The Austin A90 Atlantic is a classic car model produced by Austin Motor Company from 1949 to 1952. With its sleek design and powerful engine, it has become an iconic example of 1950s British automotive engineering.
After years of neglect and obscurity, this remarkable car from the post-war era has been given a second chance, and it now shines as a true masterpiece, unlike any other in the world. Its story, however, is anything but simple.
David Whyley is an incredibly fortunate man, but his Austin A90 Atlantic is even luckier. This car has not only survived the ravages of time, but it has also been lovingly restored to its former glory, becoming a symbol of perseverance, passion, and dedication. Looking at it now, you can almost feel the car’s soul, as if it had a life of its own, and had weathered the storms of life with grace and dignity.
There was a talented drummer named Ricky Lee Brawn who had a fascination with how British culture and design reimagined American traditions. He loved how the UK always tried to create something unique, even if it wasn’t always perfect. He thought of iconic matchups like Elvis versus Cliff Richard or Flash Gordon versus Dan Dare, and even car comparisons like the Hudson Hornet versus the Austin Atlantic.
When it came time to create the album cover for the band’s 1982 release, See This Space, Ricky knew he wanted to use an old car to make a memorable image. But instead of going with a typical big, flashy American convertible, he wanted to pay homage to the early 1950s era of the United States by choosing a car from Longbridge. And that’s how the band’s album cover came to be.
There are two popular bands at break time consisting of members named Ricky and John, who share a love for classic cars. They had a friend named Dave Cropper, who was also an avid collector of vintage cars, particularly interested in early Ford Consuls and Zephyrs. In his collection, Cropper has an Austin Atlantic convertible that he is in the process of restoring.
Although the car is not in good running condition, it is in good aesthetic shape and would make for a great photo session. When Ricky and John learned about the car, they asked Cropper if he would be willing to take it to London to photograph the band’s album cover. Cropper was excited about the opportunity and agreed to have the trailer delivered to the site.
Cropper himself has a special connection with antique cars. “My first love was Mk1 and Mk2 Zephyrs, but I liked the A35 truck,” he recalls. “One thing led to another and I ended up with an Atlantic around 1976.” And so Austin Atlantic became part of the band’s iconic album cover, thanks to a shared passion for classic cars between the band members and their friend Dave Cropper.
The car in question had been given a fresh coat of white paint, and the hood had been replaced with cream vinyl. Despite these cosmetic changes, it was still in working order, as recalled by the driver. He fondly remembers taking the car for a spirited drive to Buckingham, noting the impressive performance of the 2.6-litre engine.
However, six years later, the aging Austin wasn’t as eager to perform for the band’s photoshoot, which lasted a grueling 36 hours. Despite starting the shoot at a late hour of 2am, the band members brought unbridled energy and enthusiasm to the set, as they posed for photographer Peter Ashworth inside their Birmingham-built “rocketship.”
There was a man named Cropper who was passionate about vintage cars. One day he decided to take a picture of his beloved FPN and even had a very early copy of the Classic and Cars sports magazines to peruse, this gallery taken on camera and was finally featured in an episode of the popular series. BBC children’s television programme, Take Hart.
Excited about the opportunity to display his precious possession, Cropper went all out and filmed the entire sleeve production process for the show. However, after the scene ended, he just put the FPN under a tarp and forgot about it.
Cropper is known for having impromptu encounters with vintage car enthusiasts in his orchard. It was during one of these gatherings that his Austin caught the eye of a buyer and was eventually changed hands. The vintage car has found a new home in a cozy cottage in Ascot, Berkshire.
He was a huge fan of the Atlantic and already owned a coupe and another car. In 1986, Cox added a convertible to his collection – the FPN.
However, Cox didn’t take the FPN out for a spin as he immediately stored it away in a lock-up garage. It seemed like the vintage car was forgotten for a while.
Meanwhile, David Whyley, an ACCC member, had been driving his A40 Devon every day for the past three years. He had met Cox at various car shows and the two had struck up a friendship.
One day, Whyley learned that Cox owned the FPN convertible, which he had never seen before. Intrigued, Whyley asked Cox if he could take a look at the car. To his surprise, Cox agreed and took him to the garage where the FPN was stored.
Whyley was immediately smitten with the FPN’s beauty and vintage charm. He couldn’t believe that such a gem had been locked away for so long. After some discussion, Cox agreed to sell the FPN to Whyley, and it finally saw the light of day once again.
