts first, namely
ascertaining whether the engine would run and whether the other
components worked or not. Time
has been my failing (with other projects taking priority) and the car
has lain untouched for too long. I’d
like to see someone else put it back on the road rather than it wait
for another few years in my garage.
The engine took very little effort to get going and you
can see a video of the first time it ran here:
Condition
I'll try to describe it's condition fairly
- it needs extensive restoration so my appraisal might not be the same
as yours. Please use this description to decide if you want
to look at the car, if you do, please contact me to make arrangements
before the end of the auction. If you don't want to look at
the car before the auction end, that's also fine but your bid is to
purchase the car and not for an appointment to view or haggle after the
auction has finished. In return, I won't set a reserve and
also won't cancel this auction after the first bid has been received.
Body – surprisingly
very good indeed – all solid and no areas for concern except for two
very small patches needed behind the rear spring mounts between the
floor and rear panel (see photos).
That’s a common rust spot on these and will need only a
very minor patch repair to make good as it’s all underneath the car. The floor and sills are
good and have no signs of deterioration.
Nothing has been covered up and it’s really easy to see
it’s solid. All
paintwork needs refinishing, when it was put into storage it appears to
have been overpainted with some kind of wax, which comes off(as ou'll
seee some shiny parts where I got some polish on it) but has attacked
the pain in several places. Pretty
much all the rubber items on the car are perished and need replacement
– the Club can help with some and I can put the winning bidder in touch
with a club member who supplies new reproduction replacement items. The external chrome pretty
much all needs re-doing, but the metal underneath is all good, so this
shouldn’t be a difficult job. The
front bumper is not shown in the photos, but is present and will come
with the car – it also needs re-chroming and some correction where it’s
previously been bent. The original front number plate is also
present. The spare wheel has no tyre but the exterior
steel wheel cover that fits on the boot lid is present and
stored inside the car at present.
Interior – All 100%
complete, but requires some work.
The headlining needs complete replacement and at least the
front seat needs to be completely re-covered.
The door cards are restorable or would make excellent
patterns for replacements. The ignition key is present and operates all
locks. All the
locks, hinges and windows operate correctly, the sunroof operates
although is interfered with due to the failed headlining. For a ‘runnning
restoration’, you could replace the headlining but cover the front seat
with a blanket or use as is. I
intended to have it re-trimmed in exactly the same cloth with leather
combination.
Wings – Rear wings are
quite rusty at the bottoms but would be restorable, the Vauxhall Owners
Club runs a spares scheme for members, which offers good quality
fibreglass replacements at reasonable prices.
The front wings are basically restorable but are pitted
and have a couple of minor dents.
Doors – All in correct
shape, some have rusty bottoms, but again, due to their simple shape it
won’t be difficult to repair these.
Mechanics – Engine
runs very sweetly and has new oil and ignition coil, carburettor and
fuel pump carefully refurbished – the latter now fitted with a new
diaphragm, but is otherwise untouched.
While I have run it from the fuel tank, I have been using
a small can as a temporary tank on the occasions I’ve used the engine
to move it.
Suspension – All
appears to work as intended with good damping, but I’ve not inspected
it further.
Brakes – Foot brake
doesn’t work at all, I’ve rebuilt the front axles with new (club
refurbished) slave cylinders and new flexible couplings (again through
the Club). The
handbrake works fine.
Engine – Starts and
runs sweetly, an easily accessible core plug had failed and all I have
done is push it back into place for now, a new one is included. The water pump leaks, but
the Club offers fairly priced reconditioning / exchange services. Compression and oil
pressure appear to be good as the oil light goes out quickly on
cranking and always before it starts. Without the water pump running
I’ve never run it past ‘hand warm’ which equates to less than a minute
of running from cold on any occasion, I put water in the system when I
move the car into and out of the garage and it has not overheated.
Electrics – There’s no
fan belt, but the dynamo did work while the fan belt was fitted about
two years ago. The
car is original and currently has a 6V system with positive earth and
dynamo. I can
demonstrate it running using a home made battery from another project,
but no battery is included in the sale.
Everyone I have spoken to recommends converting to 12V
negative earth and it looks to be a straightforward job with very minor
changes (dynamo and starter motor need no modification). Some of the
wiring is in poor condition and will need replacement.
Wheels and tyres –
Wheels sound, all hub caps are present. Tyres all hold air, but need
replacement as they’re bald and very perished as you’d expect.
Sale – Bidding is
to buy. I’ll make
myself available any evening after 7.30pm and through the weekend to
show prospective bidders around the car so you can make your own mind
up as to whether this is for you or not.
The car obviously needs to be collected
from Orpington in Kent (just off M25 Junction 4) and I’ll help with
loading onto your trailer if needed.
I’d like collection to be within a week of auction end,
but provided the winning bidder contacts me directly after the end of
the auction to agree arrangements I’m sure we can work out a plan.
If you have any questions, please get in
touch using the ‘ask a question’ link.
I’ll tell you what I know and you can arrange to come and
see the car for yourself.
If you want to ask questions or
come and see the car, please feel free to give me
a call on 07770 142664 . Currently I
may attend the 'Simply Vauxhall' show at Beaulieu on Sunday but am more
than happy to be available in Orpington to show the car to prospective
buyers on Sunday instead if wanted - just let me know.
CALL
07770 142664 with any enquiries please.
Happy
bidding and good luck!
Ian.
Photos - please contact me if you need any other specific ones before bidding.
