VL 8960 - 1937 Austin 10 Saloon

First registered 11 January 1937, this car had one owner, the LeTall family, until it came to the Society.

VL 8960 was a 21st birthday present to Vincent LeTall from his grandfather, the car having covered 100,000 miles before Vincent received it. This mileage was achieved by the reps of LeTall's flour mill in Lincoln, which was in Princess Street off the High Street. The mill has since been turned into flats.

One of the Austin slogans of the 1930s was "You can depend on an Austin".

On our November 2003 Open Day Vincent's widow Elsie and daughter Wendy were taken for a trip in the 10. Mrs LeTall recounted how they used to go to Scarborough in it. They also used it for their honeymoon.

A few facts about VL 8960:

April 2004 The petrol pump has been removed and stripped. The diaphragm has been replaced with the red type (the original black ones are affected by unleaded petrol).

July 2004 - On the way to the Newark & Notts County Show in May, the Cambridge developed an oil leak from a flexible pipe. This has been cured by having a new pipe made up and fitted by a local firm.

October 2004 - The cylinder head has been removed and a decoke is to be carried out. The dynamo has been cleaned and painted whilst off the car. New gaskets have been obtained which turned out to be quite expensive, costing more than those obtained for the Austin 16/6.

January 2005 - Following a decoke the Ten is running again and after passing her MOT on 4 November 2004 was used to give rides at the November Open Day.

October 2005 - Work is being carried out on the exhaust system, also the correct jets are to be fitted to the carburettor - the ones fitted were found to be for an A40.