1931 Austin 7 special

[DodgyDave]

Hi all classic lovers
A lady friend at my office has the above car and she would like to sell it. It a open top version that had a MOT when in was put in a garage two years ago.
She was wondering how much she should ask for it and me being a petrol head she asked if I knew, I said no but I know a place that probably will!
Thanks for any help

Edited to add:
DOH, Didn't look very close earlier when I was looking for the classics forum! How come their isn't a general one?
Any help will be appreciated even more now haha

Edited by DodgyDave on Friday 21st July 13:34

[Andrew Noakes]

Very much depends how special it is. If it's a Nippy with wire mesh light guards it won't be worth as much as a Swallow or a DOHC racer (some hope!). Any more info?

[DodgyDave]

Thanks for the quick response Andrew, Ill try to get more info from her.
I had no idea how many types of the Austin 7 there are, I found this page just now showing the prices the different models have gone for.

www.motorbase.com/vehicle/by-id/899946309/finance.ehtml

[ettore]

....as above it depends very much on what it is;

Is it a genuine factory car?

If it is a special, price will depend on history, technical specification, quality of build and aesthetics..

There are plenty of sevens about but the price range in pretty broad.

[Terminator]

I'll give her £100 for it, provided it has a full tank of petrol and the CD player works.

If it had a TVR badge on it, the price doubles...

[DodgyDave]

Terminator said:

I'll give her £100 for it, provided it has a full tank of petrol and the CD player works.

If it had a TVR badge on it, the price doubles...

I've spoken to her again and she said that it is called a special because in the 50's they used wood to get old rusty sevens going again so that people who couldn't afford a new car could have one of these.
She also thinks it may be a sports version but is not sure.
I've asked to to find all paper work on it and get chassis and engine numbers to help identify the type. Can you identify them by pictures or is there more to it than that?
Thanks

[DodgyDave]

ettore said:

....as above it depends very much on what it is;

Is it a genuine factory car?

If it is a special, price will depend on history, technical specification, quality of build and aesthetics..

There are plenty of sevens about but the price range in pretty broad.

Your not kidding, Ive now seen prices from 1000 to 30000
By asking if its a genuine factory car do you mean one that hasnt been repaired/restored at any point in its life?
I know she was offered 3500 for it but she thought it would at least be worth 4000.

[ettore]

DodgyDave said:

ettore said:

....as above it depends very much on what it is;

Is it a genuine factory car?

If it is a special, price will depend on history, technical specification, quality of build and aesthetics..

There are plenty of sevens about but the price range in pretty broad.

Your not kidding, Ive now seen prices from 1000 to 30000
By asking if its a genuine factory car do you mean one that hasnt been repaired/restored at any point in its life?
I know she was offered 3500 for it but she thought it would at least be worth 4000.

By factory I meant an official Austin sports model such as a Nippy or Ulster etc. These have value.

If you can post pictures and provide chassis/engine numbers etc it should be relatively easy to identify. Specials have been built from the 1920`s and are still being built today - values do vary quite a bit.

[DodgyDave]

ettore said:

DodgyDave said:

ettore said:

....as above it depends very much on what it is;

Is it a genuine factory car?

If it is a special, price will depend on history, technical specification, quality of build and aesthetics..

There are plenty of sevens about but the price range in pretty broad.

Your not kidding, Ive now seen prices from 1000 to 30000
By asking if its a genuine factory car do you mean one that hasnt been repaired/restored at any point in its life?
I know she was offered 3500 for it but she thought it would at least be worth 4000.

By factory I meant an official Austin sports model such as a Nippy or Ulster etc. These have value.

If you can post pictures and provide chassis/engine numbers etc it should be relatively easy to identify. Specials have been built from the 1920`s and are still being built today - values do vary quite a bit.

