Car starts first time - after 50 years

A 1929 Austin car found languishing in a garage started first time - five decades after it was last driven.

The rare Austin 12/4 was owned by Roger Bulled's late father, Leslie, who had been given it brand new by his parents.

Mr Bulled, 63, discovered the old car whilst going through his father's possessions shortly after his death in 2008.

He turned the starter handle, to try to fire up the engine for first time since 1961, and was amazed to hear it turn over as if it had been driven every day.

He was too frightened to start the engine up fully in case it ruined the car, but is now putting it up for sale to allow an expert to restore it fully and hopefully get it onto the road.

He said: "I pumped up the tyres and they stayed up. The rubber is cracked but the inner tubes are obviously still intact, which is remarkable really.

"And the engine turned over when we tried it with the starter handle, but I didn't try to start her up in case I did any damage but I'm sure it would go."

Mr Bulled added: "My grandparents bought it in 1929 for my father to drive them around in. We lived in Barnet in North London and used to go on holiday to Cornwall or Devon.

"We used to set off very early in the morning, so I used to sleep on the floor in the back, there was no transmission tube so it was flat, and my sister laid on the back seat."

The car is expected to attract nationwide interest when it goes under the hammer at Unique Auctions in Lincoln on April 5.

ananova.com