Take Your Austin Abroad - Preparation
Dutch Treat - the picnic near Eiland Maurik during the Netherlands 99 event
Planning and preparation to include the car, documents, and spares and tools you may need:
Street in Josselin, Brittany
Prepare the Car
- Fit flashing indicators so as to give clear signals,
- Adjust your headlights to avoid dazzle to oncoming traffic on the left,
- Do a full service - including a radiator flush, oil changes and greasing,
- GB plate - because you do not have EU reflective No. plates.
Check Documents
- Buy a new map or update your SatNav - they do build new roads abroad, and renumber the old ones
- Check that your ATDC membership, insurance policy, UK tax and MOT do not expire while you are away,
- Ensure your insurance covers all likely eventualities.
...all eventualities.
Breakdown Recovery
Insurance and Breakdown Recovery
Good insurance and breakdown recovery give peace of mind. The ATDC Members'policy with Coyle and Hamilton covers both.
There is little point in loading up the car with spare parts "just in case" even if you have the necessary tools and knowledge to use them.
An over-laden car will overheat and cause the very problems you wish to avoid.
Take only essental luggage and leave space for purchases to bring home.
Essential Luggage
Spare Parts
Take consumable items that may be difficult to buy abroad or must be ready to hand:
- Your usual lubricants - but do not top up right to the mark -
allow for the reverse camber of the roads,
- Water and antifreeze mixture to top up radiator,
- Spare head gasket - always carry one at home and abroad,
- Spare inner tube - slighly inflated and lightly chalked - and a spare tyre-valve core,
- Spare fuses,
- Split pins - large and small,
- Woodruff keys - large and small.
Essential Purchases
Useful for jury-rigging temporary repairs are:
- Insulated wire and electrical tape,
- A length of rubber fuel hose and hose clips,
- Galvanised wire,
Some experts suggest you take spare plugs, plug leads, rotor, distributor cap, points and condenser - get them from
ATDC Spares.
The following are legal requirements in most European countries:
- Set spare light bulbs,
- Warning Triangle,
- First Aid Kit,
- High visibility jacket.
Tools
Besides the obvious - jack, wheel brace and screwdrivers - take a selection of Whitworth spanners,
Austin grease gun, and a hub puller.
Even if you do not work on the car yourself the local mechanic will not have tools in obsolete Imperial sizes.
Vorsprung durch Teknik
Other Useful Items
Include:
- Camera - photos provide evidence in the event of an accident,
- Head torch or clip-on wander light,
- Yellow flashing beacon.
The ancient centre of Bayeux survived the invasion of Normandy
Austin Ten Drivers sit in a cafe in Delft and watch a wedding parade around the square
© ATDC Ltd
