Case histories
Year of manufacture 1932/’50s Recorded mileage 80,478 Asking price £12,250 Vendor The Motor Shed, Bicester Heritage; 07718 764463/01869 249999; www.vintageandclassiccars.co.uk WHEN IT WAS NEW Price £37(body) Max power 20bhp (est 10.5bhp standard) Max torque n/a 0-60mph n/a Top speed 60mph (est) Mpg 40-44
This is a real Super Accessories Seven, of which around 220 bodies, each weighing about 35lb, were made in the ’50s. The chassis number, according to a 1990 letter from vendor Mark Elder’s late father Malcolm, dates the donor to 1932 or possibly very early 1933. It was restored in the ’80s.
It’s of tidy overall appearance, with fresh-looking vinyl over an aluminium body. The bonnet top is tarnished but would polish out, and slightly dinged and straightened on the left leaf, which won’t. The wheels are in good shape, shod with well-treaded 4.50x17 Waymasters, plus something older on the spare. The side exhaust is recent stainless-steel, including the nicely made manifold.
The seat vinyl is good (pull out the seat and behind is a fuel tap and electrical cut-off, plus a new battery) and the rubber floor mat isn’t worn. There’s only 3/4in of static play at the steering-wheel rim.
The spec of the motor is unclear, but it wears a later SU – a popular Seven tuning mod – and likely bigger valves: it’ll certainly be producing more than the standard 10.5bhp. The plugs and condenser look new. The coolant needed topping up, and the oil was dark and near ‘max.’
It started after a brief churn having stood for months, with no nasty mechanical noises. The engine sounds quite rorty – there’s a little chuffing from number two exhaust branch where the gasket is breached, but this recedes as everything heats and takes up the clearance. It goes quite well, driving in typical Austin Seven fashion: the clutch is super-sharp, either in or out, though easy to get used to; the four-speed non-synchro gearchange gets slicker and more silent as it warms. The brake pedal is near the floor and difficult to modulate, but retardation is better than a saloon’s. Oil pressure is 10-12psi when running, which is more than adequate for a Seven and suggests a more ambitious engine tune than standard, plus the ammeter shows charge.
Sold with a fresh MOT upon request, though it doesn’t require one.