Austin 7 Special.
Special-building is a hobby that goes back 70+ years, when the availability of cheap and simple chassis from cars such as the Austin 7 and Ford 8/10 meant that building your own car, or "special", could be an affordable and entertaining project to get your teeth into. Countless pre-war Austin 7 saloons were purchased for just a few pounds, their boxy saloon bodies discarded, to be replaced by something altogether more sporting.
|
|
Some conversions were very successful, giving the owner-builder an entertaining lightweight sportscar, often on a shoestring. For every well-sorted Austin 7 special, there will have been many projects that were started, yet never saw light of day, their owners' either giving up early on, running out of money or time, or simply getting distracted by other cars, or even members of the opposite sex. These would often end up being sold for parts, or simply dumped in the nearest scrapyard, wood or layby.
|
|
Many specials were a case of "all show and little go", but even cars powered by un-modified engines would have a useful turn of speed, fitted as they were with bodies significantly lighter than the original factory offering. For those with deeper pockets in the 1950's, the lure of tuning parts from companies such as Speedex, Super Accessories, Bowden and Cambridge Engineering to name just some, would prove difficult to resist.
|
|
I'm hoping that including this page on the site will lead to more period photos of Austin 7 specials turning up. If you have any old photos of such cars, and would be willing to have them included on this page, please drop me a line. More the merrier!
|
1. An Austin Seven special in S. Africa.
Herb sent the first photograph to be included on this page, taken during his time living in South Africa. The Austin was seen parked at a racing track.
|
| (Please click the thumbnail to view full-size image.) |
|
|
|
This special looks to have been built with fast-road or competition use in mind. It sits quite low - thanks to lowered suspension, either supplied by a third-party parts supplier or possibly removed from an Ulster, which came with flatter rear springs and a dropped front axle as standard.
|
|
A plate attached to the front of the Austin includes the car's racing number - 307 - and also the word "Germiston", the name of a large city in South Africa. Along with the photo of this Austin 7, Herb also sent a photo of a Ford Prefect-based racing car, competing at the Grand Central Racetrack. Both photographs are identical in size, and both are printed on Ilford paper, suggesting that both the Ford and Austin specials were seen at the same event and location. Grand Central was established by a group of motor racing enthusiasts in the 1930's who also had an interest in the flying - the airfield still exists, as does the track although the latter is no longer in use.
|
2. An Austin 7 special in the UK now.
Charles made contact recently, wondering if the oddball little car in the background of a photo could be identified. One look at the wheel confirms that it is a special built upon Austin 7 running gear, and it's quite unlike any other special I've seen. The body has echoes of the American Crosley to it. Either this is a one-off, produced by a talented DIY-er in his shed, or an off-the-shelf body fitted to a vintage chassis. Has anyone out there seen a car like this before?
|
|
The Austin's registration is TW 7762, an Essex series used from 1925 to 1927, confirming that the chassis once belonged to a vintage Austin 7. The plated radiator grille looks particularly well made. The body would appear to be an estate, with a canvas centre section to the roof, something often seen on 1940's vans as a way to save metal during production. The door shape is reminiscent of, but not identical to, that found on Series 1 and 2 Morris 8s. To the Austin's right is 1951 Hillman Minx, while to its left is a 1946/47 Fordson E04C van.
|
|
|
|
As and when more old photographs of Austin 7 specials turn up, I'll add them in here. My own Austin Seven, based on Chummy and Ulster parts, can be found here. A large number of old images showing road and race versions of the 7 can be found in various locations across the site, the search facility should help track them all down :-)
|
|
Return to Page 12 in the vintage & classic car motoring gallery.
|
