Home
Page
welcome to our website
About Us
information about our Club
Contacts
our Officers and Committee
Events Diary
our events for the
months ahead
Event Reports
from the last four months
Member's Cars
a selection of
our active "Sevens"
Joys of being a 7'er
and a few stories
Do you fancy an Austin Seven?
advice on buying a "Seven"
Photo Gallery
of our past activities and
"Sevens" in close up
From the Past
Items from 1920/30s
magazines
Registration Marks
in the UK from 1903
Help at the roadside
fuel and electrical problems
Austin Seven Journal
advice for Austin Agents
& Service Depots
Austin Seven
Handbooks
information for the
new owner
Technical Articles
our Members help you
with various tasks
Austin Big Seven
Sixlite & Forlite
Magazine Articles
relevant to Sevens
Road Tests
for the most popular "Sevens"
Parts and Services
sources of spares etc
Quick Tips
a few handy ideas
Other Articles
of interest, not technical
Austin Seven Books
some of the books available
A7CA and FBHVC
CA7C is an active supporter
Links to other Austin
Seven Sites
Website Policy
on advertisements and links
Last updated:
23 September, 2023
Cost of running a 'Seven'
One of the many questions that we are asked at shows is about the costs of running an Austin Seven; insurance, spares, fuel consumption etc.
All of the 'Sevens' were designed in the 1920/30's to return about 40mpg and our models still achieve that. Supporting most of the Cornwall Austin Seven Club runs and attending 4 or 5 summer shows I have averaged 1400 miles in recent years with my 900cc 'Big Seven'. The only calculation on fuel consumption was for a run up to Callington on the A30/A38 a couple of years ago, the 165 mile return journey returned 41mpg.
Bearing in mind that many of our Club runs are along twisty
lanes and steep hills the extra low gear work may bring this down to
35mpg at the worst; so that will be about 43 gals or 195 litres purchased over
the year.
At average price, over the
last year, of £1.14 per litre petrol has cost £222.30; the MoT test was £54.85;
Comprehensive Insurance, including breakdown cover, £49.35; Spares averaged over
a few years £30.00; Engine Oil, changed once a year and topping up - 5 litres,
and grease, is approx £15.00; Road Fund Licence for Historic Class cars (first
registered before 1 January 1973) is zero rated and so the total cost is about
£372.00 or approx 26.6p per mile.
It is necessary to add on the
original cost of 5 new tyres at £85 each with inner tubes £5 each plus p&p £5
each, then they cost £475. Assuming a 15 year tyre life (bearing in mind Tyre
Ageing) at 1400 miles per annum is approx 20,000 miles and that equals 2.3p per
mile.
Therefore, for 1400 miles per annum, the total running cost is near £405 or approx 29.0p per mile of which about 14.7p is for petrol.
Of course, there would normally be a figure for depreciation but 'Sevens' hold their value and the cost of restoration enhances the sale value so any figure is insufficient to radically alter the cost.
These costs are very
reasonable for a year's enjoyment.
This article, written by Doug Castle, originally appeared in CA7C Seven Focus in September 2010 p27.