Val Biro, Gumdrop & The Vintage Austin Register Ltd

Val has written 37 Gumdrop books spanning the 50 years since he acquired his 1926 Heavy 12/4 Clifton Tourer in 1961. He has of course done other things as well and you can find out about some of these HERE, as well as by a swift Google from HERE.

Mr. B. is first and foremost a talented illustrator and a few of his drawings from the Gumdrop books are shown here - the pictures will be evocative of many a vintage Austin experience. You will hopefully have noticed Val's caricatures of the Committee members on the Officials page.

Back in 1995, Val wrote an article for the magazine telling the true tale of how Gumdrop came to be. You can read his interesting story of the origin of an icon by following the links below in turn:

The Real Gumdrop

A Word from The Chairman

Val Biro has received, at one time or another, most of the VAR awards, particularly the award for Regular Use of the Austin Car. His Austin Twelve ‘Gumdrop’ has regularly appeared at schools, charity events and rallies over many years, dating from before my time and, the way he is going, probably long after my time too.

Val is not in the first flush of youth; indeed he may even be older than his car, but his unfailing enthusiasm and regular attendance at the AGM put many younger members to shame. He is indeed one of the pillars of the VAR and an example to all members of how to really enjoy your Vintage Austin.

David Cantor

Val Biro - the Herald of the Vintage Car Movement?

In 1953 the film 'Genevieve' gave a welcome boost to the interest in the preservation and restoration of Veteran cars; some years later the films 'The Fast Lady' and 'The Yellow Rolls Royce' did much the same for reviving interest in Vintage cars, which around that time had reached the stage when their worth was probably at its lowest. Thus the interest in 'Vintage' Austin motor cars was born and continues unabated to this very day.

Then came Val Biro, who in 1961 had purchased a 1926 Austin 12/4 'Clifton' tourer, which he named 'GUMDROP'. Val, already an accomplished artist and illustrator, started to weave fanciful stories around his beloved Austin and soon Gumdrop books were much in demand by young and older readers alike.

So we can perhaps attribute some of the success of The Vintage Austin Register and the interest being shown in preserving and running these delightful old motorcars to Val Biro and of course 'GUMDROP'.

Jim Stringer