The most common things said to
Austin Seven owners when they are using or displaying their cars are:
"My father had one of these."
or
"I'd like to own an Austin Seven"
This section is written for
potential owners, both men and ladies, and is intended to provide some
background information about the Austin Seven and owning, maintaining and
driving one.
At best it can only be an
introduction and will either leave you wanting more information or help you to
realise that ownership is, perhaps, not appropriate for you.
Our main advice to anyone who
decides that they wish to buy an Austin Seven is to first join a specialist club
BEFOREyou purchase a car. Buying the wrong car could be very costly and you
may be landed with a 'bitzer', one not really true to type which has been made
up from spare parts.
Brief history of the
Austin Seven When the ‘Seven’ was
introduced in 1922 it was intended for, and succeeded in, providing four wheeled
transport that the average working family could afford. It was built by the
Austin Motor Co. at Longbridge, Birmingham from 1922 to 1939 and during that
time a number of different body styles were fitted to the basic chassis and
running gear.
Austin produced tourers, 2-seater sports cars, saloons
and light van versions of the ‘Seven’. The chassis and running gear was used as
the basis of models built by many specialist coachbuilders. The ‘Seven’ was
exported across the world and also produced under licence in America, Australia,
France, Germany and Japan.
Early cars were
open tourers, with just enough room for Mum, Dad and two small children, and
these became known as the ‘Chummy’. Then came the saloon models from 1929 to
1934 which are referred to as 'Box Saloons'.
The styling was
modernised in 1934 with the production of the ‘Ruby’, and the exposed radiator
with the familiar radiator surround was replaced by an enveloping cowl.
The ‘Big Seven’
appeared in 1937 as a development of the ‘Seven’, with a different chassis and a
larger engine, having a more spacious body in 4-door and then 2-door versions.
Throughout
production ‘Sevens’ were available with a choice of body colours – blue, green,
grey, maroon, primrose with black top and black wings; with the ‘Ruby’ and ‘Big
Seven’ also in black. All cars had a choice of a complementary trim colour.
When manufacturing
ceased in March 1939 almost 300,000 ‘Sevens’ had been produced of which about
10,000 are known to survive worldwide.
Which do you choose?
Ultimately the particular body style you like is going to be a personal choice;
however the format of the chassis and running gear changed significantly over
the years and this does have an important bearing on the ease of maintenance and
driveability, and so should also influence your choice of model.
All Austin
Sevens are
based on the 'A' shaped chassis which came in three basic designs over the 17
years of production:
- the short chassis from 1922 to 1931
The short chassis suffered with limited space in the rear of saloons and the
first vans had a small load capacity of 2½ cwt (125kg).
-
the long wheelbase high chassis
from 1932 to 1934
The chassis length was extended by 6” (150mm) in 1932 to provide more room for
the rear seat passengers and the load capacity of vans was increased to 5 cwt
(250kg).
- the long wheelbase low chassis from 1934 to 1939
The low chassis, with flatter rear springs, was introduced with the 'Ruby' in
1934.
The engine The first engine in 1922 was 696cc but was soon increased to the 747cc engine
which appeared in 1923 and remained until 1937. The engines are side-valve with
a bore of 57mm and stroke of 78mm. During 1929 a larger diameter, stronger,
crankshaft was fitted. The crankshaft was two-bearing until the three-bearing
crankshaft was introduced in July 1936 but these are prone to breaking and hence
a two-bearing crankshaft is preferable. These, and other, modifications
gradually increased the brake horse power.
Magneto ignition
was used until 1929 when coil ignition was fitted as standard.
The engine was
bolted directly to the chassis until late 1933 when the engine was then rubber
mounted onto the chassis (smoother).
All engines made
post 1932 are readily interchangeable.
A re-designed 900cc
engine appeared with the 'Big Seven' in 1937.
The gearbox
The early Austin Sevens were fitted with a three-speed gearbox with a gate
change, an 'H' shaped slot through which the gear lever is moved. This was
changed around 1930 to the more familiar 'ball' attachment of the gear lever, as
used in modern cars, but it is still a three-speed 'crash' (non-synchromesh)
gearbox.
A four-speed crash
box was fitted in late 1932 through to late 1933. In late 1933 synchromesh was
fitted to 3rd and 4th gears only, and from mid-1934 synchromesh was fitted on
2nd, 3rd and 4th gears.
All of the
four-speed gearboxes are interchangeable.
