What have you done today with your Austin Seven

[Chris KC]

Lovely day here yesterday, sunny but not too hot. I took the Ulster for a run in the countryside with no particular objective or schedule. Coffee from the thermos at Old Weston, cheese rolls at Holme Fen. Lovely.

[Denis Sweeney]

Not today but last weekend Saturday 10th August, not being one for static rallies and never taken part in one before, we were invited to bring our Ruby to show at charity event at the Richmond Light Railway near Headcorn Kent. This railway is a private collection which has been developed on an old pig farm and run by the owner and a team of enthusiasts who have restored the engines and rolling stock and developed the site. The railway is not open to the public and only "opens" to the public once a year when they hold a steam festival all in the aid of raising money for their chosen charity, which for this year was "Riding for the Disabled". There had six engines running all day long taking visitors around their 2 foot gauge rail layout, numerous static steam engines were there chugging away all day long, also many steam tractors, rollers and steam cars and lorries. You could also take the opportunity to drive a steam engine for a fiver.
There was also a 16cm gauge steam model railway set up in the engine sheds displayed by local enthusiasts.
It is an incredible site and the weather was perfect.
12 Austins were on show, two Rubies, two specials, a number of 10s and 20s of varying years, plus two Rileys.
There was also an immaculate 1933 Austin 12/4 Taxi Cab with a 1923 body by Dyer & Bolton which was known as a Chinese (see the pic of the information plaque)
It was a great day, it hasn't changed my mind regards to static rallies, but would do it again for the charity.       

[Denis Sweeney]

A few more pics.....

[Tony Griffiths]

Sheffield on the Moor Classic and Vintage Car Show. A long-established event, this was the first time Anne and I attended. It revealed a wide variety of unusual and interesting cars including a superbly restored and 100% accurate 1959 Mini with its original Sheffield registration number, an amazing 3-mpg-around-town Cadillac from 1956 (the first version with fins), a crazy fibreglass Kaiser Darrin in pistachio green and a plethora of Ford Capris - where it was amusing to see a basic 1300 with its diminutive engine parked next to a range-topping 280. I was even out-bearded and out-haired by a gentleman who asked if he could sit in PL.

[kenkimber]

Tony, 

   At the risk of being pedantic my recollection of the Mini when it was introduced was that the body seams were the same colour as the body so, in my opinion, the 100 % accurate Mini is not quite !

Ken Kimber

[Dave Wortley]

Tony you never told me you had an older brother!

[Steve Jones]

Tony you never told me you had an older brother!

No Dave, isn't that's John Gray in disguise

Steve

[Ivor Hawkins]

Tony, 

   At the risk of being pedantic my recollection of the Mini when it was introduced was that the body seams were the same colour as the body so, in my opinion, the 100 % accurate Mini is not quite !

Ken Kimber

 Didn’t those trims used to be a sort of chromey plastic?

[Mike Costigan]

Tony, 

   At the risk of being pedantic my recollection of the Mini when it was introduced was that the body seams were the same colour as the body so, in my opinion, the 100 % accurate Mini is not quite !

Ken Kimber

I agree, Ken; the seams on the early cars were definitely body-colour. I don't even think they had the clip-on trim, they were just bare as-welded seams.

[Tony Griffiths]

,

Tony, 

   At the risk of being pedantic my recollection of the Mini when it was introduced was that the body seams were the same colour as the body so, in my opinion, the 100 % accurate Mini is not quite !

Ken Kimber

I agree, Ken; the seams on the early cars were definitely body-colour. I don't even think they had the clip-on trim, they were just bare as-welded seams.

True - but were some "chrome" as well? The owner was waiting for the correct strips to arrive (the ones fitted are just plastic), so we'll have to forgive him. If the early cars were without them, then he's not quite correct in his detailing. When garaged (the owner's uncle was gifted the car as a debt) the seats were removed, wrapped in plastic and stored in the loft. hence, they have survived remarkably well.
The colour is unusual and was normally only supplied on export cars - from memory the owner said that only 14 others are known in that tint. Something about the basic nature of the early Minis appeals to me - rather like a '24 Chummy, I suppose.