Lot 129 - 1936 Austin 7 AAL Tourer

• New hood and side screens
• MoT’d until 9th September 2020

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 manufactured.

This Austin 7 was stored for around 15 years and has recently been recommissioned. The car appears to be sound with some minor blemishes on the paintwork, the interior has a lovely patina and the hood together with the side screens are new. Mechanically this Tourer is described as driving well although the vendor has advised us the fuel gauge does not work; a wooden dip stick has proven to be more reliable than the gauge. The starter motor has been rebuilt and we are advised all the electrics operate correctly including the indicator arms. The under bonnet area could do with a tidy up which could be an ideal job for the winter. Supplied with a V5C registration document, the owner has conscientiously had the car MoT’d which expires on 9th June 2020, it passed without any advisories. Originally registered on 19th February 1936, this Austin has certainly stood the test of time well.