The brakes
Before 1930 the handbrake applied the front brakes only and the footbrake
applied the rear brakes. From 1930 onwards the brakes were linked and so the
footbrake operated the front and rear brakes together, as did the handbrake.
Until the last of
the 'Ruby' models the brakes were operated through cables. The 'Big Seven' has
a cable to the front brakes and rods to the rear brakes.
Wheels and Tyres All Sevens up to and including the 'Ruby' models have spoked wheels; the 'Big
Seven' has Easyclean pressed steel wheels.
Up until 1934 the
tyre sizes of the tourers and basic saloons were 3.50 x 19", Avon Sidecar tyres
are now fitted for these cars.
The tyres were
changed to 4.00 x 17" when the low-chassis was introduced in 1934. The
'Big
Seven' tyres are 4.75 x 16".
New cross-ply tyres
are available from specialist suppliers.
So which model?
Generally speaking the later the car the easier it is to drive and maintain.
Later cars are
cheaper than the earlier cars and saloons are cheaper than the open cars. As a
rough guide for on-the-road cars in reasonable condition with current MoT,
consider the 'Big Seven' and 'Ruby' saloons to be about £5000; 'Box Saloons'
about £6000 and earlier 'Tourers' etc about £7000, give or take a few hundred
pounds. Beware of inflated prices on internet auction sites and at specialist
dealers.
If you are
seriously thinking about ownership come along and see the range of 'Sevens'
which our members own. In choosing your 'Seven'
it is important that you let your 'head rule your heart', at least for the first
one you purchase. It is all too easy to fall in love with a rough looking,
non-running project that appears to be cheap, which with a little tender loving
care you can turn into your treasured 'Seven'. UNLESS you have previously
restored a pre-war car and you know what is involved this is definitely NOT what
we would recommend!
Our best advice is
to buy a later car with the benefits of linked brakes, four speed gearbox and
synchromesh, and probably saloon type bodywork. The car should be running, with
a current MoT and the bodywork and trim at least presentable.
If you follow this
advice you will have a 'Seven' that is immediately usable. You can drive it and
take part in Club activities and gain experience as and when mechanical repairs
are necessary. Many of the Club member's cars that are most used are far from
immaculate but none the less give their owners, and the general public, much
pleasure.
Do I need to be a
mechanical wizard?
As with all things mechanical it helps if you have a basic understanding of how
things work. An Austin Seven has very simple mechanics, unlike modern cars, and
providing that you are willing to learn you will soon pick up the basics.
Hopefully you will soon be able to carry out the routine maintenance as set out
in the manufacturer's handbook and essential pre-run checks.
When the going gets
tough and major problems arise then help and advice is always freely available
from other Club members; they have met the problem before, they may have the
special tools and equipment, and can help to put things right.
Spare parts
New and second-hand spares are plentiful and relatively cheap. There are a
number of businesses which provide replacement parts for Austin Sevens and
normally will provide excellent service by ensuring next day delivery following
a telephone or on-line order; in fact a lot better than modern car dealers!
Second-hand spares
are still readily available through Auto-jumbles and fellow Club members.
If you intend to
try a Club run you should carry some spares in your car.
We can offer
guidance on sources of all parts, imperial tools, nuts, bolts etc. and
specialist engineering services in Cornwall and Devon; see our
'Guide to Parts and Services'.
Running Costs are
low
The road tax, or Vehicle Excise Duty, is zero rated ie free, for vehicles
produced before 1 January 1973 and these are classed by DVLA as 'Historic'; but
you are still required to display a current tax disc on the windscreen.
Our cars are still
subject to the annual MoT, but have the benefit of many exemptions. It is best
to take your 'Seven' to a garage that regularly undertakes MoT's on historic
cars. We can advise.
Fully comprehensive
insurance, arranged through the Austin Seven Club's Association official
insurance scheme, is about £50 per year, and includes European and UK Recovery.
A new tyre costs
£40 or so for the earlier sidecar tyres, increasing to around £90 for the Big
Seven tyres. Then add the cost of the inner tube and valve, sometimes plus
carriage, but with care and regular use they will last up to 20,000 miles.
Fuel consumption is
40 to 50 mpg and all 'Sevens' run well on normal unleaded 95 octane petrol.
Engine oil costs
depends upon your choice of a multigrade Classic 20W-50 or the traditional SAE
30 or 40 monograde; and how much your engine burns and leaks!
