1. Austin 7 car parked in a street.
Plenty of old Austins feature on this site, partly because I like them, and partly because they were very popular in their day, and as such a fair bit old material still survives. The first of these two particular photographs shows an Austin 7 'box' saloon parked on a road, probably during the 1930s. It looks to be mostly standard, bar one interesting addition. To avoid buffeting with the side window opened, an ingenious owner has fitted a Brooklands' aeroscreen to the driver's side screen pillar, in such a way that annoying draughts could be deflected away from the Austin's driver. The paintwork has also received some personalisation, with highlighted areas painted around the windows, and also a stripe down the side.
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The Austin 7 first pottered onto Britain's uncrowded roads in 1922,
designed to offer a 'proper' affordable car, to buyers who hitherto had
put up with motorcycles, or a variety of cycle-car, a vehicle that was
popular in the post-Great War era. The early Austin 7s were all tourers, and soon
became known as the Chummy.
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It is fair to say that the Austin 7 was a huge success, with 290,000 cars
having been built by the time WW2 came along, in various guises -
saloon, van, and tourer included. Austin 7s also appeared in overseas
markets, produced by local manufacturers. Perhaps best known version was
Germany's Dixi, as produced by BMW no less. Ironically BMW went on to
own the rights to one of Austin/BMCs most famous designs, the Mini.
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The diminutive four cylinder sidevalve engine also lent itself to
competition use, with many Austin 7-based specials built to pound the
banked turns at Brooklands and other, smaller, venues, and continue
to be used in historic events today. Many rusted-out baby Austins have
been pillaged for their chassis and running gear, to emerge as pint-sized racers. An
entire industry was formed to serve the leagues of Austin 7 racers that have
taken to the tracks since the 1920s and 1930s, some of which are covered on
the period tuning pages.
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2. Austin 7 on a camping trip
The second of the photos featured here shows a typical camping holiday, of the type that many people would have undertaken in this country, before the advent of cheap overseas travel. The vehicle chosen was of course an Austin 7 box saloon, identical to the example shown above. Judging by the Austin's open windscreen, it was a hot summer's day. The car looks to be very well cared for, finished in its two tone paintjob. The main subject of the picture must be the chap in his outdoor gear, ready for a hearty meal by the looks of things, stood outside his capacious ridge tent. The table is laid, with smart cutlery and crockery easily to hand, and a small kettle sat on the paraffin stove just behind him (I hope he moves it before lighting it otherwise some of his tent's guide ropes will suffer!). The single wooden chair suggests that he dined alone that day, so I wonder who it was that took the photo? |
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3. Ian's first car, a 1929 Austin 7 saloon.
Ian kindly sent over the photo shown below, featuring his very first car, an Austin 7 box saloon of 1929 vintage. To cover the £20 asking price, he borrowed the money from his mother-in-law. Does anyone know what became of this car, registration BA 9574? Thanks for sending that in!
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4. An Austin 7 seen in New Zealand.
Hugh kindly sent this photograph, and it shows what he believes is the family Austin 7 saloon car in New Zealand. Note the wider wheels fitted to this car. High adds:"The photo is almost certainly my Father's Austin 7, which he owned later in the 1930's. I believe he sold it when he joined the army at the commencement of World War 2. As a child in the 1950's I remember the "Lubrication Chart" from the Austin 7, a beautiful diagram of the car, about one meter square, on cardboard. It was nailed to the wall of my Grandmother's garden shed. How good would it look on my garage wall today!"
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5. A 1932 Austin 7.
Ray kindly sent in this photograph, it shows his father's 1932 Austin 7, parked up in 1948. Ray learnt to drive on this car, so has fond memories of it. Note the full-width wheel covers fitted to this example. Ray still has the oil pressure and engine temperature gauges, and the original Smiths clock, from the Austin, the clock still keeping perfect time.
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6. Three photos of another Austin Seven.
Next, three photographs of an Austin Seven, two taken on a run out to the seaside, and another with the young lady perched on the Austin's radiator surround. Somehow these photos sum up the 1930s, the car, the people's clothing, hairstyles etc etc. HX 8773 was issued in London, between June 1930 and March 1933. As with so many cars captured in pre-war photos, the tyres on the Austin are well beyond their sell-by date.
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7. An early Austin 7 saloon.
This car, photographed with rather too many people stood in front of it, is a vintage Austin 7 saloon of the late 1920s, most likely either an R or RK type. Note the Chummy-style, scuttle-mounted, lamps and a painted radiator. There is also a hooter mounted on the offside scuttle.
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The 7s shown on this page are all the early, nickel- or painted-rad, saloons. In 1934 the Ruby took over, and photos of this later Austin 7 variant can be seen elsewhere at oldclassiccar, including these pictures of Les' Austin Ruby, and a couple more photos here.
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Return to the Vintage transport photos - Page 5. If you're a fan of these cars, the Austin Seven screensaver may also be of interest, as might this Shire book on the Austin 7. Enthusiasts of the EA Sports (Ulster) may find this barn-find Austin 7 story to be of interest too.
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