A7 Road Test / Reviews 1922-2011

[Douglas Alderson]

List of A7 Road Test / Reviews.  Also includes some period travel reports.  Probably not complete but a starting point.  Add others if you know of them ....

Updated list for all additional articles listed in replies up to 28/11/2018, showing which books the articles are in. If you know the day the article came out let me know and I will amend.  Order corrected 30/11/2018

1922 Jul. 28 The Autocar The Austin Seven
1922 Aug 5 The Sphere The Austin Seven
1922 Dec. 15 Light Car The Austin Seven On The Road
1923 Jul 27 Autocar The Paces of the Austin Seven
1923 Sept. 4 Motor The Dinghy of the Road Brooklands A7 Book
1925 Jan. 27 Motor The Austin Seven Sports Model Road Test Brooklands A7 Book
1925 Feb. Motorsports Magazine GE Brooklands
1925 Light Car Austin Sven Road Test Unique Motor Books 1990
1926 Mar. Motorsports Magazine GE Brooklands
1927 June 14 Motor Getting the Best out of an Austin Seven Brooklands A7 Book
1928 Apr. 13 Autocar Gordon England Sunshine Roof
1928 June 6 The Tatler Car Cameo Austin Seven
1928 Sep. 21 Light Car Interesting Developments for 1929
1928 Dec. Light Car The Ever Popular Austin Seven
1929 Mar. 1 Light Car An Austin Seven in France & Spain I Brooklands A7 Book
1929 Mar. 8 Light Car An Austin Seven in France & Spain II Brooklands A7 Book
1929 Jun. 28 Light Car Distinctive Body for a Popular Classis
1929 Sep. 27 Light Car The Austin Range in Detail
1930 Jan. 24 Light Car The Austin Seven Road Test Brooklands A7 Book
1930 June 6 Light Car The Austin Seven Tuning & Maintenance Brooklands A7 Book
1930 June 10 The Motor Austin Swallow 2 Seater
1930 June 27 Light Car The French Austin Seven Brooklands A7 Book
1930 July 4 Light Car Just Right for Two Brooklands A7 Book
1930 Jul. Motorsports Magazine Austin Seven Ulster
1930 July 8 Motor A Roomier Austin Seven Brooklands A7 Book
1930 July 22 Motor The Austin Seven Sports Road Test Brooklands A7 Book
1930 Sept. 26 Light Car The Austin Seven Hawk Brooklands A7 Book
1930 Sep. Motor sports Magazine Austin BC
1930 Oct. 10 Autocar The 500 Miles Race Brooklands A7 Book
1930 Autocar New Austin Seven Unique Motor Books 1990
1930 Light Car B.C. Austin Seven Road Test Unique Motor Books 1990
1930 Light Car Austin Seven With Sunshine Roof Unique Motor Books 1990
1931 Feb. 10 Motor Specialized Bodies Brooklands A7 Book
1931 Mar. 27 Autocar Austin Seven Sunshine Saloon
1931 Apr. 3 Light Car A New Austin Racer
1931 May 29 Light Car The Austin Seven Sports Model Brooklands A7 Book & Unique Motor Books 1990
1931 June 26 Light Car A New Arrow Austin Brooklands A7 Book
1931 Nov. 13 Light Car Austin Seven now only £118 Unique Motor Books 2000
1931 Nov. 17 Motor A New Long Wheelbase Austin Seven Brooklands A7 Book
1931 Nov. 24 Motor America's Latest Sales Plan Brooklands A7 Book
1931 Light Car Austin Seven Using Mobiloil Unique Motor Books 1990
1932 March 16 The Tatler London to Budapest in “A Baby”
1932 Unknown 1932 Autocar A New Austin Seven
1932 July 1 Light Car The Austin Seven De Luxe Saloon Brooklands A7 Book & Unique Motor Books 1990
1932 Light Car The Austin Seven De Luxe Saloon Seven Horses Unique Motor Books 1990
1932 Dec 1 Britannia and Eve The New Baby Austin
1932 Dec 28 Bystander The Austin Seven De Luxe Saloon
1932 The Light Car Austin Seven with four speed ‘Twin-Top’ Unique Motor Books 1990
1933 Jun 10 Light Car The Austin Seven 2 Seater Unique Motor Books 1990
1933 June 16 Light Car 600 Economical Miles in the Austin Seven Brooklands A7 Book
1933 June 23 Light Car The Austin Seven "65" Brooklands A7 Book
1933 June 27 Motor A New Sports Austin Seven Brooklands A7 Book
1933 July Austin Magazine Two New Sports Cars
1933 Aug.4 Light Car The Wright Austin Sports Unique Motor Books 2000
1933 Dec.15 Light Car Hints for Austin Owners Brooklands A7 Book
1933 Unknown Road Test of An Austin 7 car reg UX655
1934 Jan. Motorsports Magazine The Austin 65 Arrow
1934 Mar. 27 Motor Austin Seven Record at 122.74 m.p.h. Brooklands A7 Book
1934 July 6 Light Car The Austin Seven Road Test Brooklands A7 Book Unique Motor Books 2000
1934 Dec. 28 Light Car The Austin Seven Ruby Saloon Road Test Brooklands A7 Book
