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Various Austin 7's
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8_10 Brass Cleaner



Joined: 06 Jan 2016
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 07, 2016 12:50 pm    Post subject: Various Austin 7's Reply with quote

I thought I'd join up this forum for a while but never got round to it.

My main hobby is steamers, and later I'll post about that elsewhere, however another part of my hobby is messing about with Austin 7's.

I live in north Shropshire, but originate from Denbighshire in north W.ales

I have interest in 3 cars, one is mine, one nominally the wifes, the other shared with my father.

First car, mine

A 1930 Austin 7 box saloon. For those of you sad enough like me to know a bit about 7's, its a model RL. Basically the first of the steel saloons. Built on the late short 6 foot 3 wheelbase chassis, the type with 4 wheel brakes. The RL model was probably only made for 12 months, before the RM came out in late 1930 for the 1931 model year. The RM has a shorter bonnet and longer scuttle (but otherwise almost identical), the long wheelbase RN came out in 1931 as the De Luxe model
Father bought me the body etc about 22 years ago. And the car has been together and on the road 15years now. It gets a fair bit of use, but I don't really show it. I've actually come to work in it today while the wifes car is in the garage having an exhaust. anyway a picture.



The second car, my wifes is an Austin 7 special. built on what looks like a late 1930's 7 chassis, that is of the Jewell type (Ruby, Opal etc). What makes the car interesting is that it is fitted with a fibreglass body, seemingly a rare one. Made by Microplas of Mitcham in surrey, it is their 'Stiletto' model. These simple bodies were offered for sale in the mid 1950's specifically designed for the Austin 7. From a newspaper cutting found in the fibreglass this one dates from 1956. The V5 with the car states that it is a 'built up' vehicle first registered in 1960.

I bought this car for my wife having chanced upon it under a tarpaulin next to a windmill last April. Nominally a runner, it has received much TLC including new timing gears on the engine. A windscreen and a change of wheels is planned. but the car is presently on the road. It may get shown a bit in 2016, we shall see.

Its a fairly hot engine, a 1932 version, high lift cam, 1 1/2 SU. double valve springs. Close ratio gearbox. but still has its original cable brakes!.



The last car is a share in a 1928 Austin 7, this is the remains of a Gordon England Cup model. And I don't mean that it is to be built as a replica, it is the remains of the pukka item. It survived as a running chassis with someoriginal bodywork as a hack on the Lleyn Peninsula in north wales. We bought it about 18 months ago along with a 1926 AC Royale (since moved on). Sufficient original bodywork and some of the specific parts were present to be able to confirm what it was. The picture show it more or less as it stands, though we do have the original transmission tunnel and the low rake steering box also. Ive got hold of an old body for it, but it is very much a project of the future. I'm presently restoring a steam roller, father a 1930 austin 7 four seat tourer (chummy).

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Rick
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 07, 2016 1:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Welcome aboard - thanks for posting, it's always nice to see examples of cars fellow forum-ers are spending their time and £$ on Smile

RJ
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Penman



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
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Location: Swindon, Wilts.

PostPosted: Thu Jan 07, 2016 2:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi
Welcome.
Is the blue "caravan" a shepherds van, a trailer van for the roller or a traction engine trailer, like Fred Dibnah used to have?
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8_10 Brass Cleaner



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PostPosted: Thu Jan 07, 2016 3:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Penman wrote:
Hi
Welcome.
Is the blue "caravan" a shepherds van, a trailer van for the roller or a traction engine trailer, like Fred Dibnah used to have?


Called a 'Living Van' in steam circles. This one used to be with a steam dredging contractor in Hereford.

Here is my outfit



Rick may well remember the steamer?
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Rick
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 07, 2016 7:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yep - Malpas was it, where junior and I had a go at steering?

RJ
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8_10 Brass Cleaner



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PostPosted: Thu Jan 07, 2016 9:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rick wrote:
Yep - Malpas was it, where junior and I had a go at steering?

RJ


Thats it.
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8_10 Brass Cleaner



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PostPosted: Tue Feb 16, 2016 1:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I fetched the Microplas out of its shed yesterday and went for a spin to Tern Hill. Afterwards I tried on its soon to be new windscreen.

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badhuis



Joined: 20 Aug 2008
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 16, 2016 3:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Somehow the Spitfire / TR4-5-6 screen looks a bit too much for the special. I am sure it will be more effective than the aero screens.
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Rick
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 16, 2016 6:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Aeroscreens + goggles Smile

RJ
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8_10 Brass Cleaner



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PostPosted: Tue Feb 16, 2016 10:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rick wrote:
Aeroscreens + goggles Smile

RJ


They are useless
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8_10 Brass Cleaner



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PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 2:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

In sad circumstances, 3 more cars have come my way. Hence the Microplas on e-bay.

A 1934 RP, coming home on Saturday



The Cup has grown a body



And a part restored chummy



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8_10 Brass Cleaner



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PostPosted: Fri Aug 17, 2018 10:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

When the green special went I promised my daughter that we would have the chummy on the road within a couple of years. However the body restorers que is a bit slow. So about 8 weeks ago I decided to throw it together. I started on the 6th July.

Father stripped much of the paint off the body, so Ive painted those bits satin black. And I didnt think a newly chromed rad would look very good on a rat look car. This is where I've got to. We shall be at Market Drayton Transport festival this Sunday. Road legal. But not fully wired.





Once ive found another pair of good close centre vintage wheels itll get a full compliment of ted wheels.
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Rick
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 17, 2018 10:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the update, can never have too much A7 content on here!

RJ
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 11:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Chummy made it to Onslow Park (Shrewsbury Steam Rally) and back. Not without problem as it has a fuel flow issue, which I hope I figured out last night as a lack of venting on the filler cap.

I shall have to put some more paint on the wings, and wire it now!.

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