Lot Ended
Description
One of the oldest surviving Sevens; effectively 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 at the time. 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 had
come to light by then, no doubt a few more emerging in the 20 years since.
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 (ownership then passing to
his son), 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, where it won 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. We are told that YA 7103 has attended many of
these gatherings for the last 62 years, frequently winning First in
Class.
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 for
condition and originality, many of which 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.
Featured
in many books, magazines, Beaulieu Motor Museum publications and Austin
Rover marketing campaigns over the years, this Chummy remains in
excellent running order and 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 early, highly original and
much-celebrated Seven is an opportunity not to be missed…
Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907 – james.dennison@brightwells.com