Lot 246 - 1927 Austin 7 Chummy

The Austin 7 was produced from 1922 through to 1939 and nicknamed the 'Baby Austin'; it was one of the most popular cars ever produced and sold equally well abroad. It wiped out most other British small cars and cycle cars of the early 1920's and its effect on the British market was similar to that of the Model T Ford in the USA. Prior to the Austin 7 though, larger cars were the order of the day but the forward thinking of Sir Herbert Austin felt a smaller car would be more popular. Austin put a large amount of his own money into the design and patented many of its innovations. In return for the investment he was paid a royalty of two guineas on every car sold. Nearly 2,500 cars were made in the first year of production (1923), not as many as hoped, but within a few years the 'big car in miniature' had transformed the fortunes of the Austin Motor Co. and by 1939, when production finally ended, over 290,000 cars and vans had been made. Indeed, in 2007, during an episode of Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson and James May studied a number of early car designs (including the Ford Model T and the De Dion-Bouton Model Q) and concluded that the Austin Seven was the first mass-market car to be fitted with a 'conventional' control layout, as found on modern cars. The first real car as we know it.

Built in 1927, this charming car has had three previous keepers with the last owner keeping the car in his tenure for some 13 years. With maroon body work and contrasting black wings, this little car looks delightful from every angle. A rear mounted spare is fitted and a black soft top keeps occupants protected from inclement weather. The simple interior boasts a Smiths speedo, amperes gauge and black seats front and rear with tools mounted under the rear seat.
This extremely popularly configured Austin 7 with its body mounted headlights is certainly a rare model, perfect for families, the VSCC and a fantastic entry to pre-war motoring.