*Hi, thanks for watching, please see the list of other classic car videos on this channel here: **ua-cam.com/channels/KaTg9fPUvmUQi94FcnDbrg.html** RJ.* 👍👍👍👍👍
These cars were sold, albeit in relatively small numbers, in the United States. For a brief time those desperate for a new car, due to the hiatus in car production during the Second World War and before that the deprivation of the Great Depression, would take anything with four wheels and and engine. As noted by the narrator, eventually most of these cars ended up on drag strips as "Gassers," with massive engines stuffed in, particularly the two-door models, so stock examples are very rare...
Thanks very much for the video. It's great to share the details of cars of a bygone age. Mind you, when I go out of my flat in the morning hey ! There's my '67 Morris Minor and a '54 Somerset alongside.
My very first car was an Austin Devon. I purchased it second hand in 1965, for R90, and drove it for many years during my first years as a school teacher in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa. It was a remarkable, comfortable and reliable vehicle! Why don't car-makers of today produce simple and reliable vehicles with four wheels, an engine and gearbox and a steering wheel? Who needs all the accoutrements such as wifi, touch screens, blu-tooth and rear and front view cameras and a multitude of gauges which most drivers seem not to use nor even understand? In those days we knew how to drive our cars properly, safely and courteously, without the use of artificial and AI add-ons. At the age of eighty years young, I believe that we were better off then than we are now.
GREAT STUFF!!! I remember my A40s and A55 s and A60s as a kid.You had to remove the distributor to access---remove the starter. I used to show off in parking lots with the hand crank! CHEERS again from Westcoast Canada!!! P.S. The hydraulic wishbone shocks were always leaking oil!
Our family had a Devon, when it was fairly old.I think someone's guide dog must have written in the brochure, that it was Plesing from every angle". How to make a car that was comfortable, and quiet , and roomy and practical, snatch disaster from the jaws of success, in the looks department! But reliable - we are from the South London/Surrey area, and went on summer holiday to the coast, at Bognor , with the car exhibiting complete reliability. Apparently, it was the top selling car in Europe at the time. Those people who winged on about only German or Japanese cars being any good, should take note, and stop boring people!
Very interesting and a brilliant example of advertising puffery. However....halfway was quite enough as the piercing sybillants via the microphone became too unpleasant to put up with.
They have a lot of character and are quite roomy. Parts not too bad to find so long as body and interior trim are good already. Head gaskets can be a bit prone to go but easy enough to replace.
In the UK at least Devons and Dorsets were all floor change, although the related A40 vans and pickups did switch to column shift around the time that the Somerset saloon took over from the Devon iirc.
Not correct to say that all UK Devons were floor change. The column change was introduced with the GS 3 model Devon around 1951 which immediately preceded the GS4 Somerset in 1952. All Somerset saloons were column change.
To OLD CLASSIC CAR. Regarding the comparison to the I suppose fairly similar Jowett Javelin, do you think you could borrow on from their owners club, and a review of it? Now that WOULD be interesting!
*Hi, thanks for watching, please see the list of other classic car videos on this channel here: **ua-cam.com/channels/KaTg9fPUvmUQi94FcnDbrg.html** RJ.* 👍👍👍👍👍
These cars were sold, albeit in relatively small numbers, in the United States. For a brief time those desperate for a new car, due to the hiatus in car production during the Second World War and before that the deprivation of the Great Depression, would take anything with four wheels and and engine. As noted by the narrator, eventually most of these cars ended up on drag strips as "Gassers," with massive engines stuffed in, particularly the two-door models, so stock examples are very rare...
Thanks very much for the video. It's great to share the details of cars of a bygone age. Mind you, when I go out of my flat in the morning hey ! There's my '67 Morris Minor and a '54 Somerset alongside.
Always raise a smile I'm sure, thanks for watching
I have had my Devvon for 35 years now, it hasn't been restored just maintained. They were very popular in Western Canada. Cheers
Sounds neat, I really liked the '49 Devon that I had years ago
My very first car was an Austin Devon. I purchased it second hand in 1965, for R90, and drove it for many years during my first years as a school teacher in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa. It was a remarkable, comfortable and reliable vehicle! Why don't car-makers of today produce simple and reliable vehicles with four wheels, an engine and gearbox and a steering wheel? Who needs all the accoutrements such as wifi, touch screens, blu-tooth and rear and front view cameras and a multitude of gauges which most drivers seem not to use nor even understand? In those days we knew how to drive our cars properly, safely and courteously, without the use of artificial and AI add-ons. At the age of eighty years young, I believe that we were better off then than we are now.
Agreed, I suppose some of the Dacia cars are fairly close to being basic
GREAT STUFF!!! I remember my A40s and A55 s and A60s as a kid.You had to remove the distributor to access---remove the starter. I used to show off in parking lots with the hand crank! CHEERS again from Westcoast Canada!!! P.S. The hydraulic wishbone shocks were always leaking oil!
Hi Darryl, thanks for watching, lots of BMC stuff on the channel now and more planned so please keep an eye on it
@@oldclassiccarUK Will Do ! I AM a SUBSCRIBER
Our family had a Devon, when it was fairly old.I think someone's guide dog must have written in the brochure, that it was Plesing from every angle". How to make a car that was comfortable, and quiet , and roomy and practical, snatch disaster from the jaws of success, in the looks department! But reliable - we are from the South London/Surrey area, and went on summer holiday to the coast, at Bognor , with the car exhibiting complete reliability. Apparently, it was the top selling car in Europe at the time. Those people who winged on about only German or Japanese cars being any good, should take note, and stop boring people!
Very interesting and a brilliant example of advertising puffery. However....halfway was quite enough as the piercing sybillants via the microphone became too unpleasant to put up with.
I am thinking of picking one up now . How would you rate it. Cheers
They have a lot of character and are quite roomy. Parts not too bad to find so long as body and interior trim are good already. Head gaskets can be a bit prone to go but easy enough to replace.
@oldclassiccarUK thank you for that. I think I will have a look into this one . Do you think they will hold there value. Cheers
The oil pressure should be what on a a40 1951. Cheers
I don't remember it was a long time ago now, maybe try the Austin Counties Facebook group? They'll have more recent memories than I!
Great car. I loved them as a kid. Personally I prefer the Somorset
I owned both but preferred the older car myself
When did the column change come in?
In the UK at least Devons and Dorsets were all floor change, although the related A40 vans and pickups did switch to column shift around the time that the Somerset saloon took over from the Devon iirc.
Not correct to say that all UK Devons were floor change. The column change was introduced with the GS 3 model Devon around 1951 which immediately preceded the GS4 Somerset in 1952. All Somerset saloons were column change.
At least 2 floor change Somersets survive.
The rear opening doors were,bloody awful to try and get in of. My Jowett Javelin was much easier.
Yes they were a bit narrow on my '49 Devon
To OLD CLASSIC CAR. Regarding the comparison to the I suppose fairly similar Jowett Javelin, do you think you could borrow on from their owners club, and a review of it? Now that WOULD be interesting!
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