Whyley became the proud owner of the FPN and took great care of it. He even entered it in various car shows and exhibitions, where it turned heads and garnered much attention. And so, the FPN found a new home with a loving owner who appreciated its history and vintage charm.
David was a vintage car enthusiast and had a particular interest in a rare and elusive car known as the ‘Stargazers car.’ He had heard rumors that a man named Vernon owned one, so he asked around and managed to get in touch with him.
During their conversation, David asked Vernon if he would let him know if he ever came across another Stargazers car. Although David didn’t know much about the car, he was determined to find one.
Despite Vernon’s initial reluctance to sell his cars, David didn’t give up. Every Christmas, he would send a card to Vernon asking if he would sell him one of his cars. Each time, Vernon would reply with a joke and tell him they weren’t for sale.
But, in 2012, something changed. Vernon invited David to meet him and his wife, Valerie, and it became clear that they saw David as a worthy owner of one of their beloved Atlantics. David was thrilled.
The trio headed to the lock-up, where they had to unscrew a wooden ‘security’ door to view the car. It was like uncovering a treasure – the Stargazers car was hidden away in a concrete garage tomb.
David was speechless as he looked at the car, which was in pristine condition. After some discussion, Vernon agreed to sell the car to David, and he finally became the owner of his dream car.
From that day on, David cherished the Stargazers car and took great care of it. He enjoyed showing it off at car shows and sharing its history with other vintage car enthusiasts. Thanks to his persistence and passion, David was able to fulfill his dream of owning a Stargazers car, and it remained a treasured possession for years to come.
David had been searching for a vintage Austin A90 for months, and after several false starts, he had finally found one that he could afford. The price had been agreed upon, and David made arrangements to collect the car. He was eager to get his hands on it and start the restoration process.
When he arrived at the seller’s garage, he was surprised to find that the car was not ready to drive. Instead, they had to push it out of the garage. But David was relieved to discover that the brakes weren’t seized, as this was a common problem with vintage cars that had been sitting for a long time.
As he handed over the payment, the seller gave David a copy of The Stargazers’ album, along with the receipt for the sale. David was puzzled by this, but he didn’t think too much of it at the time. He loaded the car onto his trailer and headed home.
As he handed over the payment, the seller gave David a copy of The Stargazers’ album, along with the receipt for the sale. David was puzzled by this, but he didn’t think too much of it at the time. He loaded the car onto his trailer and headed home.
It wasn’t until he got home and did some research that David realized he had just purchased a famous car. The Austin A90 had been used by The Stargazers, a popular vocal group from the 1950s, for their tours and performances. This made the car even more special to David, and he felt a sense of pride in owning a piece of music history.
Despite his surprise, David was no stranger to restoring vintage Austins. He had already become something of an expert in the field, having painstakingly restored a Jensen-bodied A40 Sports and even written a book on J40 pedal cars. So, the challenge of restoring the A90 to its former glory was one that he was more than up for.
As I pulled up in the Austin to meet Dave, my mind was preoccupied with thoughts of my old friend Ricky from The Stargazers. We had always talked about getting together again, but life had gotten in the way. However, fate seemed to have other plans, as just as I was about to reunite with Dave and his beloved car, I received a message from Ricky.
The Stargazers, after almost four decades apart, were reforming for a one-off concert in Italy the very same week we had planned to meet. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to catch up with both old friends, and I was thrilled at the prospect of seeing Ricky again.
But as Dave pulled up in his beloved Austin, my attention was diverted from thoughts of the reunion to the impressive car before me. The Austin was a true classic, and as I admired its sleek lines and vintage features, Dave regaled me with tales of the car’s history and the painstaking restoration work he had put into it.
As we took the car for a spin, I couldn’t help but be impressed by how smoothly it handled. In fact, as we drove along the winding roads, I found myself thinking that the car could easily hold its own on the golf course at Pebble Beach – it was that good. And even after a brief drive, I could confirm that it rode just as well as the day it left Longbridge.
Despite my excitement at the upcoming reunion with Ricky and The Stargazers, I couldn’t help but be impressed by Dave’s beloved Austin. It was a true testament to the enduring appeal of classic cars, and I felt privileged to have been given the opportunity to ride in such a beautifully restored vehicle.
