Engine number

[DavidM1963]

I have just purchased a 1928 Fabric Saloon that is 95% restored.  The engine number is M76520.  The distributor is fixed and doesn't move when the advance retard lever is used (It has been removed)  It drives really well and I wondered if the engine is from a later model.

[Andy Bennett]

Hi David
It wasn't unusual for later auto retard distributors to be fitted to earlier engines with the manual adjust level simply disconnected. Mine (33RP) was like this.

Andy

[Tony Griffiths]

If you download the "Chassis Number" list (it contains many engine numbers as well) you'll see that several cars registered in the first part of 1929 have engine numbers in the 75,000 range. Of course, there is no guarantee that these are original to the car but the closeness of the numbers to the time does suggest that they might well be.
https://a7ca.org/chassis-register/  scroll down to "By Chassis Number" and you can download and search a PDF. All I did was mark one column and look for "69".
Here are a few examples that show you car has a later engine (or at least the crankcase). 1928 registered cars seem to have numbers in the range 60,000 to 70,000. Perhaps somebody with a known original can confirm?

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David, if you are new to the Seven, here is some background that I hope you'll find useful:
There are so many Austin 7 clubs that, in 1969, an association of them was formed - and this is now the go-to place that hosts a mass of important data: https://a7ca.org/ It's a very large site with lists of clubs, a superb archive of historical data, reproduction handbooks, chassis and car registers, A7 history, A7 model identification, events, etc.

Find a club near to you and explore the A7CA website: https://a7ca.org

The Pre-War A7 club has a very useful Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pwa7c .... with other enthusiasts forming groups for specific models or regional interests.

To read the fascinating background to the car - with reproductions of the notebook by the Stanley Edge the design draftsman see: https://a7ca.org/austin-seven/the-people/

To see if your car is listed (or to add it - that would be very useful) the A7CA provides a list of known vehicles: https://a7ca.org/chassis-register/  It includes versions by English Austin, American Austin and Bantam, German Dixi and BMW and French Rosengart. You can search by chassis, car and registration number and model type.

Handbooks and Parts List can be downloaded as PDFs: https://archive.a7ca.org/collections/han...rts-lists/

Sales brochures can be found here: https://archive.a7ca.org/collections/show-brochures/

For new Austin 7 parts use these links:
Explore the A7CA website: https://a7ca.org
https://www.theaustinsevenworkshop.com/
http://austinrepro.com/ This engineer offers standard and also beautifully made difficult-to-find reproductions of headlamps, speedometers, rev counters and items for the Swallow, Nippy, Ulster, etc:

For both new and used parts try: http://www.7ca.co.uk/ and http://www.southernsevens.co.uk
Another link with details of restorers, gearbox, suspension and bodywork experts, etc: https://oldcarservices.co.uk/austin-seven-specialists/
Austin 7 books can be bought from: http://www.pwa7c.co.uk/bookshop.php
For engine, other mechanical work and restorations one highly recommended business is: http://www.albaaustins.co.uk

For 20+ pages of digitally restored, interesting and high-resolution Austin illustrations (that you can download and print out) see http://www.lathes.co.uk/austin7

Fitting indicators? A guide is available here: http://www.lathes.co.uk/austin-7-indicators

[DavidM1963]

Wow, yes I am a "newbie" to Austin Sevens.  The information you have given me is so excellent and I thank you for your trouble.  It's very much appreciated.  I shall post pictures of my car ( In New Zealand ) soon.  Again thank you for all of the links.

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Thank you for that, I did wonder, the car drives beautiful so Im sure its been "updated"

[Tony Griffiths]

If the car has a "standard" vintage engine, like the one below, it should (unless tuned in some hidden way) have about the same performance as one made from 1924 to 1932 (though during that time the compression ratio was raised a few times). It's very easy to fit the later manifold with a side-draft carb (as shown in picture 3) and even the later cylinder head with its 2-bolt top water-take-off manifold. All are relatively common modifications.