Whats the real worth of a swb axle

[Howard Wright]

Hi 

I’d bet on a SWB chassis or perhaps a pre box rad cowl.

But as Tony and others have said it’s all down to condition!

Cheers

Howard

[Chris KC]

tbh I don't generally think of my A7 in terms of financial value.

[JonE]

the goodwill and good feeling in Austin 7 circles is only because a lot of people aren't valuing their real time into the equation of anything they do with cars and for car people. So gradually we "I bought a project..." people learn that the true value of things needs rebuilding taking place - either by us (with a lot of time, learning and pain along the way...), or paying someone else - usually at a very reasonable rate for things to do with Sevens.
What most of us are doing up till then are hoping for a bargain and sometimes finding an underused/still-working gem amongst the things which we learn are.... mostly worn.
It is worth thinking about restorer costs on up and coming classics. W123 (late 70s saloon) Mercedes - £50,000 to do 'properly' and so on. Small, simpler vintage cars still have a lot of parts and functions to restore comprehensively.
Matt - you must never feel a fool, just bold for jumping into a huge opportunity to learn and experience!

[jansens]

Are any other pre-war cars as cheap to buy parts and services for? The only one I could think of might be Morris. I know going from Austin to Riley there was a big jump in both parts availability and cost and Riley is still the low end of the vintage car costs scale.

There are no local Riley specialists that I know of in NZ so I have to do as much of it all myself as I can. But I am lucky to have the help of some very knowledgeable local club members who offer help and advice.

And luckily I latched onto the right Austin people fairly early on although that was after "I bought a project". Latching onto them earlier might have saved me some money!

But, in a way it's easier to get started if you have something to start from. Much easier to make introductions and easier for people in the know to come round to see what you've got to help set you straight, usually with much tut tutting and head shaking.

Starting with nothing you have to convince people to help get you started and that is sometimes not easy especially if the idea is building a special. In some clubs/forums that will start you off as persona non grata and you won't get far.

Things get much easier once you've proved yourself a bit and people become far more interested and helpful.

So buying a project isn't necessarily so foolish.

Simon

[Hedd_Jones]

Not so long ago I had 2 complete and 1 dissasembled long nose banjo axles in the shed. 

I've also got one in a car (a noisy one).

I roughly assembled the dissasembled one and sold it with a 31 SWB chassis V5 and all the important bits to make a rolling chassis. 

The other two are still here. Having 3 SWB cars here I'm keeping them as spares. Sooner or later im going to kill a rear axle. I've checked one of the spares and it looks ace, the other bugger wont turn.

But in the last 3 months I could have sold them 5 or 6 times over. They are certainly sought after. And I am unlikely to be able to replace them if I 'needed' one. 

I've also got a nippy axle here, it seems to have been taken off the car when the owner fitted 15inch wheel and tyres. It will have been hellish low geared with this ratio and diddy wheels. So its not always true the axle is off a car ' cos its buggered. It might be a good ratio for the RP however. That also has a noisy axle!

[Tony Betts]

Hi simon,

Some very good points.

And hedd, like you I have 3 or 4 of the 31 axles in the shed. At the moment I point out to those asking for them. I also have early cars running on them. So want to sort myself a nice one as a spare, before I sell the rest on.

They will go on my own website when ready, it gives everyone the same chance. And they will be less than a grand each as well.

Personally I think we are very well looked after in the 7 world, used parts although not for nothing are still cheaper than other Marks. Most of our restores only charge £25 to £30 per hour. You wont get that at a riley restorer. Or in a modern garage. And although new parts are likely to rise AGAIN, they are still well behind anything else.

Tony.

[Martin Prior]

The "real worth" of anything is when how much you're prepared to pay is the same as how little the seller is prepared to accept.

[Tony Betts]

well sed martin,

i always tell people the same, over car sales.

i never liked the phrase "it only worth what someone is prepared to pay".

because thats only half the story.

tony

[Charles P]

And bear in mind that the only difference between a 30/31 axle and a pre D type long chassis rear axle is a little bit of unnecessary width. If you are replacing the half shafts with narrow ones the cases are remarkably easy to narrow with a hacksaw and a MIG.
For real wizards you can create a decent narrow track three piece rear axle from discarded Ruby bits if you have an early banjo and excess confidence, coupled with decent machining & welding facilities.


Charles

[Steve Jones]

For real wizards you can create a decent narrow track three piece rear axle from discarded Ruby bits if you have an early banjo and excess confidence, coupled with decent machining & welding facilities. 


Charles

You certainly can - which means you can fiit it with Girling Back Plates and Brakes

   

   

Steve