Lot Ended
Description
Super little Special with various performance upgrades; body designed
by ex-Land Rover engineer inspired by the 1934 Austin EK Speedy; former winner
of the Bristol Seven Club Geoff Brooks Trophy; driven to the sale; lots to love
about this one!
Designed amid
clouds of late-night pipe smoke by a crack team of engineers huddled over
the billiard table at Sir Herbert Austin’s Lickey Grange home, the Austin Seven
caused a sensation when it was launched in 1922. Wiping out the cyclecar
industry overnight, the ‘big car in miniature’ not only transformed the fortunes
of Austin, it also brought motoring to the masses for the very first time.
An extremely versatile design, its simple
A-frame chassis played host to a riot of derivatives from single-seat race cars,
top-hat saloons, mud-plugging trials cars, milkfloats – even machine gun
platforms for defending RAF bases.
It also
inspired generations of specials builders, legendary designers like Colin
Chapman, Bruce McLaren and TVR’s Trevor Wilkinson all launching their careers
with modified Sevens. Even today, a well-executed Seven Special still makes a
thrilling way to blat around the lanes, 45mph feeling more like 145mph in a
modern car.
Starting out in life as a humble
1936 Ruby saloon, this fabulous Special was built by ex-Land Rover engineer Ed
Giblen (CEng; MIMechE) between 1997 and 2000, the key stages being documented by
photos on file, some of which are reproduced here.
All mechanical aspects were rebuilt with various upgrades
incorporated along the way to maximise performance (chassis; suspension; Mini SU
carb; ALR inlet manifold; sports gearbox etc). The lightweight aluminium body
was designed using copies of the original factory drawings of the EK Sports 75
and EB Sports 65/Nippy for inspiration, some of the body panels supplied by
Roach Manufacturing of Romsey and others specially made by Frenchay Garage of
Bristol. The fuel tank was also relocated to the rear of the car.
A dozen old MOTs show that it was in light
regular use thereafter, covering around 3,000 miles up to 2012 including various
Austin 7 Club events. In 2012 it was awarded the Geoff Brooks Trophy by the
Bristol Austin 7 Club, an award issued ‘in perpetuity’ as it kept winning the
special class at all their rallies.
Our vendor
acquired the car in 2022 at which point it was in need of some fettling
following a period in storage. He has had the cylinder head overhauled and
fitted with a new head gasket by GL Motors of Hereford who specialise in Vintage
cars and also gave the Austin a good check-over and tune-up. The dynamo has been
rebuilt by Armoto of Chesterfield and converted to 12v electrics. The brakes
have also been overhauled as required.
We are
told that the car “goes like a bomb” thanks to the light bodywork and the
upgrades, cruising happily at 60mph. Driven to the sale from Hereford, it has
been starting promptly and running very nicely as we have moved it around on
site, with healthy oil pressure.
It comes with
several books on the Austin 7 (see photos) plus a useful quantity of spares
including: the original gearbox; 6v dynamo; starter motor; ignition coil;
condenser; pedal rubbers; two spare inner tubes; spare tyre; headlights and side
lamp glasses; two brass windscreen supports for a single pane screen (Brooklands
aero screens are currently fitted); tool bag with original Austin 7 tool kit.
As you can see in the photos, this lightweight
Special looks very nice indeed and has been built to a very high standard. On
offer here at far less than it would cost to build, it would make a great trials
car or just a fun way to scoot around the lanes in proper Vintage fashion.
Remember, you get more smiles per mile in an
Austin 7 than you do in any other car so this little beauty will spread joy
wherever it goes!
Consigned by James
Dennison – 07970 309907 – [email protected]