Time for an Austin 7
Discussion
Having sold my Morris and no longer having to consider weeding cars I have decided to go for a 7. I've not driven one yet so look forward to a new experience. I have seen four and deciding which one is difficult.
1928 Mulliner fabric saloon in restored condition. I have put in an offer if its accepted this will be used for winter fun and sold in Spring.
1934 two seater open top Nippy in restored condition.
1934 occasional four seater open top ARROW in restored condition.
1934 two seater open top tourer with Tim Myall engine and close ratio gearbox all in very nice condition.
My use is purely fun like car shows and club events. Any comments / considerations please
1928 Mulliner fabric saloon in restored condition. I have put in an offer if its accepted this will be used for winter fun and sold in Spring.
1934 two seater open top Nippy in restored condition.
1934 occasional four seater open top ARROW in restored condition.
1934 two seater open top tourer with Tim Myall engine and close ratio gearbox all in very nice condition.
My use is purely fun like car shows and club events. Any comments / considerations please
Buy whichever one floats your boat - if your only intended use is casual weekend work then they are all equally appropriate.
The Mulliner coupe is vintage and thus eligible for the VSCC, the Nippy is the sportiest (VSCC eligible if genuine) and the Arrow the rarest. The final one sounds like it may be properly sorted which can make a huge difference!
My own view is that Sevens are eligible for all sorts of competitive events from trials and d/tests through to hillclimb/sprints and races. I would always recommend a vintage chummy or ulster replica as a starting point (subject to budget) because if your interest deepens these are the cars that are both available and eligible for most things.
The Mulliner coupe is vintage and thus eligible for the VSCC, the Nippy is the sportiest (VSCC eligible if genuine) and the Arrow the rarest. The final one sounds like it may be properly sorted which can make a huge difference!
My own view is that Sevens are eligible for all sorts of competitive events from trials and d/tests through to hillclimb/sprints and races. I would always recommend a vintage chummy or ulster replica as a starting point (subject to budget) because if your interest deepens these are the cars that are both available and eligible for most things.
Many thanks Ettore for the info, it is very helpful. As it happens the Nippy is now sold, so thats one less to think about. When you say that the car thats sorted will make a huge difference, do you mean driving pleasure?
The ARROW seems to have been for sale for some while, looking back at this years AUTOMOBILE mag'.Its on at 7250 pounds which seems fair, so is this model not popular for some reason?
The ARROW seems to have been for sale for some while, looking back at this years AUTOMOBILE mag'.Its on at 7250 pounds which seems fair, so is this model not popular for some reason?
ARH said:
just a little bit small
Being brought up in the VSCC, I would only consider a VSCC eligible one, however there are lots of good A7 clubs, we sometimes go to the Dorset A7 club. The fabric saloons look small, although a (large) friend has one, I'm not sure if it is a factory or Mulliner one. With fabric bodied cars check the frame - the padding can get damp and rot the frame, although most have now been restored. The Swallow saloons are tiny, my brother couldn't get in a friends, not sure about the Arrow ones. My other brother has Mulliner Sport, which I find too small to drive. My GF's Chummy is fine. Both will be at the VSCC Winter Test near Aylesbury on Saturday. If I was getting one, it would be a standard vintage chummy, I'd join the LCES and take it to Llandrindod in April. It's good cheap fun. I see there is one in the Automobile, but they are asking £10K - ouch! For that sort of money Orchid Cars have a 12/40 (SV) Alvis.
Check out the ads on the Dorset site for other alternatives.
should you hear of an interesting 7 for sale can you please give me a heads up. Those Gordon of England 7's look well nice too, seen a couple of rep's in back magazines at a reasonable price.i suppose the good thing about A7's is that kind of like mini's, there are loads of places doing spares for them, and all the mods that make them easier to live with are well documented.
however, they are still painfully slow, and on a run in ireland a couple of years ago, even some edwardian cars were passing some of the 7's!
i remember quite a few years ago at beaulieu autojumble, the austin 7 club actually built and drove a car just from bits for sale on poeoples stands over the weekend!
the skips used to full of A7 stuff after the autojumble, as people were sick of carting it round, and just dumped it!
however, they are still painfully slow, and on a run in ireland a couple of years ago, even some edwardian cars were passing some of the 7's!
i remember quite a few years ago at beaulieu autojumble, the austin 7 club actually built and drove a car just from bits for sale on poeoples stands over the weekend!
the skips used to full of A7 stuff after the autojumble, as people were sick of carting it round, and just dumped it!
