Austin Sevens - as 'tractors'...

[Bob Olive]

Further to my recent post about a Seven 'selling' for 10/- (or 1 Dm) on Guernsey in 1942, see also some photos of a Seven  'converted' to use as a tractor on the island during the war. Most of us are familiar with bigger Austins being used for agricultural work, and indeed I once had a Seven-engined 'tractor' based on a 1922 Rover 8 chassis modified to a very narrow track of about 3', which was designed to pull a trailer through the Kentish hopfields (a prototype Austin-Rover?). Do we know of many other Seven 'tractors', I am sure there are still a few 'variants' out there?                

[Mike Costigan]

This one that the Roberts brothers rescued in the early 1970s:

   

[Mike Costigan]

Bob, I think your photos are of two different tractors; the first, third and fourth pics are of the same one, but although the second pic shows a vehicle with the same foot scraper and downward-leaning horn trumpet, I think it has been converted from a Type R saloon rather than a chummy... I wonder whether it shows the fate of Mr Trickle's beloved car!

[Ian Wegg]

Do we know of many other Seven 'tractors', I am sure there are still a few 'variants' out there?

This was at last year's Goodwood Revival, it belongs to a Solent Club member.

   

[Rick F]

This one belongs to a member of the Norfolk A7 Club - it has two gearboxes in series.
   

[john williams]

Phillip Merrills, a SWA7C member had one based on a "Mag Enginned" car, this also used two three speed gear boxes in tandem and had solid rear wheels of about 30inch diameter. A couple of years ago, a new SWA7C member, Tom Thomas, recognised photos of the tractor as one that he and his brother had built from a Chummy in the late fourties for use on their father's small holding. Then Covid came along before Phil and Tom could attend a Club Meeting, and sadly they both passed away before they could meet up.

[Andy Bennett]

P&A Woods (the Rolls Royce specialists) have one with tracks if I recall. I have a picture somewhere taken at a show.

[Peter Clayton]

A couple of Seven Tractors from the Dorset Show about 8 years ago.                    

[Howard Wright]

Oooooh. 

I feel an article in the Grey Mag would be of interest so I’m fishing for authors. Anyone take the bait?

Cheers

Howard
editor@a7ca.org

[Mike Costigan]

That grey one looks to be a very professional effort.