Blimey I didn't know they are still being built, Almost ninety years of production!!! Says allot about the little car.
Hopefully Ill have the chassis, engine numbers and pictures to scan in on Monday.
Thanks for the help and have a good weekend all

[DodgyDave]

Ok, sorry Im a bit late with the details, I went to brands yesterday.
The log book says its a austin seven sports. We think its one of the long wheel base versions.
The number plate is DGY 519
Chassis number: B8-406Y
Engine number: M18 2346
It was registered on 30/09/33 and has had one previous owner. Hehe how cool is that?

Pictures

www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_fullsize.html?c_photo=71034350

www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_fullsize.html?c_photo=71034623 (1MB BEWARE)

www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_fullsize.html?c_photo=71034717

Thanks for the help

[sybaseian]

DodgyDave said:

Ok, sorry Im a bit late with the details, I went to brands yesterday.
The log book says its a austin seven sports. We think its one of the long wheel base versions.
The number plate is DGY 519
Chassis number: B8-406Y
Engine number: M18 2346
It was registered on 30/09/33 and has had one previous owner. Hehe how cool is that?

Pictures

www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_fullsize.html?c_photo=71034350

www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_fullsize.html?c_photo=71034623 (1MB BEWARE)

www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_fullsize.html?c_photo=71034717

Thanks for the help

think that you should try uploading the pics to somewhere that doesn't require a login.

[cptsideways]

Sounds just like the thing my dad built, I would be very intersted in some further info please, as I've been looking for my dad's actual car for over ten years last seen on Autotrader in the 80's.

Myself & my brothers would collectively like to buy it back if we ever find it

[DodgyDave]

sybaseian said:

DodgyDave said:

Ok, sorry Im a bit late with the details, I went to brands yesterday.
The log book says its a austin seven sports. We think its one of the long wheel base versions.
The number plate is DGY 519
Chassis number: B8-406Y
Engine number: M18 2346
It was registered on 30/09/33 and has had one previous owner. Hehe how cool is that?

Pictures

www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_fullsize.html?c_photo=71034350

www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_fullsize.html?c_photo=71034623 (1MB BEWARE)

www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_fullsize.html?c_photo=71034717

Thanks for the help

think that you should try uploading the pics to somewhere that doesn't require a login.

Balls, sorry didnt realise. Ive been moved from fotango to photobox and it seems I have to email people for them to be able to view the pictures, Rubbish!!!!

[DodgyDave]

cptsideways said:

Sounds just like the thing my dad built, I would be very intersted in some further info please, as I've been looking for my dad's actual car for over ten years last seen on Autotrader in the 80's.

Myself & my brothers would collectively like to buy it back if we ever find it

I know she bought it in the 80's, will get the exact date from the log book tomorrow.
As the pics arent working Ill also tell you its got a blue bonnet and some sort of dark material for the rest of the body work.
Would be nice if its the car your looking for. What info on it would you like?

[DodgyDave]

Try again

[DodgyDave]

Two more

[cptsideways]

My dad built two of them a 2 seater BXT 762 & a 4 seater FMT 709 neither of which have been seen for 20 years. So this one is neither of them obviously.

Good luck with the sale, I'd suggest to take it along to one of the owners club events of which there are many

[DodgyDave]

Thanks
Ive contacted a chap in the Austin 7 owners club with all the information I have, just wait and see what he sais now.
Good luck finding the two old ones your Dad used to own.

[Notanutter]

If you don't have any success otherwise, try writing to the Curator at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, they have loads of Vintage & Veteran exhibits and tend to show an interest in more unusual items. Failing that wait until September 9/10 and trailer it along to their Automart (part of the Autojumble), costs about £50 for a pitch, best place I've found for selling anything car related, I've sold 3 TVRs there over the years(see www.beaulieu.co.uk ).

P.S. last time I went they also had Bluebird, the Goldon Arrow, and some TVRs on display at the Museum.

[DodgyDave]

Thanks Peter
That looks like a great way to try to sell a car. Although if I went Id just be walking round all day looking at the cars and not trying to sell hers.