1934 Light Car Austins for the new season, new models Colin Pitt’s Unique Motor Books 1990
1935 Mar. 8 Autocar Austin Seven Ruby Saloon Unique Motor Books 1990
1935 Aug. 31 Practical Motorist The Austin Range for 1936
1935 Dec. 21 Practical Motorist The Austin Range Review for 1936
1935 Light Car Austin Seven Ruby Saloon Road Test Unique Motor Books 1990
1936 Mar. 7 Practical Motorist Overhauling the Austin Seven
1936 Mar. 14 Practical Motorist Overhauling the Austin Seven
1936 Mar. 20 Autocar A Remarkable Austin Racing
1936 Mar 27 Motor Austin Seven Record Unique Motor Books 1990
1936 Apr. Motor Sport Austin Seven Double – Camshaft Unique Motor Books 2000
1936 Apr. 4 Practical Motorist New OHV Austin "7" Racer Brooklands A7 Book
1936 Apr. 17 Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News The Development of the Austin Seven
1936 May 2 Practical Motorist A7 Rumbling Noises from the engine
1936 Jun. 27 Light Car Tuning and Maintenance Unique Motor Books 1990 & Unique Motor Books 2000
1936 July 8 The Bystander The 1936 Austin Seven
1936  Unknown The Austin Seven Ruby Saloon
1936 Aug. 22 Practical Motorist Austin Changes for 1937
1936 Nov. 6 Autocar Austin Seven Ruby Saloon Road Test Brooklands A7 Book & Unique  Motor Books 1990
1936 The Motor Trader Magazine Austin Seven Servicing data Unique Motor Books 1990
1936 Oct. 9 Light Car Tuning and Maintenance II Unique Motor Books 1990 & Unique Motor Books 2000
1936 Oct. 16 Light Car Tuning and Maintenance III Unique Motor Books 1990 & Unique Motor Books 2000
1936 Oct. 30 Light Car Tuning and Maintenance IV Unique Motor Books 1990 & Unique Motor Books 2000
1936 Nov. 13 Light Car Tuning and Maintenance V Unique Motor Books 1990 & Unique Motor Books 2000
1937 Jan. 22 Light Car New Austin Cabriolets Brooklands A7 Book
1937 Mar. 27 Practical Motorist Austin "Seven Ruby" Saloon Brooklands A7 Book
1937 May 21 Light Car Austin Seven under the Microscope I Brooklands A7 Book Unique Motor Books 1990
1937 May 28 Light Car Austin Seven under the Microscope II Brooklands A7 Book Unique Motor Books 1990
1937 June 4 Light Car Austin Seven under the Microscope III Brooklands A7 Book Unique Motor Books 1990 & Unique Motor Books 2000
1937 June 11 Light Car Austin Seven under the Microscope IV Brooklands A7 Book Unique Motor Books 1990 & Unique Motor Books 2000
1937 July 16 Light Car Austin Introduce a "Big Seven" Brooklands A7 Book Unique Motor Books 2000
1937 cir Austin Magazine On the Road with the Austin Seven Unique Motor Books 1990
1937 Austin Magazine Around Australia Unique Motor Books 1990
1937 Aug.3 Motor The New Austin Big Seven Saloon Brooklands A7 Book Unique Motor Books 1990
1937 Sphere Austin Seven Ruby Road Test Unique Motor Books 1990
1938 Jan. 7 Light Car The Austin Big Seven Road Test Brooklands A7 Book & Unique Motor Books 1990
1938 July 16 Practical Motorist Austin "Big Seven Forlite" Road Test Brooklands A7 Book
1938 Aug 2 Motor Austin Big Seven Forlite Saloon
1938 Aug. 5 Light Car Real Running Costs Brooklands A7 Book
1938 Light Car Austin Forlite Road Test Unique Motor Books 1990
1938 Light Car Austin Tuning and Maintenance Unique Motor Books 1990
1938 Sphere Tuning the Austin Seven Unique Motor Books 1990
1939 Sept. 8 Light Car Building to Personal Requirements Brooklands A7 Book
1944 July 19 Motor Working on Sports Cars, the Austin Seven I Brooklands A7 Book
1944 July 26 Motor Working on Sports Cars, the Austin Seven II Brooklands A7 Book
1945 Jan. 19 Autocar Supercharged Austin Brooklands A7 Book
1945 Sept. 28 Autocar Ulster Austins Brooklands A7 Book
1953 The Motor Manual Austin Seven Special Specification Unique Motor Books 1990
1954 The Motor Manual Austin Seven Specification Unique Motor Books 1990
1955 Jul 5 Motor 1923 Austin Seven Rebuild
1958 Cars Illustrated Austin Seven Plucky Seven 1936 Light Car Tuning and Maintenance Unique Motor Books 1990
1982 Nov.27 Autocar 1930 Austin 7 Ulster Brooklands A7 Book
1982 June Practical Classics John O'Groats to Lands End Brooklands A7 Book
1983 March Motor Sport Magazine Austin 7 Comparisons
2011 March 3 Autocar Austin Seven (Ruby) Video on YouTube