You could save this one from the Registration Plate Asset strippers.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dl
I don't know the car....
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dl
I don't know the car....
tvrgaas said:
You could save this one from the Registration Plate Asset strippers.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dl
I don't know the car....
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dl
I don't know the car....
Thats rather charming. I was rather taken with this although not road legal.
tvrgaas said:
You could save this one from the Registration Plate Asset strippers.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dl
I don't know the car....
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dl
I don't know the car....
Strange you should mention this one, I have it on my 'watch' list. Can you tell me anything of this 7? It must be a very special car, that starting price is a bit high, tho the only thing that stops me making an offer is the fact that I have a tentative offer on a Mulliner Fabric saloon which has now been accepted subject to my viewing of the car. I can't mention my offer price as yet but I feel its a fair price. See the fabric on www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk Its been off the road for seven years and no MOT + needs light recommissioning and dynamo do'esnt work. You tell me what you think its worth, these 7 prices have little meaning from one 7 to next.
Sorry just noticed that you DONT know the 7 on e-bay.
Edited by crankedup on Tuesday 28th November 22:16
The chummy does have a high starting price - it does look nice but I would have thought 6/7K should still get you a decent chummy - perhaps I`m out of date!
Mulliner also looks nice but will need due diligence both mechanically and bodily. Is the bodywork completely original?
Seven prices don`t seem to be linked into any other predictable commodity - they don`t appear to change but just, gently, keep pace with the wider world! The exception are the original sporting cars which are becoming expensive (relatively).
Mulliner also looks nice but will need due diligence both mechanically and bodily. Is the bodywork completely original?
Seven prices don`t seem to be linked into any other predictable commodity - they don`t appear to change but just, gently, keep pace with the wider world! The exception are the original sporting cars which are becoming expensive (relatively).
Edited by ettore on Wednesday 29th November 11:17
The current owner tells me (e-mails) that the car was 'completely restored' in the 1980's and then used as a showroom display motor. The current owner purchased from 'Classic and Sportscar' in 1995 and then took it off the road in 1999, why I don't know.
This car has engine No 53545 and chassis No 563481928, because the car has not got an buff log book I can't tell if its an original or not. I've tried to get hold of the chap who runs the Austin 7 Mulliner Register but he has'nt replied to my e-mail. The reg No is SV 4***. Not to sure without being able to check history back from 1980's.
Having said this the Chummey on e-bay says restored condition and so on and yet when I asked the owner when the work had been done and by whom he did'nt know!! Seems a rather murky world at the moment.
This car has engine No 53545 and chassis No 563481928, because the car has not got an buff log book I can't tell if its an original or not. I've tried to get hold of the chap who runs the Austin 7 Mulliner Register but he has'nt replied to my e-mail. The reg No is SV 4***. Not to sure without being able to check history back from 1980's.
Having said this the Chummey on e-bay says restored condition and so on and yet when I asked the owner when the work had been done and by whom he did'nt know!! Seems a rather murky world at the moment.
Edited by crankedup on Wednesday 29th November 19:15
I am in Suffolk, very close to the Norfolk border. I am holding back from doing a deal until I can positively put my mind at ease that it is indeed a Mulliner. It may not be a done deal either way at this stage. I have to consider selling on come Summer as I really yearn for an open top.
Chassis 56348 engine 53545 is listed in the Austin 7 Surviving Chassis Register, 2000 edition as a Mulliner Saloon registered on 31/12/27 - reported by the Mulliner register. Oh and it says that it is registered WN847. As the SV series has now finished SV4xxx was some years ago. The RAC's site says WN847 is now on a Corsa.
I did see Paul T. on Saturday at the VSCC event, but not to talk to, give them a bell - when I asked about our M. Sport - which we got off ebay - he said that he and his Brother had re-built it, although they are more in to Lagonda's these days.
I did see Paul T. on Saturday at the VSCC event, but not to talk to, give them a bell - when I asked about our M. Sport - which we got off ebay - he said that he and his Brother had re-built it, although they are more in to Lagonda's these days.
Many thanks TVRGaas, that has cleared any doubt in my mind regarding authenticity of this 7. What a travisty tho, the original number plate now on a corsa. Why do they do this selling off number plates, oh yes of course. Sheer bl00dy greed.
Sorry, Paul T?
Sorry, Paul T?
Edited by crankedup on Wednesday 29th November 19:22
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