1934 Austin 10 – A Remarkable Example with Documented Provenance and Award-Winning Restoration
First registered in Oxford on the 16th of July 1934, this Austin 10 represents one of the most enduring symbols of pre-war British motoring heritage. Finished in its original Blue over Black livery, the car retains matching numbers and its original registration plate – a true survivor of its era and a testament to nearly a century of careful stewardship.
Believed to have been laid up in Oxford during the Second World War, period accounts suggest the car may have seen limited wartime service, although no official record survives. Its early life remains part of its charm, the mystery adding a certain romance to its long and varied story.
The Austin’s documented history resumes in the late 20th century, when its second recorded owner acquired it in August 1982, keeping the car for twenty-five years. In August 2007, the car passed next door to a close friend and neighbour – a retired nuclear engineer named Andrew Mirams – who would become its third custodian and the man responsible for its extraordinary resurrection. When he purchased it, the car had been languishing on a driveway, exposed to the elements with a collapsed roof and significant deterioration. What followed was a meticulous and passionate restoration that would span nearly a decade.
Between 2007 and around 2014/2015, the Austin was completely rebuilt from the chassis up. The body was removed, all corrosion excised, and the structure made good before being repainted in its correct Blue over Black using high-quality two-pack paint. Every mechanical component was either rebuilt or renewed: the chassis was stripped and powder-coated; suspension, brakes, and steering were fully overhauled; new shock absorbers, tyres, and wiring loom fitted. The engine and gearbox were removed, with a new clutch and timing chain installed, the cylinder head rebuilt and decarbonised, and the entire unit reassembled with fresh gaskets. The interior received a full re-trim in blue leather with grey Wilton carpeting at a cost exceeding £4,000, while all timber was refitted in ash with marine-ply flooring, sealed and varnished to a fine standard. Chrome brightwork, save for the headlamp shells, was re-plated, and all window rubbers, tracks, and seals replaced.
The accompanying history file is extensive and beautifully presented, containing a photographic restoration record, typed expenditure sheets, and a detailed list of works carried out by Marley Way Garage under the care of Colin Cripps. Between 2007 and 2023, invoices total over £17,000 (excluding labour), including major works such as a £5,000 engine rebuild by Maynard Engineers Ltd and a £3,000 respray by Alan Warburton. Supplementary to these are countless smaller restorations and refinements that illustrate the remarkable thoroughness of the process.
Following completion, the Austin became a consistent show winner, securing first-place awards at the 750 MC Newark Park Car Show on five occasions, as well as honours at the Austin Ten Owners Club National Rally and the Kingswood Car Show. It was further subject to a mechanical rebuild in 2021 at 3,922 miles, receiving a new battery, starter solenoid, ignition components, and a full brake overhaul in accordance with ATDC specifications. Its most recent service and recorded oil change was completed in July 2025 at 4,140 miles.
Accompanying the car is a remarkable documentation set: multiple historic V5s and MOT certificates, the original Austin 10 List of Spare Parts booklet, detailed mileage records from 2020 to 2023, invoices, correspondence between past owners, and a USB archive of photographs and documents. Of particular note is the written story by Andrew Mirams, recounting his time with the car and its restoration journey, alongside a photograph of the trophies it has proudly accumulated.
Every aspect of this Austin’s presentation – from the meticulous restoration to the thoughtfully compiled history file – reflects the care and dedication invested in it over the decades. This is not simply a car but a curated piece of British motoring history, ready to be enjoyed, displayed, or preserved as a collector’s centrepiece.
A must-see example. Viewing is by appointment only.
PRICE: £9995