Description

1933 Austin Seven RP Saloon

No Reserve

From a deceased estate; barn find for restoration; engine turns; current owner since 1973

Launched in 1922, the Austin Seven was an unprecedented success that not only saved Austin but wiped out most other small cars and cyclecars of the early 1920s.
Simply yet brilliantly engineered by Herbert Austin and his young protégé, Stanley Edge, it quite literally put Britain on the road. Occupying barely more tarmac than a motorcycle and sidecar, it had all the comforts of a family saloon and boasted such luxuries as four-wheel drum brakes and (from 1924) an electric starter.
Built around an A-frame chassis, it was powered by a 13bhp 747cc four-cylinder side-valve engine mated to a three-speed manual transmission. Later models were tweaked to produce a heady 17bhp and four-speeds made a welcome appearance in 1932. Suspension was by a transverse-leaf spring at the front and quarter-elliptics to the rear. Available in numerous different body styles, it remained in production until 1939. Tough, easy to maintain and huge fun to drive, it has long been the backbone of the pre-war car movement.
First registered in Shropshire in February 1933, this particular Seven is an RP Saloon which was in production from October 1932 to mid-1934. The last of the traditional chrome radiator models prior to the introduction of the more contemporary Ruby, it therefore retains much of the charm of the original saloon, yet incorporates many of the later developments such as the four-speed gearbox and more powerful engine.
It comes with an old style V5 and a green logbook which shows that by 1960 it was owned by a gentleman in Wichenford, Worcs, from whom the current owner acquired it in 1973. The engine number on the green logbook is 169485 but the unit in the car is 170217 so it has presumably been swapped at some point. The engine turns easily by hand.
On offer here as a restoration project from a deceased estate, it is being sold here strictly ‘as seen’ and at No Reserve so the best bid takes it home.
For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com