Hospice to benefit from sale of classic Austin 10

A classic car that has been given a complete makeover after being locked away in a barn for more than a third of a century is being sold to raise money for a hospice charity.

Tony Stubbings was given the Austin 10 Cambridge in 1988 as a 50th birthday gift, but by 2024 his son, Richard, wanted to knock down the barn in Chelmsford where the car was being stored.

He gave the 1938 vehicle to a local group of Austin enthusiasts, and they lovingly restored it.

One of the group, Hazel Clements, said they had needed a chainsaw to get the barn door open as it was covered by so much ivy.

The vintage vehicle was not in a roadworthy condition and was "covered in rat droppings, cobwebs and general detritus", she said.

Now that the enthusiasts have worked their magic on it, they have decided to sell it, with the proceeds going to Farleigh Hospice in Chelmsford.

Clements lost her daughter in 2004, and said she was helped by the hospice.

"We are trying to repair a debt to Farleigh that we can't ever repay," she said.

"They provided such wonderful care to our daughter in her last days."

Deborah de Boltz, head of fundraising at the hospice, said people and companies had pulled together to donate parts for the car's refurbishment, and a garage carried out the MoT for free.

The car is up for sale for £4,000 at Preston's Garage in Writtle, while its registration plate "FAE 66" is being sold separately for more than £3,000.

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