MM Lowlight Tourer Found in Sri Lanka!
Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 4:59 am
Greetings all!
I'm new to the club (my Dad's been a member for quite some time but that's a different story...) and I thought I should tell you about the cars I saw yesterday here in Sri Lanka. I live in Kandy and teach English over here. I was on the bus from Kandy to Colombo and was passing through Kadugannawa, near Hingula and I saw what I thought was a Lowlight saloon in a locked yard. I jumped off the bus to investigate. It was a black tourer, reg no. CL9615. I couldn't get a clear photo from the road as it was surrounded by other cars (Peugeot 504, other Minors, Austin 10 etc) so went to knock on the door. The owner showed me the car, last on the road in 2005, later interior, A series engine, trafficators missing but other than that it looked pretty solid under all the dust and spiders' webs (no space so couldn't get underneath to have a look). Problem is, the owner wants silly money, 40 thousand pounds..I have photos which I'll post as soon as I get a chance. As far as I know, you can't export cars from the island if they are over 50 years old as they are classed as antiquities but I could be wrong. He also has two other saloons (60s cars) and a modified later convertible (bright green, alloys, rubbish interior etc) that he seemed more interested in plus a metallic blue Austin 10 with no engine or box. I have his name and number so I can pass these on if anyone's interested.
The other place was about 5 miles down the road in Mawanella. Proper treasure trove of old classics for sale/being repaired (3 Austin Devons, a Somerset, Hillman Minx, Morris Oxford, show condition Austin 10, 2 A 35s, 2 Minor 1000 saloons, a Series 2 4 door, Opel Kapitan, Austin 12/4) and in the corner he had a Lowlight saloon. Apparently not for sale yet (rough as a bear's backside, in the process of restoration) but I think they could be persuaded. Again, I have some photos which I'll upload as soon as I get a spare moment. What do you think?
I'm new to the club (my Dad's been a member for quite some time but that's a different story...) and I thought I should tell you about the cars I saw yesterday here in Sri Lanka. I live in Kandy and teach English over here. I was on the bus from Kandy to Colombo and was passing through Kadugannawa, near Hingula and I saw what I thought was a Lowlight saloon in a locked yard. I jumped off the bus to investigate. It was a black tourer, reg no. CL9615. I couldn't get a clear photo from the road as it was surrounded by other cars (Peugeot 504, other Minors, Austin 10 etc) so went to knock on the door. The owner showed me the car, last on the road in 2005, later interior, A series engine, trafficators missing but other than that it looked pretty solid under all the dust and spiders' webs (no space so couldn't get underneath to have a look). Problem is, the owner wants silly money, 40 thousand pounds..I have photos which I'll post as soon as I get a chance. As far as I know, you can't export cars from the island if they are over 50 years old as they are classed as antiquities but I could be wrong. He also has two other saloons (60s cars) and a modified later convertible (bright green, alloys, rubbish interior etc) that he seemed more interested in plus a metallic blue Austin 10 with no engine or box. I have his name and number so I can pass these on if anyone's interested.
The other place was about 5 miles down the road in Mawanella. Proper treasure trove of old classics for sale/being repaired (3 Austin Devons, a Somerset, Hillman Minx, Morris Oxford, show condition Austin 10, 2 A 35s, 2 Minor 1000 saloons, a Series 2 4 door, Opel Kapitan, Austin 12/4) and in the corner he had a Lowlight saloon. Apparently not for sale yet (rough as a bear's backside, in the process of restoration) but I think they could be persuaded. Again, I have some photos which I'll upload as soon as I get a spare moment. What do you think?