Using your 'Seven'
Once you own a 'Seven' you really should use it to preserve it; otherwise it
will soon deteriorate, both internally and externally, if it is just left in the
garage and looked at; and it will certainly not appreciate in value.
As an active Club
we encourage our member's to drive their 'Sevens', not only on Club events and
to the summer rallies in the county, but whenever you wish, even for shopping,
an afternoon run out to the coast or a pub-lunch with a few fellow club members.
Club Events
We offer a range of events throughout the year, which are supported by a group
of regulars.
We hold
'Ad Hoc' meetings, usually at weekends,
throughout the winter period, when we meet at various venues for a coffee and a
chat. If the weather is suitable then we have a short run to enjoy a pub-lunch
for those who wish to, or you may opt to return home. We will never drive our
'Sevens' in inclement weather for the sake of being out; we will call off a run
if the weather is too bad to start or continue.
We hold
'Club Runs' mainly, but not exclusively, during the summer months;
usually between 60 and 100 miles home to home for most members. We meet at a
nominated start point for coffee and then follow a pre-planned route taking in a
lunch stop (picnic or pub-lunch) after 25 to 30 miles. Then a few more miles
before making for home. Some of these runs will visit place(s) of interest or
finish at a member's home for a cream tea. No one is obliged to offer
hospitality, it is a personal choice if you feel that you have the room to park
15 or more 'Sevens' and about 30 members and partners. Have a look at
'Shall we do a Club Run?'.
We hold
'Teach-ins' during the winter months.
Members suggest a topic and we set up a demonstration and talk on how to check,
dismantle and repair the item. For some Teach-ins members are encouraged to
bring their own faulty component(s) along and, with help and guidance, repair
them using their new found knowledge. Topics have included dynamos; king pins;
gearboxes; brakes, rear axles; half-shaft replacement and electrical fault
finding. We don't guarantee to make you an expert but at least you will know
what the part does and how it works.
We hold
'Occasional Meetings' like a film evening of past Club Holidays
etc; a talk on First Aid; an 'Austin Seven Question and Answers' evening.
We organise
'Club Holidays' in the UK and abroad.
Members have been to
North Wales; the north and south Devon Coasts;France
several times; Northern Spain; Eastern Germany and Southern Ireland.
We encourage members to take
their 'Sevens' along to their local village shows/rallies during the summer and
as a Club we have a display each year at the three-day West of England Steam
Engine Society Annual Rally.
Some members like to travel
up-country to attend the annual weekend rally of other Austin Seven Clubs; and
if they have the time they arrange a short holiday in the area. Our members
regularly go to the rallies of the Dorset, Bristol and Scottish Austin Seven
Clubs.
There is no
obligation for you to go to every Club event; you are free to support those that
you wish; some members prefer the monthly runs but not holidays; some will only
choose to do shorter 'local' runs whilst there are those who will happily drive
to the far end of the county to meet up with other members and visit a new
area.
You can be as keen
as you wish to be; but we would like to see you out and about mixing in and
enjoy driving your 'Seven' along with other friendly and like-minded
enthusiasts.
Still interested?
As a Club specialising in Austin Sevens only we are able to provide help and
guidance to potential owners.
We can show you the
different models and explain the pros and cons connected with them.
We can arrange for you to
try different models for size and, when appropriate, be taken out for a short
road run.
We offer specific technical
advice through our monthly Club magazine 'Seven Focus'; through the Club website
'Technical Articles'; at the 'Teach-ins' and, when
necessary, on a one to one basis when carrying out essential repairs.
If Austin Seven
ownership is something you have now decided that you would like to do then you
would be well advised to join a Club BEFORE
you purchase a car. By doing so you will be able to benefit from the
collective experiences of members gained over many years; they can offer help
and guidance when you make your purchase.
Do not feel that
you would be taking unfair advantage of the members who already have cars, we
would much prefer you to take our advice as a Cornwall Austin Seven Club member
before you purchase your first 'Seven'.
Advice is free, the wrong car
could be very costly.
Once you are a
happy owner we would hope that you would soon be joining us on the Club events
of your choice, and experience the joys of being a
7'er.
Are you keen, do
you want to proceed, or do you have a few more questions before making your
decision? If so do contact Andrew Jarmin.
This article,
written by Andrew Jarmin and Malcolm Watts in 2001, was originally produced in
booklet format and given to people who were genuinely interested in become
Austin Seven owners.
