New home sought for this wonderful old Austin 301

A FAMILIAR sight at the annual St Patrick's Day Parade in Birmingham may have made its last appearance.
A 50-year-old Austin 301 dropside lorry, which has taken part in the parade for the past five years, could be destined for pastures new, after its owner Keith Concannon decided he needs to find a new home for it
The main problem is storage. Mr Concannon, aged 48, who lives in Yardley Wood, had stored it in a warehouse in Sutton Coldfield until vandals broke in and damaged it.
Since then it has been kept on a farm in Bickenhill but the logistics of transporting it to and from events are such that Mr Concannon feels it is the right time to pass on. Added to this he has acquired a Morris Minor, which is easier to store and move around.
But any would be owners are being warned they must be prepared to offer a good home to a cherished vehicle.
"It is such a lovely vehicle, I really want it to go to a good home. I wouldn't like to think someone would dismantle it for parts or buy it just to get the numberplate.
"It is in good working order, it runs okay and it is MOT'd but what it really needs is someone who is an enthusiast or who works in the transport industry to take it apart and put it back together. Its complete restoration would require time and effort rather than a lot of money.
"I will be sad to see it go and if I had a place to park it I might not be so keen to get rid of it. But I would be delighted for someone else to get the enjoyment out of it that I have had and put it back together."
Mr Concannon said he has had many happy times on the Birmingham parade. The lorry first appeared in 2002 when it was actually transported on a low loader.
The following year it covered the parade route under its own steam and has been delighting parade-goers ever since.
"People were amazed it was actually running and I got cheers and laughter all the way round. This year was pretty much the same and lots of people said they had seen it featured in The Harp."
Mr Concannon acquired the lorry from a farm in Redditch. A company he was working for bought the premises and he couldn't resist the lure of the lorry, which was sitting in a shed.
"It just looked like one of those vehicles that needed to be saved," he said.
Mr Concannon has already had some transport museums express an interest in the vehicle, but he said he would be just as pleased to sell it to an enthusiast.
He is inviting offers in excess of £3,000 and can be contacted on 07990 905623.