Canadian Luscombe is that the lovely looking yellow Auster on the Auster Club website? If so, it sounds (and looks) like a good machine.
BlueRobin is your pal a member of the PFA? If he is then getting a tame PFA Inspector to give any prospective purchase a once over is a good idea even if the Auster concerned isn't on a PFA Permit. I'd be more than happy to have a look at an Auster if your mate wants to but it would only be in an advisory capacity as my engineering qualifications don't extend to airyplanes
If the prospective purchase doesn't have the "oil ring mod" fully documented and preferably carried out by one of the "names" (Vintec, Norvic etc), steer well clear as incorporating the mod can get expensive......
Dam sperling......