The red C-cab van UX 4810 represents an early Type AD. It has some very interesting vintage features, such as levers at the steering wheel centre to control the ignition and fuel mixture. However, this very smart little van has a secret past, it was not a van when new! It left the factory in 1929 as a Type RK fabric bodied saloon, ch. No. 76782 car no. A7-9274, eng. No. 80280.
In the late 1990s, it was bought by Barry Goodman, its fabric bodywork and frame were totally rotten and beyond saving – so were scrapped. A brand new, replica van body from John Heath Coachbuilders Ltd., was purchased and fitted (this often came as a kit of parts with very detailed, handwritten assembly instructions). The finished van looks totally authentic. So, this vehicle could have left the factory as a van but didn’t. However, it is a van now, looks correct and would be indistinguishable from a factory van; except it does not have the Thomas Startin body plate but a Heath one. Because the bodywork is relatively new it is in excellent condition, and the bright red paintwork is a real ‘head-turner’.
The chassis (from the original saloon) was first registered on 21st May 1929. Because the early vans were based on the tourer they could only cope with a payload of 2.5cwt. The 747cc sv engine is the usual Seven one rated at 7.8hp with a non-synchromesh, three-speed gearbox, short open propellor shaft, torque tube, then spiral bevel final drive unit. Wheelbase is only 6ft-3in.
EARLY MODEL HISTORY
Early vans, Types AB, AC, and AD 1923-30 and the AE 1929-30, were all based on the ‘Chummy’ tourer and bodied by Austin’s preferred bodybuilder Thomas Startin of 71 Aston Road North, Birmingham. Because the early vans were built on car chassis; they didn’t have their own identity on the ‘VIN plate.’
October 1923-1926 Types AB and AC – tourer-based vans had their front
