・Very original ・Period correct ・Collectible vintage vehicle
*The photographs in this listing were provided by the seller.*
The Background
The Austin 7 is an economy car that was produced from 1923 until 1939 in the United Kingdom by Austin. It was nicknamed the "Baby Austin" and was at that time one of the most popular cars produced for the British market and sold well abroad. Its effect on the British market was similar to that of the Model T Ford in the US, replacing most other British economy cars and cyclecars of the early 1920s. It was also licensed and copied by companies all over the world. The very first BMW car, the BMW Dixi, was a licensed Austin 7. In France they were made and sold as Rosengarts, and in the United States they were built by the American Austin Car Company. In Japan, Nissan also used the 7 design as the basis for their first cars, although not under licence.This eventually led to a 1952 agreement for Nissan to build and sell Austins in Japan under the Austin name.
Many Austin 7s were rebuilt as "specials" after the Second World War, including the first race car built by Bruce McLaren, and the first Lotus, the Mark I. Companies such as Speedex in Luton thrived in the late 1950s by producing race-proven bodies and engine parts for the Seven chassis.
This particular car was rescued from a breakers yard in Croydon in 1959 and then owned by a lady who loved it dearly for many years. Her husband carried out a restoration of the vehicle including a respray in 1971.
In 1977 the car appeared on Nationwide and also in the TV Series Jubilee. Since then the car has been looked after and kept up together.
The current owner purchased the car in 2016 and unfortunately has not had much chance to use it so he would like to sell it on to someone who will be able to enjoy it.
The exterior is in solid useable condition, it received a restoration including repaint in 1971. The car is fitted with a smoking hatch on the roof which appears to be quite rare.
The car is in very solid original condition and as such has been used for period TV programmes in the past, it has won several awards over the years at various classic car shows and events.
Mechanically the car is in working condition with the 747cc engine still having plenty of life in it. Everything works as it should including the side indicators . Of course it is MOT and Tax Exempt given its age.
The Austin Seven was seen as a template for “how cars should be” back in the 1920s. Such a simple popular design was taken and rebadged and made under licence all over the world, as my first background paragraph explained.
It was a recipe that worked and worked well. It was also fairly simple to mass produce, well as mass produced as possible back then.
Today, this is a 747cc 85 year old Vintage car. Sure, it won’t have the mod cons we’ve become accustomed too, it may not have enough power to throw you back in your seat but that’s not the point of owning something like this.
Every drive out will be an occasion and not just for you as the driver, or even your passengers, but also for everyone who sees you go past. They don’t make them like they used to, more the pity.
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