[Mike Costigan]

Douglas, You are missing the very first 'proper' road test conducted by The Autocar on a Gordon England Sunshine Saloon published in the 13th April 1928 issue. Autocar did a sort of re-run on 21st October 2018 comparing (!) an Austin Seven with a McLaren Senna:

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/featu...-road-test

[Austin in the Shed]

No mention or link between Bruce McLaren the companies founder and his introduction to motor sport,The Austin Seven.
Last year as a birthday present I was given one of those track day experiences which included driving a £300k Lamborghini which was brilliant,it was an airfield circuit and was encouraged to drive pretty fast.Paddle shifts auto clutch etc,great.
But how much "fun" would it be to drive on the road,I don't know.
Driving a good Seven smoothly on most roads would give as much driver satisfaction I think,or am I mad ?

[Chris Garner]

    Many of you will remember Colin Pitt's Unique Motor Books on Road Tests, Service Data and Road Research Reports on the Austin Seven. 
Colin produced several of these and one I have in my collection I have never seen another copy.
Enclosed is the Contents page and I'm sure there are one or two here not in Douglas's list.

The first one - LCCC 1925 has rare photos of a Seven being assembled, items under test and bodies being " flow painted "

---

I have just seen Dave's posting on Bruce McLaren. A neighbour of mine has recently purchased a McLaren 570S and after my telling him of Bruce's Seven we have agreed to do a photoshoot with one of my Sevens and his car.

[JonE]

haven't got time to start to rejig these now, but here is Chris's list OCR'd so we can start to chronologically link these to Douglas's list.. and perhaps gradually add the full dates as we know them.

