This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Classic Sale at the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show 2026 on Saturday the 21st of March - Sunday the 22nd of March, NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT.
Introduced in 1950 and produced until 1954, the Austin A70 Hereford Drophead Coupé bridged the Hampshire and A90 Westminster, reflecting Austin’s move towards integrated body styling. Unusually, its column gear change and bench front seat provide seating for six — a rarely seen configuration in the UK — making for a notably sociable open-air touring car.
Purchased in Bristol in the early 1980s and used regularly across the West of England before periods of careful storage during overseas work, with repainting completed in the 1990s and further trim and mechanical recommissioning later
Finished in its original Sardonyx Brown Metallichrome, resprayed using a rediscovered period paint recipe, with a brown hood, body-colour headlamp trims and original leather upholstery retained, along with a factory-fitted two-dial burglar alarm and valve radio
Powered by the original 2.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing around 70bhp, paired with a manual gearbox, with a drivetrain shared across several contemporary Austin models including the London Taxi
Period welding has been carried out to the rear sills, with ongoing mechanical attention over the years by both the owner and an Austin-Healey specialist, subsequently featured in a period magazine road test
Retaining its original registration number PAE 559 and offered with a compelling backstory spanning more than 40 years of ownership, this A70 Hereford presents an appealing and unique opportunity for an enthusiast drawn to early post-war British cars with individuality and provenance