motoring
Louis Henry
Island Life - April/May 2011
Dennis and Joan Squires
Bob and Margaret Roullier
Viv Orchard
Phil Allman
1924 Austin 12
Austin owners are
a driving success
As Viv Orchard was driving one of his
get-together, with Isle of Wight
three Austin cars around the Island
Austins now having 70 members, with a
one day he noticed several other proud
combined total of 110 Austin vehicles.
owners of the same manufacturer doing
likewise.
restored it.”
The members have a total of 63 of the
ever-popular Austin 7s between them,
Viv, who lives in Ashey, said: “The
with 47 other types of Austins, ranging
earliest car is a1924 Austin 12
from a 1928 model through to the more
So in 1996 it was decided that all
four-seater touring car, which is based
modern Austin Healey sports car. Viv’s
owners of any of the famous Austin
in Sandown, and has a very interesting
own trio comprise two 1932 Austin 7s
makes should get together and form
history. Its owner was on holiday in
and one former Austin London Taxi,
what can only be described as an
Australia and happened to discover the
dating back to 1935. One of the Austin
unofficial club, simply known as Isle of
car under a dust sheet at the back of a
7s was his very first car, given to him
Wight Austins.
garage. After returning to England he
for his 21st birthday, 55 years ago!
Such has been the interest that
members are now invited to a weekly
68
enquired if the car was for sale, bought
it, shipped it back to England and
He said: “I was the second owner
when I had it as a present, and the
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