Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 3,395 Threads: 106
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Location: Darkest Bedfordshire
I've only ever owned soft-top sevens and even then the top rarely goes up. 'Cosy' is not a word I'd use to describe the experience. Dress well.
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 2,403 Threads: 33
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36
Location: Deepest Frogland 30960
Car type: 1933 RP Standard Saloon
Ive never been cold in my RP. Hot, definitely and often. Heater nit required. Only mists up if you keep the windows closed.
Joined: Mar 2015 Posts: 5,447 Threads: 231
Reputation:
67
Location: Scotchland
My experiences:
Ulster - warm toes, thin covering of ice above waist (including beard) in winter, leather driving coat. Stuff blanket down the side nearest the road to stop draft coming behind back and drive half tonneau, if no passengers.
SWB cars - remove carpet near gearbox and place blanket over knees and gearbox, warm air maintains some semblance of comfort.
LWB cars - hot water bottle and layers.
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 68 Threads: 8
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On this topic, who is the best supplier Furlflex (in the UK)? I am facing up to draught proofing the RP. Door gaps are a bit wide for wing piping...
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 920 Threads: 18
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Location: North Yorkshire
I have done two VSCC Measham Rallies in my 1931 saloon. For the uninitiated, the Measham Rally is an all-night navigational rally for vintage cars, held in mid- January.
Having previously done the rally in open cars, I took enough clothing to survive an Arctic Expedition. I soon shed several layers of clothing and did the event in my shirt sleeves, with the drivers window lowered about an inch to stop the screen misting up.
As mentioned on another thread, my saloon is well draught-proofed and it has no heater.
There are three sources of heat that transfer to the interior of the car. Firstly, the steel bulkhead is within an inch of the hot cylinder block and as such becomes pleasantly warm. Secondly, the gearbox (3 speed in my case) becomes surprisingly warm after a few miles, especially if the lower gears are used. Lastly, the exhaust silencer is directly under the passenger floor.
I think that fitting a heater in an Austin 7 saloon is unnecessary if attention has been paid to draught-proofing the car.
Joined: Oct 2017 Posts: 1,508 Threads: 54
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After about half an hour our RN saloons get really cosy. The weather at the 1992 Longbridge rally was cold and wet and by Sunday evening we were both cold so we jumped in the Seven and drove about 10 miles, by which time we were nice and warm, bought some fish & chips and drove back arriving nice and warm. The plates between the chassis and body alongside the engine help to warm the car up.
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 986 Threads: 6
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Location: Scottish Borders
06-03-2018, 02:41 PM
(This post was last modified: 06-03-2018, 02:43 PM by AustinWood.)
Like Dave's RN saloon I find my 1929 RK fabric saloon is comfortable in cold weather. Plenty of warm air comes through around the gearbox. The engine has a thermostat fitted in the top hose so the engine will run above 80 C. Also the RK has no louvres or vents in the bonnet sides which I think helps too. On longer runs the gearbox, which protrudes into the car, gets hot too. In winter I remove the fan belt too.
Above about 45 mph however cold air gains the advantage and the car gets colder.
The downside is that the car can get very hot in summer. I have a carpet that fits round the gearbox for warmer weather to stop the air from the engine and also reduce the noise level.
Jim
