Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

As there seem to be a few 7 owners on here now, let's hear about your memories, experiences of owning a pre-war Austin 7. Perhaps it was in the 1950s when they were cheap little runarounds, or in more recent times, either on the road or in competitive mode on the track.

What are they like to drive (and stop!)?? Would wild horses never get you to sit in one again, or do you never envisage life without one????

All thoughts/recollections etc welcomed

Rick


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[Keith D]

My Dad owned a Ruby in the early/mid fifties. It was our only car and we travelled everywhere in it. We lived in South East Essex which was the back of beyond in the fifties, especially with all our rellies living in West London and Middlesex. Every Christmas Eve we would do the two hour journey to the "big smoke" to catch up with the rellies and exchange Christmas presents, getting home to our farm at some ungodly hour on Christmas morning.

The Ruby was traded in on a brand new Ford Consul Mk2 in late 1956 and things were never quite the same again!

Jump to 1996 in Albany in West Oz, when a friend of mine decided that the RN sedan that had been in the back of his workshop for years, must go. I bought it and promptly joined the Austin Seven Club of Western Australia.

This Club makes owning and running an A7 very worthwhile. There are plenty of spares, plenty of expertise and a cameraderie that is incredible. Many of our Members own Rolls Royces, Bentleys and other exotic vehicles. All of them turn up on A7 runs in their A7's for most outings! The car is the greatest "leveller" in the world. Everybody has fun in an Austin Seven.

At displays, our cars attract by far the biggest crowds, no matter what other cars are present!

All A7 Clubs are joined by the A7 Clubs Association, which keeps everybody in touch with what's happening.

The slogan has always been - Motoring for the millions

There are some characteristics that may or may not be appealing. Brakes are very poor by modern standards. You must drive very cautiously, especially when approaching traffic lights. The clutch has about half an inch travel and cornering fast leaves one vaguely uneasy! Inside they are extremely noisy but are great fun to drive!

If forum members have not driven an A7 yet, then they need to! Clubs are everywhere in the UK. (And throughout the world as well!)

WARNING !!! THEY ARE EXTREMELY ADDICTIVE !!!

Keith

[Salopian]

My younger brother has owned a 7 of some sort since a rolled RN when he was 10 and that was a long time ago. Now he has 2 Speedys one which ran at Le Mans in 1935 and is in the retro this July - I hope for a free ticket(!!). I had a supercharged trials chummy for a while which went to fund something else. That gave just over 40 bhp on a dyno and with a van diff gave shattering seeming aceleration up to 46 or so mph.
They are brilliant fun and owned by some of the nicest old car people. I think they all have terrific character whether vintage or 1930's and have something the opposition (Minors Singers etc) lack. Everybody should own one sometime and as Keith says they are addictive - my brother proves it.
Keith also correctly describes the driving experience but can I add the grin usually worn by the driver and the goodwill a 7 seems to engender in others - they probably think you are mad --
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Jonathan Butler
Alvis SD 12/50 1928 MG TD 1950

[Mog]

I know all about the 1/2 inch travel of the clutch. I had failed two driving tests from a driving school. The testers took me to tricky places that the driving instructor had not taken me. Well... that is my excuse... So for the 3 rd. test I went in the 1936 Ruby and passed. As an underpaid apprentice I was not going to pay for any more "lessons". They always liked to take you around the town , so that you sat at traffic lights eating up the time. On another post I did write about the big end jumping out of the crankcase. For the time, 1930's, the crankcase was a beautiful piece of aluminum casting work.