Highlights

Painstakingly restored Cambridge Special originally built by Unipower in 1950s
Beautifully detailed car in dark blue with red trim
Only 1,000 mile since ‘nut and bolt’ restoration
One family ownership since new
A proper one-off and a genuine labour of love

The Appeal

Looking through the photographs of this exquisite Seven it is hard to decide whether to buy it and merely stand and admire it, or actually exploit its elevated specification.

It began life as a standard Seven and has been in the same family for half a century. In the 1950s it went to Unibody to be turned into a ‘Cambridge Special.’ More recently it has been subject to a truly painstaking, highly detailed restoration for which the words ‘but and bolt’ barely do it justice. The results shine out of the photos. The level of detail is awe-inspiring. Look closely and you’ll spot bespoke wheel boss and wheel spinners that reference the car’s distinctive registration.

The specification fills several pages and you can find out more below. Beautifully finished in dark blue with a contrasting red leather interior - plus matching red wires - this lovely little racer has covered only 1,000 miles since completion.

Now available for the first time outside the family in 50 years, this is both beautiful vintage classic and detailed work of art. We know it will be popular with bidders.

The History and Paperwork

First registered 9th January 1933
Same family ownership for the last 50 years
Originally built by Unipower in the 1950s
Considered the first Unipower car ever produced
Complete and recent ‘nut and bolt’ rebuild
Only 1,000 miles travelled since the rebuild
Plenty of information available following the rebuild
Number plate not included in the sale but available via separate negotiation
Made to look as if it was built by the factory
Two registered keepers recorded by DVLA
Current keeper since May 2016
Recorded as grey by DVLA but now painted blue
Previously painted blue to August 1989
VIN number B8342
Current keeper is an engineer who oversaw the restoration

The Condition

Extensively recently restored to a very high standard as can be seen in photos
Beautifully finished in dark blue with high quality respray and few signs of age
Vendor advises that there is a small chip on a wing
Red 5x15 wire wheels with ‘ALP’ branded spinners to match numberplate
Dunlop Racing tyres fitted which appear recently purchased
Detailed specification summarised below
Retrimmed interior in red leather with twin seats and matching carpets
Engine-turned aluminium dashboard with vintage dials rimmed in bronze
Dual cowl dashboard trimmed in matching red
Few signs of age or use across exterior or interior
Neatly detailed bodywork with sharp chrome side trims
Fully rewired with modern wiring and LED lighting
Standard Austin Seven A-frame chassis with custom modifications for stability

Specification includes:

Cambridge body reworked over the years
Body extended by 4 inches to accommodate a taller driver.
Aluminium over wood bodywork
Wood is a combination of Ash and ply
New custom bulkhead with compartments to conceal any modern equipment
Early standard A7 radiator cowl for a racked font end look made in steel
Steel lower side scuttles
Aluminium bonnet and upper side scuttles
Aluminium front wings with closed in sides to stop spray onto windscreen when on full lock
Original aluminium dash aero bulges
Original Cambridge windscreen
Rear aluminium wings extended to suit the longer body
Rear dummy fuel tank with smaller fuel tank in the base
Storage compartment above fuel tank within dummy fuel tank
Custom rear lighting board with spare wheel carrier
Deep blue paint
New aluminium dashboard with a machined finish
Brass gauge bezels
Original Smith’s speedo and rev counter
New oil, temp and volt gauges
Bespoke wood-rimmed wheel with inlaid boss referencing numberplate
Lucas switch gear with custom machined brass knurled knobs
Original Spitfire aircraft starting button
Unipower emblem as a nod to the car’s history
Fully upholstered in red leather
Red carpets
Custom bucket seats with storage compartments underneath
Large storage compartment in the rear behind the seats
Three tonneau covers - driver and passenger, driver only and full cover
Front wheels Dunlop 4.00/15 tyres with rear Dunlop 5.00/15 tyres
New 5x15 rims with spokes by Nick Mouat in Andover England powder coated in red
Fake spinners for a traditional look with bespoke etching

The Mechanics

We are told that the engine capacity is 750cc
32hp output at the wheels, comparing to 11hp factory output
4spd manual gearbox rebuilt in 2022
Twin SU carburettors and electronic ignition
High-pressure oil pump and custom oil pressure relief valve
Morris 1000 hydraulic brake conversion front and back
Full specification summarised below
Beautifully detailed engine bay as shown in photos
Described as driving and running very well with no reported faults
Only 1,000 miles covered since full restoration completed

Specification:

32 HP at the wheels, tested on a rolling road
Twin SU carburettors
Carburettors carefully set up by Tom Airey Tuning
‘Bunch of bananas’ exhaust with built in inlet manifold
Electronic ignition with NGK spark plugs
Dynamator made by Acuspark which is a 12v alternator built into dynamo for period look
Custom made recounter drive built into the bottom of the distributor drive
High pressure oil pump
Nose cone to suit pressure fed crank with built in modern oil filter
Rico oil filter:- RL3012
Oil galleries modified to suit a high-pressure setup
Custom oil pressure relief valve situated where the mechanical fuel pump should be
This allows for easy adjustment when engine is in situ
Cambridge aluminium high compression cylinder head
Large inlet valves with hardened valve seats so car runs on modern unleaded
New valves and valve guides
High lift cam shaft for fast road use
Matching cam followers ground to match the cam
Machined cam bearings to suit O-rings and adjusted oilways
Speedex pistons
Phoenix rods
Renault 4 big end shells
Fully balanced crankshaft with bolt on balance weights
Lightened fly wheel
Balancing for both crank and flywheel together
Clutch plate re-machined finger location with adjusters
New clutch
12 volt starter motor
Large sports aluminium sump with cooling veins
Serviced using Castrol Classic engine oil 20W/50
New radiator
Radiator outlet for heater
Modified Mini heater matrix with fan
Coolant uses blue glycol fluid
4 Speed gearbox with a remote gear lever linkage
Gearbox rebuilt by Andy Bird in 2022
Speedo cable connection has been adapted to increase the ground clearance
New Bailey Morris prop shaft with CV joints
Welded wedge to reduce the rake on the steering box for a sports body
Flattened front and back leaf springs with new bronze bushes
Rear axle is a D-type with standard gearing
Custom double sprung friction shock absorbers
Front sports bowed late axle
Fixed O/ S spring to axle shackle for high-speed stability
Standard steering box lapped together to reduce play
Reinforced bracket on stub axle steering arm for safety
Double friction shock absorbers.
Morris 1000 hydraulic brake conversion front and back
Morris 1000 hydraulic master cylinder with remote header reservoir
Serviced using DOT 5 silicon brake fluid
Cable hand brake
Fly off Layman’s style handbrake lever
Self-balancing handbrake mechanism to balance both sides of the rear braking system.
Fully rewired with modern wiring with all wires braided for traditional look
12v system with low and high volt circuits
Low current though the switches on dash
Relays and fuses on every circuit
USB charging in glove box
LED lighting all round
Wire numbering for easy identification and diagnosis
Wiring diagram available

BEFORE YOU BUY

This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:

✓ The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions..

✓ We request that a non-refundable fee be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates.

✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind.

✓ VAT is included in the buyer's fee. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.

✓ We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence.

✓ We also check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed on Car & Classic and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance. However, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and it is always worthwhile carrying out your own full vehicle history check before making an offer on a vehicle.

✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection

or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it’s worth checking beforehand..