The Vintage Austin Register Ltd

Bob Wyatt was joint founder of the VAR in its first incarnation as the Vintage Austin 12/4 Register. Along with Douglas Childs and Jim Heaton, he established contact with the Austin Motor Company who gave their blessing to the newly formed 12/4 Register and allowed the use of the Austin company logos in perpetuity. Bob has written a number of books in the Historic Vehicle genre, including on the Austin Motor Company, the Austin Seven and the great man himself - Herbert Austin.

David Cantor: Elected Chairman of the VAR in 1994, and for the past 17 years, the man with the gavel has Chaired all the Committee meetings and Annual General Meetings. David is a successful businessman and an excellent leader for the VAR, positive and decisive in his approach.

Picture: Val Biro ©2009

Jim Stringer: elected Magazine Editor in 1994, but has now stepped down as of 2010.
Jim is now enjoying a well-earned retirement and has never been busier; he has for years financed the production of an excellent range of VAR-related regalia and continues to do so.
See the Repro & Regalia page for details.

Jim is also the Vice President of the VAR - akin to being a minister without portfolio; the role is purely honorary.

Frank Smith:

Frank, who has been a member of the VAR for many years and Secretary since 1977, deals with enquiries regarding membership. He is also approved by the DVLA to authenticate applications for retention of original registered numbers and can also help with applications for age-related numbers where original registration documents have been lost. As Archivist, he holds a large library of handbooks, parts lists and sales brochures relating to pre-1934 Austins.
He has not visited a barber since 1968 when the price was raised to 3 shillings (15p)!

Picture: Val Biro ©2009

Simon Edwards:

Simon is a mysterious figure about whom little is known .... at least by me, the poor old web gopher. It is suspected by many ... well, me ... that he is a secretive figure of great influence, like the legendary Howard Hughes. Mind you, as long as he pays my modest invoices, it's really not a problem. In fact, I'm willing to write all sorts of flattering stuff here, since he's the man with the cheque book .... lovely chap, Simon. A proper gent, as you might say ... grovel grovel creep creep ....

Picture: Val Biro ©2009

Ken Davies:

Ken owned his first Austin, a light 12/4, about 50 years ago. Much later, about 27 years later, he was introduced to the VAR by a friend in South London who owned an 18hp Chalfont. Ken has been a member ever since. He has also been a member of the 750 Motor Clubs, the Pre War Austin 7 Club, the VSCC and others besides. Currently he owns a 1926 Clifton (6V), a 1930 20/6 truck (a hot!), 1927 Chummy, a 1930 Ulster Replica, a TR6 and a TR3A.

He volunteered for the spares secretary’s job about 12 years ago to try to put something back in to the club, which he says has given him so much over the years.

He also says “Don’t ask me anything technical – I'm just the guy who posts the bits to people ….. I know nothing!!”

Picture: Val Biro ©2009

Magazine Editor:

Newsletter Editor:

Restoration and Technical Secretary:

Spares Co-ordinator:

Rally Secretary:

Membership & Vehicle Registrar:

Web Site & Publicity:

Austin 7 Representatives:

Historian:

Archivist:

Rev. John Campbell

Magazine Editor: The quarterly journal of the VAR enjoys a regular and steady input of items for inclusion from its readers. It contains a balanced mixture of topical, technical and historic features within its pages and is well illustrated by photographs, many in colour, in a neat glossy format.

Rev. John Campbell - Tel: 01423 880403

Caryl Billingham

THE NEWSLETTER: a monthly mailing that keeps you up to date with what's happening in the VAR far and wide. The Newsletter includes Sales and Wanted pages, to sell those unwanted spares or find the part that's keeping you off the road, or for buying your first (or next) Austin!
Letters from members as well as details of rallies, road runs, visits and monthly pub meetings keep you up to date with the latest Austin news.

Caryl Billingham, well-known to the cognoscenti as David Cantor's indispensible PA, has kindly volunteered to take over the job of producing the newsletter.

