1928 Austin 20/6 Coach-Built Pick-up | Brightwells | Auction Ends: Wed 28th Oct

Unusual configuration of an Austin 20; appears to have been registered in County Tyrone, Ireland; used as a hearse with a glass body taken from a horse drawn carriage; been in long term ownership

This 1928 Austin 20/6 is an unusual example with a particularly interesting Irish history. Powered by the 3.5-litre side valve six-cylinder engine, no. 2538, it retains its original Irish registration JI 4971, a County Tyrone/Omagh mark. The 20/6 was Austin's six-cylinder Twenty, entering volume production in 1928.

The car was built as a hearse some time ago, with a 19th-century horse-drawn hearse body mounted onto the Austin chassis. A period photograph in the file shows JI 4971 in this form, with the registration clearly visible. The former hearse body is understood to have been retained by a Northern Ireland museum, with enquiries currently ongoing.

The car was advertised for sale by James McGlone of Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone, in the May 1982 edition of Vintage Austin Register magazine, with the original advertisement retained. The vendor's father acquired the chassis and cab in 1988 and, being a time-served joiner, constructed the present pick-up body himself.

Now dry-stored in a workshop, the Austin is in fair general order but is not currently running or driving and has been stored for some time.

A genuine barn-find Austin with unusually well-documented Irish provenance and the added interest of its former hearse configuration.

There is a huge amount of paperwork accompanying the car, mainly club related but also a quite a few period photographs.

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