They are still out there!

[Derek Simmons]

Of course if the chassis is ok, you could always one of the almost unbelievably perfect bodies that cropped up on ebay from time to time, listed by one of those fine gentlemen who strip a well sorted ruby for the chassis and V5

If anyone is thinking of restoring it, it may be worth contacting Arthur AKA merlinart. If memory serves, he felt his would be suitable fo a restorer with a poor shell... Though I dont remember if his was a mk1 or mk2?

Yes, within the next couple of weeks, I'll drag the Ruby out, take some very detailed photos and post them as it might be helpful to know when is a shell practically beyond economic repair. Mine is a 1938 body so presumably a mk2? To be honest I don't know the difference between a mk1 and mk2, so willing to learn.

Arthur

Yes Arthur,  You presumed correctly. The body is Mk2.

[Colin Morgan]

I am not sure that it is a question of 'economic' repair - restoration of such a vehicle has to be a labour of love, surely?  There is always so much more to be done than expected and it takes ages - I spent many weekends and evenings for over two years on mine.  If you give your time for free and have a broad range of skills, and friends who can help, then it might be possible for the car to be worth something close to what is spent on it at the end.  In terms of whether a 'barn find' car can/should be repaired at all - well, as mentioned above, that perhaps depends on whether there is something left to weld to - they can be too far gone - and whether you intend to see it through, as it is very hard for anyone else to pick up such a project half way though.  I have seen derelict Ruby cars for sale since I acquired mine in much more solid condition that would have given me a better start and completed car - with hindsight I would have started with something better, but it was a good learning process that has stood me in good stead with the other Sevens I have owned since.  

Colin

[Ray White]

I quite agree with you, Colin.  A labour of love is how I also would describe such heroic restorations.  I have a theory that many cars are taken on with a "head in the sand" approach.  If my friend, Ian Watson, who started restoring a derelict Austin Swallow saloon 10 years ago, had realised quite how much would be involved, he would probably have walked away but he stuck with it and it is only now that the paint is going on.  

Maybe we still think of the Ruby as being in plentiful supply and unless people see something in them over and above their price value they will continue to be overlooked and even chopped up to build a 'special' of some kind.

[Colin Morgan]

What I have seen in the past is someone interested in Sevens and averagely competent being offered a tatty Ruby - they take it on but decide there is too much work, and then realise that if they break it they can make back what they paid and maybe bit more - though even that turns out to be a lot of work in practice. If someone would take the whole car off them before any dismantling, then all well and good, but often they can find no local buyer around at the time. With Internet advertising it is now easier to find someone interested, so hopefully this won't happen so much. Of course, there may be people doing this on purpose, and this is a shame if the dismantled would car have made a good one - probably better than mine!

Colin

[Steve Bryant]

Where you live plays a large part in this too. 

Here in western Canada Austin Sevens are so few and far between that we take on projects that many would walk away from because there is no choice in other cars that are in better overall condition. So the project becomes a labor of love in many respects because it will take so much time to do and source information, parts and specialist services.

I acquired mine about 35 years ago and is only now coming together to the point that real progress can be seen.

Sometimes ones has to be cruel in that you can't save them all sadly.
Stephen