1950 Series I 80 inch ‘Barn Find’

Chassis number: R06109576

Registration number: OPB 922

Engine type: 1.6 Petrol

Gearbox type: 4 Speed

Vehicle spec:

This vehicle was ‘despatched out’ from Lode Lane on 23 March 1950 and delivered to dealer Henlys of London. It was registered with the Surrey number OPB 922 on 24 March 1950. Its first owner was a farmer by the name of Murphy, who sold it in 1961 together with a horsebox to one of his neighbours near Hartley Wintney in Hampshire. It was used regularly, often towing the family’s hunters in the trailer, until it was replaced by a second-hand Series II.

The 80 was eventually pushed into a barn on the farm, and there it remained for over forty years until the spring of 2024, when the second owner’s son, Andrew, concluded that he was unlikely to fulfil his ambition to restore it, and decided to sell it.

It is in remarkably original condition and for nearly two years was displayed at Dunsfold exactly as it was when it was pulled out of Farmer Andrew’s barn. During that time, we enjoyed asking visitors whether they thought it should be left as it is, or fully restored to factory gate condition, or given a ‘patina renovation’.

The majority of people voted for the latter, and at the beginning of 2026 work began to bring it back to life as a mechanically sound and driveable vehicle, while preserving as much of its originality as possible.

We have used it for a few events including a drive from Buckingham Palace and it has also featured in the TV programme ‘For the love of cars’.