What have you done today with your Austin Seven

[Duncan Grimmond]

"It's why all the climate change policies won't work."
Bit of a sweeping statement there I think...

[Steve kay]

What I did today was look at my emails and discover the reason for not having a calendar featuring Sevens to put on my study wall.

[Alan]

Yes Steve. I wondered about that too.

[Steve Jones]

Well, we now know the answer. However, I'd imagined that the days of the 'impecunious Austin Seven Owner' had passed by for the vast majority. So, I'd much rather have my annual Austin Seven Calendar to hang on my wall than £5 or whatever in my bank account. Pleased to see that this is to be reconsidered for 2025.

Steve

[Reckless Rat]

Sadly it will probably be an electronics failure that sends most moderns to the scrap yard rather than something mechnical. In general the engineering is very reliable these days. I had a similar problem to the Range Rover with my Citroen C15 van a few weeks ago when the steering/ignition lock failed. After drilling out the lock I re-wired the ignition and starter circuits so it now has keyless ignition (a rocker switch on the dash) and a push button starter. Aston Martin eat your heart out. I do have a spare steering column with key, but just can't be arsed.

Thankfully the old bus, which is now just over 28 years old will keep me mobile for a little while longer. Engine wise it has about three million miles/km or euros on the clock (slight exaggeration) but it burns no oil and passes the diesel pollution test every time with flying colours. French MOT due in a fortnight. Doigts croisés!

On the subject of calendars I can just imagine a certain Stannington resident saying: "How much? you ought to be wearing a mask!"

[Steve kay]

If the committee has sanctioned the production of a calendar"later this year" does that mean that it will run from August to August?

[Pearls not a Singer]

Some friends will be aware that I have a website https://vintageman.zenfolio.com with some 7000 photos of vintage transport and motorsport. I estimate that about 8oo are pics of Austin 7s but searching to filter them all is not working properly at the moment. The easiest way to filter straight to most of the Austin 7 photos is to use this link https://vintageman.zenfolio.com/?q=Austin%207
but if this doesn't deliver a car you hope to see you can try a search for any of Austin model,Driver name,Reg No. in the format AZ 9999

The website is constructed using a template provided by the hosting service based in the USA. Sales are handled by their UK printers and sent directly to the customer.I had hoped to offer calendars but it seems that thay have withdrawn this product  

However digital images can be purchased and downloaded from the website to your own computer, so anybody can contact an English local or online printer to order a personalised calendar. In anticipation that some of you will be ordering different pics for each month, I've made  a  dramatic reduction in the price of my medium resolution digital downloads to £1.99 from now until the end of January and if you're quick, photobox https://www.photobox.co.uk/shop/calendars-and-diaries have a half price dicount until the 15th Jan. N.B. The 12 month period can start at any month!

I hope this helps for those who've missed out and  I'm sorry  that it's not possible for £5, but we have to keep  the US companies in Silicon valley  in the lifestyle they're accustomed to

[Howard Wright]

Hi All

I’ve been metal bashing today.

The bonnet fit on my van was so bad that a previous owner had resorted to butchering the front of the side panels and adding wedges of steel to the back. So I’ve made up two side panels using those on my standard RK as a template. 

Investigation revealed that the van chassis was relatively unbowed but engine had been mounted on quite thick rubber washers, possibly to aid the fit of the four speed gearbox.  (Not enough, as the uncoupled brake cables were fouling the gearbox and had worn a gouge on either side). The radiator cowl had been set quite high to accommodate the starting handle on the raised engine. The top of the cowl was higher than the scuttle

Putting everything back as it should be but taking the liberty of dropping the cowl slightly lower than standard by 1/4” and raising the back of the engine with 1/4” washers under the rear mounting points I’ve managed to get the panel gaps reasonable and the replacement coil engine nose cone in the cowl aperture. I’m replacing the four speed box with a rebuilt three speed.

Now just have to wait for warmer weather to get some paint on them.


Cheers

Howard


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[Duncan Grimmond]

I have a swaging tool that will cut louvres to any length if it's any help Howard...

[Howard Wright]

Thanks for the kind offer Duncan.

I don’t think I’m going to put louvres in these.  I’m trying to keep it as close to an original AD as I can, even though the van part is miles away from original  .

Cheers

Howard