Lot Ended
Description
One of the oldest surviving Sevens; two owners from new, the current
for 71 years; on display in the Beaulieu Motor Museum 'Hall of Fame' since
1972; multiple show-winner; wonderful history file; always in regular
use; not just a car, a national icon
Designed in
secret late at night over the billiard table at Herbert Austin’s Lickey Grange
home, the Austin Seven caused a sensation when it was unveiled in October 1922.
An ingenious answer to the horsepower tax that was stifling UK car ownership,
the 7.9hp ‘Baby Austin’ not only cost £10 less to buy than Britain’s cheapest
car, the £175 Ford Model T, it also cost only £8 per year in tax compared to
over £22 for the 22.5hp Ford (road tax being levied at £1 per fiscal
horsepower).
Given that the average annual wage
for a skilled worker was £180 at the time, this made a huge difference, allowing
the tens of thousands who could hitherto only afford to get about on a
motorcycle or a flimsy, three-wheeled cyclecar (both taxed at £4) to finally
take the whole family out in a proper four-seater.
Against the wishes of his board of directors, Herbert Austin
clandestinely designed the Seven out of working hours, ably assisted by his
young protegee, 18-year-old draughtsman Stanley Edge, who shared his vision of
shrinking a traditional car into a miniature masterpiece that would occupy no
more tarmac than a motorcycle and sidecar.
Based
around a simple A-frame chassis, the Seven they came up with had a three-speed
gearbox, a reliable cooling system, proper leaf-spring suspension and four-wheel
brakes – the latter seldom seen this side of a Rolls-Royce. While the prototypes
had a 696cc side-valve engine, this was bumped up to 747cc for the production
cars which came out in early 1923.
Initially
just one body style was offered, an open tourer with an aluminium skin over a
timber frame – a flyweight formula that allowed the Chummy, as it was
christened, to outperform much larger vehicles on hills and rough tracks due to
its superior power-to-weight ratio.
Its success
was so immediate that it didn't just transform the fortunes of the ailing Austin
Motor Company, it effectively killed the cyclecar industry overnight
and quite literally put Britain on the road. As the years passed, the Seven
became heavier and more sophisticated, but for sheer charm and simplicity, an
early-Twenties Chummy has always been regarded as the pick of the crop. Tough,
easy to maintain and huge fun to drive, the Seven in all its forms has remained
the backbone of the Vintage car movement ever since.
First registered in October 1923, this delightful Chummy is among the
oldest production cars surviving (chassis number A1-1995). In fact, in the 1970s
it was believed to be the oldest survivor (apart from two Austin
prototype models in the London and Birmingham Science Museums) but it seems from
a 2005 copy of the Austin Seven Club’s ‘Surviving Chassis Register’ on file that
a handful of slightly earlier cars have now come to light, although what
condition they are in isn’t clear.
The first
owner was reputedly a Ms Sturgess who was to keep YA 7103 for 32 years. In July
1955 the Chummy was acquired by our vendor’s late-father, Mr J Harris Esq, who
owned W Goddard & Co of Salisbury, a family garage business that his own
father had acquired in 1917. Mr Harris was to keep YA 7103 for the rest of his
life, during which period it is probably fair to say that it became the most
famous Austin Seven in the world.
An ex-Austin
apprentice and authorised Austin dealer, Mr Harris was also Vice President of
the 750 Motor Club and took part in many events in YA 7103, including the first
ever FIVA Rally in Ireland in 1967, winning First in Class.
He was also well-acquainted with Edward, Lord Montagu of Beaulieu,
who played host to the world’s longest-running Austin Seven gathering, held
every year since 1963 when Lord Montagu instigated the meet as part of a
calendar of events to draw visitors to what was then his privately owned Montagu
Motor Museum. YA 7103 has attended every one of these gatherings for the last 62
years.
When the museum gained Charitable Trust
status in the early 1970s, Mr Harris was appointed a Guarantor for the re-named
National Motor Museum and YA 7103 was invited to become one of only seven cars
to be put on display in the ‘Hall of Fame’ when the museum first opened its
doors to the public in July 1972. It was to remain in this hallowed sanctum for
the next 54 years, during which time it is estimated that it has been seen by
over 60 million visitors to the museum.
No static
display object, this Chummy has taken part in innumerable rallies, shows and
concours events over the years, winning dozens of trophies and plaques which all
go with the car (see photos). It also comes with a full set of weather equipment
and an original toolkit with the original Austin branded spanners, oil cans etc,
all collector’s items in their own right.
The
large and interesting history file contains several precious documents that will
be of great interest to any Austin aficionado, including a signed letter from
Sir Herbert Austin himself, dated 27th April 1940, thanking Mr Harris
for enquiring after his health and relaying his satisfaction that Austin’s 7hp
and 8hp cars were so well-regarded by the Wilts and Dorset motor trade.
There is also what looks to be an original
Austin Motor Co Ltd drawing office blueprint of the Seven rolling chassis, dated
February 1923 when the final details of the production cars were still being
ironed out. There is even an old 45rpm vinyl record of the rather
splendidly-named Arthur Crudge British Imperial Orchestra playing The Austin
Unity Song on one side and My Austin Seven on the other side.
Featured
in many books, magazines, Beaulieu Motor Museum publications and Austin Rover
publicity material over the years, this Chummy is not just a car, it is an
important piece of Britain’s national heritage.
On the open market for the first time in over 100 years, this is an
opportunity not to be missed…
Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907 – [email protected]