Ex-Pat Moss, Monte Carlo Rally 1958 Austin A40 Farina

Registration no. XOE 778 Chassis no. AA2S62642

Odometer Reading: TBA
MoT Expiry: Exempt

*Ex- Pat Moss/Ann Wisdom A40 rally car
*Won ladies prize and 10th overall on 1959 Monte Carlo rally
*Previously restored in 1980

The Austin A40 was a historically significant car for Austin, and is often overlooked in the history books. The A40 marked a dramatic change in the design language of BMC, with many brands looking towards Italian design houses to style their everyday family cars. With its new design, the Austin A40 also received a new name – "Farina" – which was a tribute to Battista Farnia's Pinin Farina design studio in Turin, Italy. Marked as a replacement for the A35, the A40 (which nameplates represented the power output) is hailed as one of the first iterations of the modern hatchback design.

This 1958 A40 Farina "XOE 778" is a most historic example that in the hands of Pat Moss and Ann Wisdom won the ladies prize at the 1959 Monte Carlo Rally – where they impressively finished 10th overall. The car is accompanied with a good file and buff log book, with images and stamps documenting the car's extensive history. The vendor has also documented the use of the car after it was purchased in September 1991 and prepared for stage rallying by Parkinson's Mullusk Co. Antrim. The documentation shows that the car competed in five rally's in 1992, including the Donegal Historic Rally, Cork Historic Rally and the circuit of Ireland History Rally. The A40 was featured in the first ever issue of Practical Classics in 1980 where they fully restored the car. Some 40 years on the A40 will again be on the cover of Practical Classics to celebrate the magazines milestone. Today, the car is in a good and usable condition and retains many historic and original stickers, and was made ready for road use by Robert Dickson in November 2016. Overall, the bodywork is solid and presents well, however there are small blemishes as you would expect with a competition car. Inside, the interior is purposeful but shows that it has been put to good use, and comes equipped with roll cage and bucket seats. The car offers a new owner the rare opportunity to own a piece of history, with the option to use the car as is or further enhance the performance and return to the rally stages in anger once more.


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