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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6342 Location: Derby
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Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 12:45 am Post subject: 1930 Austin 7 Swallow saloon |
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Thanks for the kind comments, Rick. I know of a dismantled 1930 Swallow saloon in a locked garage. It belongs to my wife's uncle who is sadly suffering from ill health. He bought the car probably 50 years ago to restore but never got much further than dismantling it. A lot of replacement timber was bought at the time so that could come in useful in the future. I have a suspicion that it might come my way one day but although having my car on hand as a pattern would be a great help, restoring another one of these would be a major undertaking. I know because I have done it!!
I 'found' VO 4487 while driving through Wendover in 1985. It was sat next to a junk shop and had been exposed to the elements for some time. There was a "not for sale" notice in the window so I drove on. The following week (on my birthday) I was passing again and of course took another look. The sign had gone from the window (it had actually fallen down inside) so I approached the shop owner with an offer to buy. Apparently other people had been trying to buy the car but they didn't appreciate it's value. I asked the guy (Mr Baxter) what he would take. He said £2,500 and we shook hands!
It was the best birthday present I could have ever wished for.
Last edited by Ray White on Sun Mar 31, 2019 3:57 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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peter scott
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7124 Location: Edinburgh
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Ray,
'Not so sure about these big American things but I do love your Swallow. Did yours never have the ships ventilators on the scuttle?
Peter _________________ http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon |
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22458 Location: UK
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peter scott
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7124 Location: Edinburgh
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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Ganging up on me! Very unfair.
Are you guys from Chicago? _________________ http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon |
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Bitumen Boy
Joined: 26 Jan 2012 Posts: 1737 Location: Above the snow line in old Monmouthshire
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 6:04 pm Post subject: |
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peter scott wrote: | Ganging up on me! Very unfair.
Are you guys from Chicago? |
I'd watch out for "musicians" coming to the door... |
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peter scott
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7124 Location: Edinburgh
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, especially if they claim to be Guns & Roses!
_________________ http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon
Last edited by peter scott on Tue Dec 09, 2014 7:17 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6342 Location: Derby
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 7:07 pm Post subject: |
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I' so glad I found this forum. My sort of humour!
Peter, we have much in common, I think; SS & Jaguar stuff, mainly. To answer your question, I have to say that there seems to be some debate as to when the scuttle ventilators came in. As you may know, apart from the very first 'Blackpool' cars, there were two main versions of the Austin Swallow Saloon. Mine is a 1930 model and so far as I am aware none of the survivors have the vents, while the 1931 model onwards (like in your advert) all seem to have them. This does not mean, however, that they were not available as an option earlier, just that they don't seem to have been fitted at that time. You may have noticed that the later cars have other features such as bumpers and a different shaped radiator with a central chrome strip and more stylised mascot. There are also more side vents to the bonnet and a different, enclosed front valance. Inside they were also slightly different with individual front seats, rear foot wells and trim details.
The mistake most people make is to refer to the two different models as Marks 1 & 2. This is because the Swallow coachworks never used the designation; it was Donald Doughty, founder of the Austin Swallow Register who simply found it to be a useful method of identification.
Last edited by Ray White on Thu Jan 04, 2018 1:58 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6342 Location: Derby
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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peter scott wrote: | Yes, especially if the claim to be Guns & Roses!
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What do you know about Bentley&Sons? (The name over the entrance) |
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peter scott
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7124 Location: Edinburgh
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 7:16 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Ray, I did see photos of other Austin Swallows without vents but I hadn't realised the model differences.
Kind regards,
Peter _________________ http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon |
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peter scott
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7124 Location: Edinburgh
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6342 Location: Derby
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 7:54 pm Post subject: |
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The short wheelbase Austin Seven chassis formed the basis for William Lyons' attractive Swallow coachwork. The 747cc side valve engine produced 7.8 hp which gave the little car a top speed approaching 50 mph. A very basic specification included (coupled) cable brakes, gravity feed petrol supply to an up draught Zenith carburettor, fan assisted thermo syphon cooling, non pressurised two bearing crank, three speed straight cut 'crash' gearbox. Suspension was by quarter elliptic rear and transverse front leaf springs and friction dampers. Six volt electrics.
Last edited by Ray White on Thu Jan 04, 2018 2:02 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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peter scott
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7124 Location: Edinburgh
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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More seriously...
http://www.myalcaponemuseum.com/id61.htm
2701 N. Clark St. (Bentley and Sons) Peter and Frank Gusenberg's and Kachellek's (James Clark) funerals were held there in 1929.Important to note; right after the massacre occured at 2122 North Clark street Coroner Herman Bundesen had all the seven bodies sent to the Braithwaite Undertaking rooms at 2221 Lincoln avenue for the coroner's inquest and family identification.Once the bodies were no longer needed the families made arrangements to have the bodies sent to the funeral parlors of their choice. John May was held at his home.
( Photo courtesy of Mr. Larry Raeder).
_________________ http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon |
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peter scott
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7124 Location: Edinburgh
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 8:03 pm Post subject: |
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Ray, That's beautiful! Even retaining the original coil. A man after my own heart.
Peter
_________________ http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon
Last edited by peter scott on Thu Jan 04, 2018 7:30 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6342 Location: Derby
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 9:09 pm Post subject: |
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Imaginative thinking, Peter. In the USA it was EL Bentley &Co. Whether he had sons or not I really couldn't say!!
Back to the Swallow. When I bought the car it would tick over sweetly but lacked power. I mean it wouldn't go faster than walking pace! On rebuilding the engine, I found that brand new standard (2.2") pistons had been fitted but they had not bothered to re bore. I measured a 0.025" clearance. The bores were finished so I had the block re sleeved and taken back to standard so that I could use the new pistons. I now have 100 psi on all 4 cylinders.
The most recent work has been to rewire the car's electrics back to standard. I was able to buy armoured cable with black and red wires. The car is negative earth. One problem I had to overcome was with the charging circuit. These Lucas switch boxes have a "summer" or half charge facility for daytime use which avoids over charging the battery. My car has a later C35M dynamo without the built in resistors needed for the charging restriction. I fitted a 1 ohm resistor in the charging circuit and hid it from view. The function now works and I no longer have to drive about with the side lights on during the day! |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6342 Location: Derby
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Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2014 2:17 am Post subject: |
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One of the unique features of Swallow and SS saloons is the ladies' vanity set in the lid of the glove box. Originally, these delightful silver plated items were supplied by Houbigaunt of Paris. The two pots would originally have contained rouge and powder. As with many cars this was missing so I organised a reproduction run of 20 sets. These sold out so I have had more made!. Needless to say the cost was high but the quality is there.
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Last edited by Ray White on Thu Jan 04, 2018 2:04 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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