CAR OF THE MONTH
February, 2005

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1953 Austin A40 Somerset Coupe`

Owner: Dennis Atkinson

One fine sunny day, three years ago, I was out looking at small English cars at Norm Scott’s residence, in Sooke B.C. Mr. Scott happens to have a reputation for having some very interesting vehicles, in various stages of restoration, and I had heard about a 105E Anglia Shooting Brake that was really peaking my interest. That was until I spotted an Austin A40 Somerset tucked away to the side of the garage. I hadn’t realized at that moment that it was a convertible, in fact I never knew that the convertibles even existed. I grew up in New Zealand and my mother drove a 1953 Austin A40 Somerset 4 door sedan for many years. I honed my driving skill on that particular vehicle for about a year before I went for my driving license.
That was it, love at first sight. It’s been a few years now and other priorities have come along that don’t give me much time to indulge in the restoration process. I have however, had all of the rust cut out and replaced with new metal also I’ve been finding and buying enough parts to complete a quality restoration. I hope to have it finished sometime before hell freezes over!

1953 AUSTIN A40 SOMERSET CONVERTIBLE

? # 51 OFF THE PRODUCTION LINE (1953)
? ONLY PRODUCED FOR 3 YEARS
? TOTAL PRODUCTION 7000
? 100 KNOWN TO EXIST WORLDWIDE
? 5 KNOWN CONVERTIBLES IN THE USA
? 4 KNOWN CONVERTIBLES IN CANADA
? HANDBUILT BY CARBODIES OF LONDON ENGLAND - THE SAME COMPANY THAT CUSTOMISED AUSTINS ETC. TO BE USED AS TAXIS

Ed. notes: I think that Dennis really needs some help with this one, including the questions that he poses.