CONTENTS
Austin Seven, Road Test, The Light Car and Cycle Car, 1925 X Austin Seven De Luxe Saloon, The Light Car, 1932 x Austin Seven De Luxe, Seven Horses, The Light Car, 1932 Austin Seven Two Seater, The Light Car, 1933 Austin Seven Sunshine Saloon, Road Test, Autocar, 'B.C.' Austin Seven, Road Test, The Light Car, 1930 Austin Seven, Fabric Saloon, Advert, The Light Car, 1930 Austin Seven, with sunshine sliding roof, The Light Car, 1930 Austins for the New Season, New Models, The Light Car, 1934 Austin Seven Ruby, Road Test, Autocar, 1935 Austin Seven Ruby Saloon, Road Test, The Light Car, 1935 New Austin Seven, Autocar, 1930 Austin Seven Servicing data, The Motor Trader Magazine, 1936 Austin Seven with four speed 'Twin-Top', The Light Car, 1932 Austin Seven Ruby, Road Test, Autocar, 1936 Austin Forlite, Road Test, The Light Car, 1938 Austin Big Seven, New Car, New Fashion, The Light Car, 1938 Austin Big Seven, Advert, The Light Car, 1937 Austin Seven, Under the Microscope, The Light Car, 1937 Austin Seven, Under the Microscope II, The Light Car, 1937 Austin Seven Sports Model, The Light Car, 1931 Austin Seven New Brooklands lap record, The Light Car, 1936 Austin Seven, using Mobiloil, The Light Car, 1931 Austin Seven, Around Australia, The Austin Magazine, 1937 Austin Seven, Tuning and Maintenance, The Light Car, 1936 Austin Seven, Advert, The Light Car, 1935 Austin Seven, Advert, The Light Car, 1935 Austin Seven, Tuning and Maintenance II, The Light Car, 1936 Austin Seven De Luxe Saloon, Adyert, The Light Car, 1934 Austin Seven, Tuning and Maintenance III, The Light Car, 1936 Austin Seven, Tuning and Maintenance IV, The Light Car 1936 Austin Seven, Plucky Seven, Cars Illustrated, 1958 Austin Seven, Tuning and Maintenance , The Light Car, 1936 Austin Seven, Tuning the Austin Seven, The Light Car, 1938 Austin Seven, Maintenance and Overhaul, The Sphere, 1938 Austin Seven, Special Specifications, The Motor Manual, 1953 Austin Big Seven, The Light Car, 1937 Austin Officially recommend Essolube, The Austin Magazine, 1937 Austin Seven Ruby Saloon, The Austin Magazine, 1937 Austin Seven Ruby Saloon, Road Test, The Sphere, 1937 Austin Seven, Specifications, The Motor Manual, 1954

[austin]

I copied out the Autocar "Ulster" test and put it online, also found copies of the original photos used and put those in as well.

Can be seen here.

[Timothy P]

Motorsport Magazine did a few that had road impressions
GE Brooklands FEB 1925, showing the earlier twin 30HK zeniths.
LINK
Same model March 1926 giving specs of the solex 30 carb (Inc choke and jet sizes) and best ignition setting. (Not so much driving experience)
LINK
'Ulster' July 1930
LINK
BC SEP 1930
LINK
Arrow 65 JAN 1934
LINK

[Tony Press]

Many of you will remember Colin Pitt's Unique Motor Books on Road Tests, Service Data and Road Research Reports on the Austin Seven. 
Colin produced several of these and one I have in my collection I have never seen another copy.
Enclosed is the Contents page and I'm sure there are one or two here not in Douglas's list.

The first one - LCCC 1925 has rare photos of a Seven being assembled, items under test and bodies being " flow painted "

---

As I mentioned in the other posting I have -

Austin Seven Road Tests, Service Data, Road Research Reports:  Unique Motor Books ~ 2000

Pre-War Austin and Morris Cars incorporating the Austin Seven: Unique Motoring Portfolios ~ 1990 

Unfortunately this is all getting rather overloaded with information !

[JonE]

Tony - are there any in the 1990 that arent in the 2000 publication? As the full list is up for 2000, it would be helpful to have any specific extras from 2000, or if lots, a photo of the index?

[Tony Press]

Tony - are there any in the 1990 that arent in the 2000 publication? As the full list is up for 2000, it would be helpful to have any specific extras from 2000, or if lots, a photo of the index?