The dependable Seven

[Peter Naulls]

Four weeks ago my normally-reliable modern broke down. With garages here currently having a three week minimum wait for repairs I serviced the special and began using it. 10 days later my wife's "new" car also broke down leaving us with just the Austin as our everyday car! Apart from 3 days of hire car that's how it has been ever since.

The Austin has only covered a few hundred miles in that time but it has been out every day in all sorts of weather. Apart from a broken distributor cap spring after it's initial service on day one, it has behaved impeccably.

There's something very rewarding about using a Seven because you have to - and finding out just how useable it really is. 

   

   

   

   

   

[Duncan Grimmond]

Good to see it being used as the workhorse!

[Ruairidh Dunford]

Great car, I’ve always liked it!

[AustinWood]

As an everyday car the Austin is fine. So long as it is properly sorted and set up as Austin intended it's reliable and perfectly usable.
There are no motorways or dual carriageways anywhere near which would be my only reservation. Not being able to keep up with trucks is dangerous.

[Hurvinek]

Very good! If it were an animal, one would speak of species-appropriate husbandry in such cases.

[Peter Naulls]

It's been on the dual carriageway a couple of times, once sitting in stop-start traffic for half an hour (it was Inverness marathon day) with no signs of the overheating problem which was a persistent problem for years.

This week the builders arrived to rebuild our garage, so much of the time has been spent emptying 15 years of accumulated "treasure" and finding suitable homes for it with friends and neighbours. The the boot and passenger seat have been perpetually full.

With it's home being demolished, the Austin went into storage yesterday and the moderns are due to return this weekend. I shall miss it.

   

   

   

   

[Steve Bryant]

Such a nice wee car Love the look of it.
Stephen

[Dave Mann]

When our new car failed with a dead battery the garage were too busy to do anything so the Seven towed it in      that got their attention all the staff came out to see it parked up in full view of the main road. They said we'd left the lights on so we did an encore a week later.

[Peter Naulls]

That's very impressive Dave! presumably no hills en route?

Many years ago I was staying with a friend when his neighbour popped in to ask if someone could jump start his new Jaguar XJ12, after he'd rather embarrassingly left the lights on. We took my Morris 8 round, just to add to his humiliation!

[Dave Mann]

Just one over a railway bridge which the Seven mounted with ease.    
Another time many years ago a neighbor had a flat battery in his Ford escort and a meeting he had to attend asked if he could borrow a battery charger to which I replied yes but you'll miss your meeting. The Seven came to the rescue by tow starting the Ford much to his surprise.