Caryl Billingham - Tel: 01280 702031

Tony Smallbone

The Technical and Restoration Secretary can advise on all aspects pertaining to mechanical and body restoration, as well as the correct and original parts needed to complete an accurate and original rebuild or restoration.
A comprehensive list of specialist firms and suppliers is available and kept up to date. We primarily cater for Austin 12, 16 and 20; Austin 7 has many specialists and these can be found listed in most vintage journals.

Tony Smallbone - Tel: 0121 4727139 (Day)

Bob James

The Spares Co-Ordinator looks after the manufacture and production of spare parts. If you can help with this side of things, or have useful suggestions or sources to share, contact Bob James.

For Spares Sales, contact Ken Davies, Spares Secretary.

Bob James - Tel: 01691 648316

John Lye

The VAR run three or four rallies every year around the country.
Local meetings and summer road runs are also a regular feature; information for these meetings and events can be found in the monthly newsletter.

Rally Secretary: John Lye

Tel: 01179 503815

Neil Mosley

The Membership & Vehicle Registrar maintains a register of all qualifying Austin cars, present and past. He produces an annual membership list which includes details of members cars. He also deals with membership renewals and answers general enquiries about vehicle history and dating.

Neil Mosley - Tel: 01246 823752

Mike Eggenton

Lorna & Alan Martin

Lorna is currently standing in for Roger Packer as Registrar whilst Roger enjoys a brief spell of treatment and hospital food. Alan is currently scanning over a ton of 'press cuttings' formally kept by the Austin Motor Company, the intention being eventually to make them available to members on DVD.

Lorna & Alan Martin - Tel: 01582 412556

Bob Wyatt

Bob Wyatt

Bob saved a huge amount of historical stuff from disappearing when Longbridge was wound up and is a mine of historical information. He has written a number of books on the Austin subject in general and the Club is fortunate to have him as resident Historian.

Frank Smith

Club Archive: the VAR has an extensive archive of Austin-related material, including sales brochures, catalogues, drawings, owner's manuals, parts lists, photographs and the ever-useful Austin Garage manuals. All are available as copies for the restorer or researcher.

It is intended that the archive will be catalogued in the coming year and the possibility of building a 'soft copy' library will be assessed.

Frank Smith - Tel: 01773 831646

01423 880403

01280 702031

0121 472 7139

01691 648316

01179 503815

01246 823752

01709 812415

01582 412556

01773 831646

Hover your mouse over an official's name for more details

Header bar for Overseas and Local Reps Section

Australia

New Zealand

Ireland

Southern England

John Blythe, 13 Sebire Avenue,Wandin North,Victoria 3139, Australia

VAR Australia: the VAR Australia branch was started in the early seventies by David Vaughan. He produced a quarterly magazine and organised a number of runs and social gatherings, but by the mid 80s, it became hard to find the necessary time to devote to the cause. Around then, John Blythe began restoration of his 1926 Twelve and, meeting David at an autojumble, with help and encouragement persuaded him to carry on. The VARA found a new lease of life and grew to be a very much respected and well known group in the Australian (particularly Victorian) vintage car movement.
In 1999, when David moved to England, John took over the magazine and is still producing it on a quarterly basis. VARA has 152 members Australia-wide.

To contact John, click the 'Australia' link to the left of this box.

Peter Fry, 'Penningtons', 11 Kare Kare Road, Raumati South, Kapiti Coast, New Zealand Tel: +64 4 905 3938

VAR New Zealand Representative: Peter Fry founded the VAR NZ in 1969, some ten years after the establishment of the Vintage Austin 12/4 Register, the fore-runner of the VAR. He was Secretary & Bulletin Editor for some years, until the club became an Incorporated Society. At that point Peter became Executive President and held the post until last year, when he stepped aside and became Patron. He still writes for their quarterly magazine and looks after their reference library.

It should be made clear that VAR NZ is an organisation in its own right and not a section of our VAR; we are proud to be associated with them and to share the name. They cater for all pre-War designed Austins manufactured to 1948 and have a membership of steady 650 or so.

http://www.austin.co.nz/

George Fulton, 119 Shellinghill Road, Culleybackey, Ballymena, Co. Antrim Northern Ireland BT43 5QQ Tel: 02825 880666

David Charles, Normandy Hill Cottage, Normandy Common, Normandy, Surrey GU3 2AP Tel: 01483 810906