ALAN OSBORNE’S AUSTIN 7 HAROLD BIGGS SPECIAL REGISTERED WMF 5 – 1 DECEMBER 1950
Many enthusiasts considered the Seven to be the ideal, inexpensive basis for motor sports like hill climbs, trials and racing. Take the Harold Biggs Special for example, famous in the 750 Motor Club, of which Harold was a founder member in 1939. Current owner Alan Osbourne explains, ‘During the war years Biggs formulated plans for a trials car, to be constructed when peace came. In 1946 the construction of “The Red Cow” began. The Red Cow emblems carried on the engine side covers derive from the pub in Hammersmith that hosted many meetings of the 750 MC in the Forties and Fifties.
‘Unfortunately Harold was suffering from multiple sclerosis and although he had the skills to build the car, much of the work was done by dedicated friend Joby Bowles. It was built on a 1932 long-wheelbase chassis and fitted with 1934 engine. The rolling chassis was taken to Maltick in Wandsworth, spending most of 1949 there while the body was built. To enable Harold to continue driving, an elongated driver’s door was fitted to help him to get his legs in. The driver’s seat had its sides built up for better location; hand controls were fitted for the clutch and throttle; it had an extended fly-off handbrake and reverse gear selector fitted to the gear lever. A knee pad was also added to the door to aid comfort. Two spare wheels were carried to cater for the different size fronts and rears. Progress on the car was slow, finally registered as WMF 5 in 1950, but by then Biggs was having increasing difficulty with his lack of mobility.
In May 1951 Bill Boddy of Motor Sport wrote, ‘Finally, a glance at a special Austin Seven Bowles has built for that staunch Austin advocate Harold Biggs. A very trim car this, in its correct Austin orange, with fuel tank from a racing Amilcar, divided front axle, Whatmough Hewitt alloy head, Scintilla Vertex magneto…’
Sadly Harold Biggs died in July 1960, having had little use from the car and unable to achieve his ambition of using it to compete in trials. Alan’s research revealed the car stood unused between 1953 and 1968. Then it had two more keepers before long-term owner Graham Fullalove. ‘Graham had the car for 35 years,’ says Alan, ‘He drove it extensively including the Le Mans Classic in 2014, and on regular visits to Austin Seven rallies at Beaulieu.
‘Graham was moving and no longer had a garage; he sold it to us on one condition – we were not to repaint it. It needed rewiring and the engine rebuilding. The unique independent front suspension makes it handle much better. It has no weather protection though. Since his death, The Harold Biggs Memorial Trial has featured on the 750 MC Sporting Trials fixture list and has been a qualifying round of the BTRDA championship. It continues to be a recognised event at Club level.’