100 year old car

[21st Century Man]

I saw an A7RN saloon this morning, I've fancied one for forty odd years but I've not scratched the itch, which is daft considering how cheap they are. I think it'll be too fragile? Although I've just read Coleman's Drive, so perhaps not!? I'm not much of a Ford fan, but the A does make sense. Some of the bigger Austin's appeal too, I'd like to keep it British.

Many thanks for the contributions. I'm just thinking out loud atm, but sometimes I get these ideas and then just crack on and do it.

[MisterNick]

I was browsing next weeks classic car sale at ACA and there a couple that meet the title requirements of the thread. I will have to leave it to others to comment on the merits of them.

https://angliacarauctions.co.uk/classic-auctions/2...

https://angliacarauctions.co.uk/classic-auctions/2...

There are also two or three other pre 1930 cars if you are flexible

[davepen]

ferret50 said:

3 Litre Bentley!
Was it 1924 or 1926 the first Bentley entered at Le Mans?

1923... ?

21st Century Man said:

Not crazy money.

I sometimes think the VSCC has its definitions wrong and they should be 1915-1925, 25-35, and 35-45 (ish)
Before 1925 many models were pre-WWI in concept, two wheel brakes, open bodies, long stroke 4 cylinder big thump engines.
Later in the 20's they had four wheeled brakes, closed (coupled) bodies and 6 cylinder engines were more common.
So I'd chose a model that continued into the later 20's. Although even the same model developed. The 20hp Rolls gained FWB, 4 speeds.
The A7 in 1924 was different to that in 1926, to that in 1930 and that in 1934. (Wider bodies, better brakes, coil ignition and longer chassis)
I'd also say it depends on what one's Daily drive is, a couple of miles, so an A7 would be fine, or longer busier routes.

As mentioned above, 12hp or bigger may be better, although I'd suggest 12/50 Alvis. One PH'er even has a (28?) saloon for the winter.
Although most of the 1924 12/50's would be a ducksback - which could be fun.
ETA: https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1713914

Edited by davepen on Sunday 16th June 19:38

[IJWS15]

Not for me. My father tells about carrying a hot water bottle on cold nights in his Austin 7.

It wasn’t to keep him warm…….

It was to try to keep the windscreen clear so he could see where he was going.

For a daily I would want some modern comforts including some crash worthiness.

[Essel]

Quite a lot of electric cars being made in the 1920s. A bit of upgrading to the battery tech and confuse people.

[eldar]

IJWS15 said:

Not for me. My father tells about carrying a hot water bottle on cold nights in his Austin 7.

It wasn’t to keep him warm…….

It was to try to keep the windscreen clear so he could see where he was going.

For a daily I would want some modern comforts including some crash worthiness.

Perhaps a car equipped with a fire? Right age too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Motor_Carria...

[GTRene]

just looked in 2 car ad sites for cars from to 1924, most are cabrio's... just a few with a hardtop.

some looked cute/small, then some further in the pictures the owner sit in the cute car and it looks huge... like a SUV on wooden wheels lol.

so not easy to find a nice model, although this site has a lot of upgraded examples lovely 200 cars from to 1924 some nice ones, most open though and for daily its good to have a good roof above you.

https://classiccars.com/listings/find/until-1924?p...

[Turbobanana]

IJWS15 said:

Not for me. My father tells about carrying a hot water bottle on cold nights in his Austin 7.

It wasn’t to keep him warm…….

It was to try to keep the windscreen clear so he could see where he was going.

For a daily I would want some modern comforts including some crash worthiness.

Highly unlikely you'll crash: a) you won't be going very fast, b) to do any serious road mileage in a 100 year old car you'll develop your anticipation skills to another level, c) other road users will give you a wide berth.

Also, as you'll be sitting on top of a chassis made of girders you'll probably do more damage to the car you hit than to your own.

[srob]

Do you have a motorbike licence?

For £10k you'd get a decent (near, if not actually) 100 year old bike that would keep up with A/B road traffic. Our 1928 Scott will sit happily at 50mph and would probably set you back about £7k now.

A 100 year old car isn't going to be much comfier than a bike I suspect!

[Turbobanana]

srob said:

Do you have a motorbike licence?

For £10k you'd get a decent (near, if not actually) 100 year old bike that would keep up with A/B road traffic. Our 1928 Scott will sit happily at 50mph and would probably set you back about £7k now.

A 100 year old car isn't going to be much comfier than a bike I suspect!

This is a good point. I've no real interest in bikes, other than to appreciate the engineering, but I could see the appeal as a short-distance commuter on a day like this.

[austin]

Another vote for an Austin 7, I'd go for a long wheelbase saloon. Probably box rather than Ruby.

Cheap with spares available easily and you will always find someone living nearby that has one with knowledge that will be happy to help out.

My father has dailied his for years, I tend to get updates of where he is from friends spotting him out and about.

Regarding accidents, he had nothing for decades and then 3 in the last 5 years, (none his fault). When driving them people tend to notice you as they are so different to anything else around.

They can be made to go very well, nearly 70 years of being used for cheap motorsport means you can have a (relatively) powerful engine for not a huge amount of money. Converting to 12 volts is easy, change the bulbs, (which you may as well convert to LED anyway) and off you go.

I think the thread referred to about the speeding ticket was me, but that was an Ulster with an old racing engine in it so quite a different beast.

[Bobupndown]

mac96 said:

Bobupndown said:

I've driven my 61 year old 850 Mini about 120 miles today for a car show. Not sure I'd like to do it every day! Another40 years older?

The idea that an 850 Mini is much older now than an Austin 7 was when the Mini was new is quite alarming!

The idea that the youngest classic mini is 24 years old now....