A New Austin Seven Owner

[andrew34ruby]

Even when everything is reconditioned to remove wear, the handling still takes some familiarisation !

Welcome Turboseven

Everyone says the handling is, erm, unusual. But it's never bothered me. Yes it's not like a Mini, but it's fine. Mine is an ARQ 1934 Ruby but that's not a lot different to the 'box' except the styling of the body. The thing I found awkward at first, and still do to an extent, is the low power up even the smallest hill. Until I drove a seven I didn't realise I lived in a hilly area.

[Turboseven412]

Hi David, yes it's a synchro box and one of the most surprising things about driving the car is how nicely it shifts when treated right, its incredibly satisfying.

It does have the little rubber engine mountings, although I'm not sure how much vibration damping they achieve!

With regards to kingpins...I've been experiencing a sort of rhymical knocking during hard braking, just a little at first but seemed to be getting worse.  Today it was starting to feel really bad, quite alarming in fact.  Had the car up on stands for a proper look at it and it seems the kingpin on the offside has fore and aft movement as well as up and down, and combined with the drum on that side having a rough spot, or being out of round, I think that's the issue.  
So that's the car on stands now until I've sorted it. 

I'd absolutely love a copy of the handbook, would you be interested in selling it?

[Steve kay]

Have you checked the steering arm. Any evidence of being the original, ring David Cochrane first thing tomorrow morning and order a hi spec safe steering arm.

[Turboseven412]

I've found the handling on bumpy little back roads with noone around to be excellent, as soon as I'm on a smooth A road with a police car behind me it starts swerving uncontrollably all over the place!

[David Stepney]

Turboseven412 wrote:
"I'd absolutely love a copy of the handbook, would you be interested in selling it?"

No, but send me your address in a PM and I'll send it in the post.

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Chris,

From what you say about the one kingpin, it would be worth extracting it and seeing if the axle eye has worn. they do! To remove the kingpin, you will need to invest in a kingpin extractor, which can be obtained either from Austin Seven Workshop or A7 Components. Oversize kingpins are available, but the best way is to contact Ruairidh Dunford at Alba Austins who, it you send him your axle beam, can shrink the eyes back to size for you. He is a regular contributor to these annals and is an expert on these cars.

Also, if you haven't got one, a hub extractor tool is essential for dealing with the brakes, as they cannot be overhauled without removing the hubs. Again one of the cherished suppliers can help.

[Howard Wright]

Hi

Getting the handling (and braking for that matter) right, can be a bit of a journey. Just when you think you’ve solved one problem it highlights another.  However when everything is right your Seven should handle predictably and stop acceptably.

One great advantage of owning a Seven is that getting it right isn’t going to cost an arm and a leg. 

Cheers

Howard

[Tony Griffiths]

Welcome to the mad world of the Austin 7. As you are new to the car, here's some background that I hope you'll find useful - there is, of course, even more if you search online:
CLUBS:
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 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, - explore the A7CA website: https://a7ca.org
The page that links to the most important sections is: https://archive.a7ca.org/
DIRECT LINKS to HANDBOOKS, PARTS MANUALS, and SALES CATALOGUES
A comprehensive collection 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/
The Pre-War A7 club has a useful Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pwa7c .... with other enthusiasts forming groups for specific models or regional interests.
As a club member, you will receive not only the club's magazine but also the Association Magazine, published quarterly since 1970 https://a7ca.org/about-us/magazine/
BACKGROUND and BOOKS:
To read the fascinating background to the car - with reproductions of the notebook by Stanley Edge the design draftsman see: https://a7ca.org/austin-seven/the-people/
Austin 7 books can be bought from: http://www.pwa7c.co.uk/bookshop.php This is a good collection of material including historical and technical literature with data on specific models such as the Type 65 and Nippy, Grasshopper and Ulster, etc.
For engine, other mechanical work and restorations one highly recommended business with personal attention and much helpful advice is: http://www.albaaustins.co.uk
IS YOUR CAR ALREADY LISTED?
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 Model Type and also chassis, car, and registration numbers.
For new Austin 7 parts try these links - in no particular order of recommendation:
David Cochraine at: https://www.a7c.co.uk/aboutus.php
Jamie Rogerson at: https://www.theaustinsevenworkshop.com/
http://austinrepro.com/ This company offers standard and also beautifully made, difficult-to-find reproductions of headlamps, speedometers, rev counters and various items for standard cars and also the Swallow, Nippy, Ulster, etc:
For both new, used and some refurbished parts try: Tony Betts at http://www.7ca.co.uk/ and http://www.southernsevens.co.uk
Another link with details of other repairers, restorers, gearbox, suspension and bodywork experts, etc: https://oldcarservices.co.uk/austin-seven-specialists/ (some of these will be out of date).
If you want to know about 'Technical Data & Specifications', thread sizes, etc, this page will help: https://www.austin7.org/Data%20Pages/Tech%20Data/
The Cornwall Austin 7 Club's web site is especially useful with lists of suppliers and much technical advice, etc. https://www.austin7.org/
INTERESTING ODDS and ENDS
For 25+ 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
Improving the lights: http://www.lathes.co.uk/austin7-2/page18.html
For the 100th anniversary of the Seven's introduction in 2022 which a thousand cars attended watch the film here: https://a7centenary.com/

[JohnD]

If its 1934 its an RP. The RNs finished late 1932. You need a copy of the red book by Doug Woodrow entitled the Austin Seven Manual. Available from the family or our cherished suppliers. It's not cheap but beware of overpriced  versions on that auction site and elsewhere

 Im sure its only around £50 to buy new - so as advised, anything near £70-100 is over priced

[Nick Salmon]

Courtesy of Dorset Austin 7 Club


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[Austin in the Shed]

Just remember the 7 is a hundred year old design.If. You are used to modern cars don’t expect it to drive like one.
sevens are an amazing little car when you get used to them and there’re running right.