If you were to buy an Austin Seven today - what would you look for?

[Chris KC]

Just tried Google image search - only yields one result - is this where you found it Jeff?

http://gibbsofbedfont.co.uk/

edit: perhaps not, seems lower res than your copy...

[Jeff Taylor]

I would love a copy of this photo please, where can I find it?
My uncle Norman Oates worked at Gibbs Garage on the Bedfont bypass near Heathrow in the 1950,s. It was there that he built an Austin 7 woody in a store room during his lunch breaks and after hours. He was the butt of family jokes, since it had to be dismantled to get it through the interior door. He gave me my first car when I was 17 a Mk1 Ruby, it needed a replacement back axle, which he had thoughtfully provided on the back seat. Cost of car 30 shillings, cost of back axle 30 shillings, value of fun and mechanical education, beyond measure.
Thanks for posting, brought out many fond memories!

Private Message sent today, Jack.

Jeff.

[Steve Berg]

I have such fond memories of my first car,Modestine, a 1929 RK, bought for £12 in 1956. It's crankshaft was broken and I spent many happy hours dismantling and repairing the engine - no manuals in those days - and had it running by the time I passed the driving test. My parents paid half the costs so as to keep me off motor bikes. I later fitted a 4-speed gearbox and coupled the brakes. Modestine provided reliable transport during the Suez crisis using the petrol coupons of the other two cars my dad had, a 1930 Morris Cowley and a Citroen Light 15.
So whenever I see an RK, real or in a photo, I start drooling.
It would be good company for my Nippy and maybe I could get my sousaphone in on the back seat.
Vintage car - vintage jazz!

[Ruairidh Dunford]

Thanks to those who have replied so far.

I find myself agreeing with almost everything said. I have been offered a number of highly original cars over the years but, although I absolutely adore them, I have always very reluctantly passed because I know they will get ruined by the use I will give them.

I love bullet proof mechanics hidden beneath a 'pile' - wolf in sheep's clothing comes to mind. The '29 saloon is a bit like this, bits rattle and regularly fall off it , the paint is peeling, the windows are cracked and every single piece of upholstery is a different colour - pulls like a steam train, rides the road incredibly well and has steering to die for.

'28 Chummy came as a 1980/90s restoration that was built well but not necessarily 'correct' - after 10 years of abuse the body started to crack and split - if this had been original paint it would have been sacrilege to repair but it wasn't so I set about repairing it properly and rectifying some incorrect features. It is in a very solid state and an absolute delight to drive, particularly now that it has a proper Blic in place of the rather (insipid and ugly) coil conversion.

The Pearl, with the exception of a short period in the early 1990s, has been in constant use by the family for 50 years. As such, it's restorations have been over short concentrated periods usually alternating between bodywork and mechanical, each time work is carried out it acquires more correct features. The only downside to this approach is that just as the body work becomes rejuvenated the mechanics start to die and vice versa!

In short, if I were to buy another car today, I would be looking for an older restoration that looked straight, retained some features of it's past and something I could develop (with a clear conscience) over a long period time to suit my needs perfectly.

Cross head screws can be replaced, painted windscreens can be re-plated or changed for better (better is not always shiny!), lights changed for the correct type etc. etc.

An Austin 7, to me, is a means of transport with character - everything is fixable and an open- eyed awareness of how that is achieved can help prevent future disappointment.

[Scarlet O'Hara]

"In short, if I were to buy another car today, I would be looking for an older restoration that looked straight, retained some features of it's past and something I could develop (with a clear conscience) over a long period time to suit my needs perfectly".

Hi Rory, I think your description rather suits my Type 65 which I've started working on. Leafing through Chris Goulds book I've realized a lot of it's mechanical parts are original but that there's a lot of the superficial bits that aren't. It's definitely going to be a long haul changing bits when and if I can find them.

[Andy Bennett]

I have been pondering this for a while.

One of the most popular cars in our club was a member (now sadly deceased) who had an Austin 12 bought in 1960 and which was truly original. Driven as a daily car ever since it was 100% original and 100% used. It wasn’t even oily rag, in that there was no attempt at preservation, it was just used. It was beautiful and gathered the crowds to look and admire, more than any shiny restored example could ever do. He even had his garage broken into and they only took the wheels. He and his car were a sad loss to the club.

I wanted neither an original car which would require ‘preservation’ to protect its originality, nor did I want a concourse car, which would require similar protection to preserve its ‘newness’.
I also didn’t want a car needing a huge amount of work. I just wanted something I could drive and enjoy without worrying about the road salt or stone chip.

Strangely now I am at a bit of a crossroads. I have fixed all those niggly things that were wrong (speedo now works, petrol gauge now works, cross head screws replaced, new clutch that doesn’t grind gears, new springs that don’t sag, refurbished brakes, fixed non-charging dynamo, repaired rusted and detached spare wheel holder, repaired leaky fuel tank, new steering arm, new steering ball joints, replaced gearbox and tunnel beaten aluminium sheet covers with correct items, replaced carpet with correct rubber, replaced blank steel sheet with correct patent plate etc etc). Many were cosmetic things to correct simple ‘wrongs’. I have also added select 'improvements' like indicators, break lights and electronic ignition.

Chrome is dull in places but I am happy that it shows its age, so that will stay as is. The headlights are wrong, but don’t look bad so I will probably leave as is.

Overall I know the car is in a much better condition and roadworthiness than when I purchased it 10 years ago, and that I am quite pleased with, I feel I am doing it justice.

With my RP having been restored in 1980 or so, for me I am down to things like wings. The paint is cracking and has chipped along the front edge. Do I remove and repaint them or do I leave as is showing their use and age. It’s a rhetorical question as it’s my decision and I simply don’t know at the moment. For now they will stay as they are. I will monitor to make sure they age rather than deteriorate. Perhaps that’s the key for my car, and for my answer to the original question, grow old gracefully on the surface, whilst having strong mechanicals (i.e. my slow burn new top end to the engine next) whilst avoiding rot and deterioration. 

You only need look at some of the Hollywood face lifts given to 80 year old actresses to know that 80 year olds with 20 year old faces is just wrong.

Yes I think I am comfortable with that.
Andy B

[austin]

There is a nice Austin truck coming up at the H&H auction soon.

Just need that, a trailer, a twincam and some burley chaps to recreate this scene.

[Railwaydave]

If I had £38,000 to spend on a car, I would look at the market and what I could get for my money ... and it wouldn't be an Austin Seven!

I dunno. I wouldnt want any other type of vintage car except perhaps a 12/4 or a 20 made into a pickup. Or a late 1920's Morris Commercial 1 tonner.

You mean something like this Hedd ...............

I think the picture of the Austin Pick up was taken on Burns Rd, which runs parallel to the Staines Rd, Bedfont, where J Gibbs had their Austin premises. The right hand semi has had its upper floor rebuilt.

[Jeff Taylor]

Railwaydave said - "I think the picture of the Austin Pick up was taken on Burns Rd, which runs parallel to the Staines Rd, Bedfont, where J Gibbs had their Austin premises. The right hand semi has had its upper floor rebuilt."

Well, here's a StreetView shot of the location today.


  Screen Shot 2018-09-07 at 13.52.40.png (Size: 1.05 MB / Downloads: 177)

[Ruairidh Dunford]

Brilliant. I find these comparisons utterly fascinating - well done Jeff!