Christine Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 So, as mentioned in other threads , when i was a nipper (early 1960's) Dad had an A40 Devon commercial , and later a Triumph Renown .( And he had a Morris J type van, that he was "going to turn into a caravanette " that was parked in a field opposite our house ) One of my earliest memories of his shite cars : " It's for Mum to learn to drive in when i've done it up " ... I suppose i was about 2 or 3 ,and he had this wreck of a Austin 7 too, stored in a rented shed further down our lane. I can vaguely remember he got it out once and with no brakes it rolled across the road and fell in a ditch... And me mum got cross... I can't remember how he got it out though . Shortly after this, some houses were built on the plot, he got rid of it ,and the J type , and Mum was upset with him as it was going to be " her " car . She never did learn to drive .... Anyway he's dead now, and I recently found the handbook for the Austin 7...and he's written inside the cover , the chassis no. engine no. and the Reg GP 4427 !!! And the buggers only on the road innit !!! With dodgy brakes still , says mot history ! Anyone find a picture of it ? eddyramrod, vulgalour, Skizzer and 13 others 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy - Medhurst Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Its in the Cornwall Austin 7 owners club - http://a7ca.org/chassis-register/chassisresults Christine and Skizzer 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavcraft Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 This would suggest so Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mk2_craig Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Wow! I'm sure the current owner would be insanely pleased to get hold of that. eddyramrod and Christine 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mally Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Or the other way round. eddyramrod and Christine 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted January 3, 2018 Author Share Posted January 3, 2018 Mot history !! Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)Nearside front brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)Offside front brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) DangerousParking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) Dangerous brake lights not required due to age.slight play in front king pinscable brakes fitted,handbrake works on all four wheels. And really funny this bit...NO ODOMETER That's maybe because i've got it .... egg, johngarty, Dick Longbridge and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mally Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 My mate tested a 7 while I was there. His son put it on the rollers.....next to nothing on the clocks.Looked at my mate...Old fella said "pass it they are all like that. No hurry to stop in those days". BorniteIdentity, eddyramrod, Dick Longbridge and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somewhatfoolish Posted January 4, 2018 Share Posted January 4, 2018 ... Austin 7...... dodgy brakes...TADTS. BorniteIdentity 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted January 4, 2018 Share Posted January 4, 2018 I think the survival rate for Austin Sevens is between three to four percent representing about ten thousand cars worldwide - so far as brakes are concerned Herbert Austin's motto was "good brakes encourage bad driving". alf892 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted January 4, 2018 Author Share Posted January 4, 2018 Check that out !!!!!!! Very happy I last saw it 53 years ago . The power of google... http://car-from-uk.com/sale.php?id=41691 stripped fred, mk2_craig, Dirk Diggler and 17 others 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan_ZTT Posted January 4, 2018 Share Posted January 4, 2018 Looks proper nice that. Worth getting in touch with the owners club I reckon, I'm sure the current keeper would happily trade you a ride in it (and/or actual money) for that handbook, and especially the odometer... eddyramrod 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted January 5, 2018 Author Share Posted January 5, 2018 Yes, I contacted the Cornwall A7 club last night , for any pics . Emailed straight back he'd look into it , meantime I found that advert .. The Odometer i have is busted too... its been kicking around for 50 years ! I was gunna turn it into a clock...I did have 2 , but i gave my mate one as his father has an Austin 7 . Just because my father wrote some numbers in the handbook doesn't make it belong to that car ? .. maybe he bought it as there wasn't a Haynes available...... Wingz123 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mk2_craig Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 Suppose the owner may well have another copy of the handbook sourced from wherever, either before or after he/she acquired the car. great story though! Does it look much different compared to back when you knew it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted January 5, 2018 Author Share Posted January 5, 2018 I was only 3 years old , can only remember it was black old and rusty , and dad would have only paid a fiver for it in those days.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiC Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 Have you got any old pictures of it when your dad owned it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted January 5, 2018 Author Share Posted January 5, 2018 Sadlly no Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingz123 Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 I picked this up not all that long ago (was very local to me) went right out in the sticks to Northampton/Derbyshire border to an old airfield... Dick Longbridge, Conrad D. Conelrad, Christine and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted January 5, 2018 Author Share Posted January 5, 2018 Now found the missing odometer And it had 2 new Dunlops at 10344 miles eddyramrod and Dick Longbridge 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zelandeth Posted January 6, 2018 Share Posted January 6, 2018 Always wondered how the 1929 Albion bus I've spent a while around and driven once (or rather done battle with!) does at MOT time regarding brakes. As it's hired out rather than a static exhibit I believe it is tested still. Emergency stop from walking pace is about 200 yards. At driving speeds it's definitely a case of "by the time you've seen a hazard it's already too late." Plus being so slow off the mark that it's impossible to get through a set of traffic lights before they change. That's after you've almost knocked yourself out on the steering wheel trying to change from second to third gear. It also lacks an odometer...or any instruments whatsoever other than an oil pressure gauge. Driving stuff from this era is quite an experience! Driven two 7s, don't remember the brakes being too terrifying. Probably not actually much stopping power, but they weigh so little that it's enough. Plus on those skinny tyres too much more and you'd just lock up the wheels and skid probably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted January 25, 2018 Author Share Posted January 25, 2018 Modified the original 7 speedo. Pulled the guts out... Pinched the movement from a wall clock , and fitted that into the speedo ,with some smaller hands What a crass thing to do The odometer numbers i scanned & printed and just glued on Dick Longbridge 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saabnut Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 Always wondered how the 1929 Albion bus I've spent a while around and driven once (or rather done battle with!) does at MOT time regarding brakes. As it's hired out rather than a static exhibit I believe it is tested still. Emergency stop from walking pace is about 200 yards. At driving speeds it's definitely a case of "by the time you've seen a hazard it's already too late." Plus being so slow off the mark that it's impossible to get through a set of traffic lights before they change. That's after you've almost knocked yourself out on the steering wheel trying to change from second to third gear. It also lacks an odometer...or any instruments whatsoever other than an oil pressure gauge. Driving stuff from this era is quite an experience! Driven two 7s, don't remember the brakes being too terrifying. Probably not actually much stopping power, but they weigh so little that it's enough. Plus on those skinny tyres too much more and you'd just lock up the wheels and skid probably.That Albion bus wa maintained for many years by Ian, who was kept on to maintain it for many years after he retired. He also worked for me for many years when I had the Classic garage. Bloody good hand and a really nice chap. Sadly, his health is fadiing a bit now, but he is well into his 80s and as far as I know still rides his Kawasaki 650 alf892 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christine Posted March 17, 2018 Author Share Posted March 17, 2018 Christ on a bike....! I shouldn't have pulled that speedo apart . I thought someone might make use of the guts ,so i put it on ebay for 99p ...rather than binning it .....and it's now bid up to 36 quid And the cheapo chinese clock movement ,I put in the speedo, has stopped working already https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263545585878?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tadhg Tiogar Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 Christ on a bike....! I shouldn't have pulled that speedo apart . I thought someone might make use of the guts ,so i put it on ebay for 99p ...rather than binning it .....and it's now bid up to 36 quid And the cheapo chinese clock movement ,I put in the speedo, has stopped working already https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263545585878?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649For want of a nail, a shoe was lost, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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