25-09-2017, 04:43 PM
THE ‘UFFINDEL’ 1928 AUSTIN 7 SPECIAL
The first car to cross the start line at the first Australian Grand Prix at Bathurst
Held in current ownership for 54 years
Chassis No: Not specified
Engine No: M63288
The legendary Austin 7 has competed in almost every discipline of motorsport since its inception in 1920 when a young Herbert Austin conceived a small car to meet the needs of young families. The ideas were spurred by the Horsepower tax of the day and was quite a departure from the Swift of Coventry earlier conservative vehicles. As the company was in dire financial straits. Austin employed the services of 18-year-old draughtsman, Stanley Edge, from the Austin factory at Longbridge, Birmingham to aid in the drawing of detailed plans.
Austin’s son-in-law Arthur Waite, who became a legendary Austin 7 racing driver, began his career with remarkable sporting successes at Brooklands in March 1923 followed at Monza. Notwithstanding the unavoidable run of failures that any racing marque had to endure to find perfection, Waite and Lou Kings (chief tester) persevered. He went on to establish Austin Distributors in Melbourne. Gordon England also established six new class records at Brooklands in his special lightweight 2-seater body weighing just 20 lb (9.1 kg) and entered the 1100 cc class for the Junior Car Club 200-mile race at Brooklands in October 1923 finishing in second place and breaking five class records. These milestones saw the birth of the Austin 7 racing legend that has thrilled spectators and challenged competitors for almost 100 years.
This intrinsically important racing car with Australian Grand Prix provenance for sale at Motorclassica was built into an aluminium bodied racing car in about 1934 by the South Australian, Ron “the Wizard” Uffindell. Referred to as “the Wizard” for his amazing turning ability, his spectacular trail-blazing is well recorded in Australian Grand Prix motor racing history. He started racing at the Centennial Grand Prix in 1936 which was run on the public roads between Victor Harbor and Port Elliot over 250 miles. Uffindel finished this race in 7th place outright having wisely fitted heavier crankshaft and rods in anticipation of the demands on the car. (Retrospectively, this race became known as the 1937 Australian Grand Prix). The following year on the 18 April the Australian Grand Prix was held at Bathurst on unsealed roads. Uffindell drove his little racer from his home town of Adelaide to Bathurst. The ‘Uffindel’ holds the illustrious honour of being the first car to leave the starting line on handicap against Peter Whitehead’s ERA at Mt Panorama at the first Australian Grand Prix held at that circuit. To ensure he would make the distance without refuelling, Uffindel installed a 7-gallon tank and finished in an astonishing 8th place. Ron Uffindell was a small man in stature at about five feet 5 inches tall. The image of him hanging onto the steering wheel of this little car, flat strap down Conrod Straight on a dirt road at 68 mph while being overtaken by a supercharged K3 Magnette at 105 mph is legendary in the annals of Australian motorsport. He then drove the little Austin 7 back to Adelaide via Melbourne and Mt Gambier along the Great Ocean Road!
In 1939, the Austin 7 was first outright in the South Australian Junior Grand Prix run at Lobethal establishing an average speed of just over 68 mph. Other competition achievements include the Australian Hill Climb Championship at Rob Roy winning the 850cc class. Once again, Ron Uffindel drove to and from the event.
An early member of the Sporting Car Club of SA. Ron Uffindel owned this car for 19 years before selling it to Gordon Walker who continued competing in SCCSA club events. The car has had only 4 owners since Ron Uffindel including Australian Sports Car Champion, Phil Moore. In its current 54-year ownership it has made guest appearances at both the Lobethal re-enactment events in 2008 and 2009 driven by Geoff Redin and Ral Rainsford. The car was honoured for its historical Australian Grand Prix and South Australian motoring significance by being the first car flagged off the starting line in 2008 by highly respected Australian motorsport flagman, Glen Dix. It has also run at the Winton Historics in 2010.
