Andeh
is teahte tbungafloed
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2007
- Messages
- 3,517
- Location
- Cumbria, UK
- Car(s)
- Fiestas, Mondeos, Anglia, Austin 7, Corsair, Chrys
I first stumbled across this car a year ago when viewing a different vehicle (a Mk3 Cortina nonetheless). I spied an Austin Seven gearbox on a shelf, leading the seller to reveal a complete car to go with it. At the time he wasn't selling it, but a year later, a deal was made.
As a little background, I already own a 1929 Austin Seven Special, this is first and foremost my trials car, and after eight years of trials abuse, the bodywork is starting to get a little tired. At some point in the next few years I know I'm going to have to strip it down to a bare chassis and really start again, and I also know this will be a long progress. I don't want to be Austin-less during this period, so started looking a few months ago for a second Austin Seven to use when I rebuild the special/keep as a spare car. I also have the 1927 Chrysler for prewar shenanigans, but another Austin just appealed to me, particularly one with more standard bodywork.
After viewing a handful, and missing out on a couple I recalled the car I found in the barn last year. A few phonecalls and a viewing later, and it was mine.
It's a 1930 Austin Seven AE Tourer, otherwise known as a Chummy (because you have to be pretty good chums with your passenger in such a small car). The Chummy was the first bodystyle the Austin Seven came in back in 1922, and the AE is considered the last of the Chummies. It's slightly longer, slightly wider, and features a few improvements over the original, but carries the core design. (It was a Chummy Clarkson and May drove when they determined the Seven set the precedent for conventional car controls). By the late 20s tourers were rapidly falling out of fashion as people embraced saloons for the first time, and in 1930 only a fraction of Chummies were made, so it's a relatively rare thing (well, as rare as a model of Britain's most popular can be). Incidentally, it's likely this is the same sort of car my special started life as, the rear tub and floorpan of this car can clearly be seen in the body of my other.
This particular car is a part finished restoration, it's been loosely assembled, with mostly new or refurbished parts, and the bodywork has all been completed. However, it is missing all of it's interior, and hasn't been touched for approximately 15 years. As such I'll be dissembling most of it, greasing and reassembling properly. In addition the crankshaft is original, so I'll be getting that replaced with a modern steel item. (I know full well the risks of running an original crank...)
I'm lucky enough to have a hood frame, some seat bases, and the side screens, so most of the trimming work can be outsourced to a specialist in the near future.
For now I'm just taking stock of what I've got. Tomorrow I'll be giving it a good clean and thorough inspection, so expect some decent photos then, for now, here's a handful of snaps.
As a little background, I already own a 1929 Austin Seven Special, this is first and foremost my trials car, and after eight years of trials abuse, the bodywork is starting to get a little tired. At some point in the next few years I know I'm going to have to strip it down to a bare chassis and really start again, and I also know this will be a long progress. I don't want to be Austin-less during this period, so started looking a few months ago for a second Austin Seven to use when I rebuild the special/keep as a spare car. I also have the 1927 Chrysler for prewar shenanigans, but another Austin just appealed to me, particularly one with more standard bodywork.
After viewing a handful, and missing out on a couple I recalled the car I found in the barn last year. A few phonecalls and a viewing later, and it was mine.
It's a 1930 Austin Seven AE Tourer, otherwise known as a Chummy (because you have to be pretty good chums with your passenger in such a small car). The Chummy was the first bodystyle the Austin Seven came in back in 1922, and the AE is considered the last of the Chummies. It's slightly longer, slightly wider, and features a few improvements over the original, but carries the core design. (It was a Chummy Clarkson and May drove when they determined the Seven set the precedent for conventional car controls). By the late 20s tourers were rapidly falling out of fashion as people embraced saloons for the first time, and in 1930 only a fraction of Chummies were made, so it's a relatively rare thing (well, as rare as a model of Britain's most popular can be). Incidentally, it's likely this is the same sort of car my special started life as, the rear tub and floorpan of this car can clearly be seen in the body of my other.
This particular car is a part finished restoration, it's been loosely assembled, with mostly new or refurbished parts, and the bodywork has all been completed. However, it is missing all of it's interior, and hasn't been touched for approximately 15 years. As such I'll be dissembling most of it, greasing and reassembling properly. In addition the crankshaft is original, so I'll be getting that replaced with a modern steel item. (I know full well the risks of running an original crank...)
I'm lucky enough to have a hood frame, some seat bases, and the side screens, so most of the trimming work can be outsourced to a specialist in the near future.
For now I'm just taking stock of what I've got. Tomorrow I'll be giving it a good clean and thorough inspection, so expect some decent photos then, for now, here's a handful of snaps.
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