The ‘Uffindell’ offers a superb opportunity to acquire an Austin 7 with unequalled Australian racing provenance held in its current custodianship for 64 years. Its acquisition offers a rare and desirable opportunity for a discerning collector of Australian Grand Prix history. The car is accompanied by a tonneau which zips down the middle; the 4 original mudguards made by Ron Uffindell; an original poster of the 1939 Lobethal races and a CD including significant historical photographs of the car racing in the early days and at the Lobethal re-enactment event in 2008 and 2009. Ron Uffindel’s historic race records are held in safe keeping within the Austin 7 Club of South Australia archives.
https://www.mossgreen.com.au/m/lot-detai...-7-SPECIAL
The first car to cross the start line at the first Australian Grand Prix at Bathurst
Held in current ownership for 54 years
Chassis No: Not specified
Engine No: M63288
The legendary Austin 7 has competed in almost every discipline of motorsport since its inception in 1920 when a young Herbert Austin conceived a small car to meet the needs of young families. The ideas were spurred by the Horsepower tax of the day and was quite a departure from the Swift of Coventry earlier conservative vehicles. As the company was in dire financial straits. Austin employed the services of 18-year-old draughtsman, Stanley Edge, from the Austin factory at Longbridge, Birmingham to aid in the drawing of detailed plans.
Austin’s son-in-law Arthur Waite, who became a legendary Austin 7 racing driver, began his career with remarkable sporting successes at Brooklands in March 1923 followed at Monza. Notwithstanding the unavoidable run of failures that any racing marque had to endure to find perfection, Waite and Lou Kings (chief tester) persevered. He went on to establish Austin Distributors in Melbourne. Gordon England also established six new class records at Brooklands in his special lightweight 2-seater body weighing just 20 lb (9.1 kg) and entered the 1100 cc class for the Junior Car Club 200-mile race at Brooklands in October 1923 finishing in second place and breaking five class records. These milestones saw the birth of the Austin 7 racing legend that has thrilled spectators and challenged competitors for almost 100 years.
This intrinsically important racing car with Australian Grand Prix provenance for sale at Motorclassica was built into an aluminium bodied racing car in about 1934 by the South Australian, Ron “the Wizard” Uffindell. Referred to as “the Wizard” for his amazing turning ability, his spectacular trail-blazing is well recorded in Australian Grand Prix motor racing history. He started racing at the Centennial Grand Prix in 1936 which was run on the public roads between Victor Harbor and Port Elliot over 250 miles. Uffindel finished this race in 7th place outright having wisely fitted heavier crankshaft and rods in anticipation of the demands on the car. (Retrospectively, this race became known as the 1937 Australian Grand Prix). The following year on the 18 April the Australian Grand Prix was held at Bathurst on unsealed roads. Uffindell drove his little racer from his home town of Adelaide to Bathurst. The ‘Uffindel’ holds the illustrious honour of being the first car to leave the starting line on handicap against Peter Whitehead’s ERA at Mt Panorama at the first Australian Grand Prix held at that circuit. To ensure he would make the distance without refuelling, Uffindel installed a 7-gallon tank and finished in an astonishing 8th place. Ron Uffindell was a small man in stature at about five feet 5 inches tall. The image of him hanging onto the steering wheel of this little car, flat strap down Conrod Straight on a dirt road at 68 mph while being overtaken by a supercharged K3 Magnette at 105 mph is legendary in the annals of Australian motorsport. He then drove the little Austin 7 back to Adelaide via Melbourne and Mt Gambier along the Great Ocean Road!
In 1939, the Austin 7 was first outright in the South Australian Junior Grand Prix run at Lobethal establishing an average speed of just over 68 mph. Other competition achievements include the Australian Hill Climb Championship at Rob Roy winning the 850cc class. Once again, Ron Uffindel drove to and from the event.
An early member of the Sporting Car Club of SA. Ron Uffindel owned this car for 19 years before selling it to Gordon Walker who continued competing in SCCSA club events. The car has had only 4 owners since Ron Uffindel including Australian Sports Car Champion, Phil Moore. In its current 54-year ownership it has made guest appearances at both the Lobethal re-enactment events in 2008 and 2009 driven by Geoff Redin and Ral Rainsford. The car was honoured for its historical Australian Grand Prix and South Australian motoring significance by being the first car flagged off the starting line in 2008 by highly respected Australian motorsport flagman, Glen Dix. It has also run at the Winton Historics in 2010.
The ‘Uffindell’ offers a superb opportunity to acquire an Austin 7 with unequalled Australian racing provenance held in its current custodianship for 64 years. Its acquisition offers a rare and desirable opportunity for a discerning collector of Australian Grand Prix history. The car is accompanied by a tonneau which zips down the middle; the 4 original mudguards made by Ron Uffindell; an original poster of the 1939 Lobethal races and a CD including significant historical photographs of the car racing in the early days and at the Lobethal re-enactment event in 2008 and 2009. Ron Uffindel’s historic race records are held in safe keeping within the Austin 7 Club of South Australia archives.
https://www.mossgreen.com.au/m/lot-detai...-7-SPECIAL