Registration - UW 877

Chassis No. - 87637

M.O.T. - Exempt

Odometer - 4,598

This charming little Austin vacated the Longbridge factory on June 10, 1929 and was first registered in London with the number it has retained until this day – ‘UW 877’. It presents well, and is finished in maroon over black that’s matched with black interior trim and grey carpet. The paperwork suggests that a full restoration was carried out on the car by marque specialists Holmesdale Sevens of Battle, East Sussex in 1988, and that the engine was rebuilt by the equally well-renowned Nigel Snow in 1999. The vendor nowadays considers the bodywork, paintwork, interior trim, 747cc engine and three-speed manual transmission to all be in ‘good’ order, and is offering the car complete with full weather equipment and history file. A pleasing example of the breed, whose odometer currently stands at 4,598, which one assumes is most probably the mileage travelled since the restoration.

Apparently inspired by the Peugeot Quadrilette, the now immortal Austin Seven was announced in 1922. It is amazing to think that its tiny splash-lubricated 696cc (soon increased to 747cc) engine was the design of an 18-year old draughtsman called Stanley Edge, and the Seven immediately became the smallest four cylinder-engined car on the British market. It featured four-wheel brakes, suspension by semi-elliptic transverse spring at the front and quarter elliptic units at the rear, while the steering was by a worm and wheel system. Taken to heart by the British public, the Seven remained in production from 1922 until 1939, during which time some 290,000 were produced. It was also manufactured under licence in France, Germany, Japan and America. The remaining cars are a vital element of the vintage movement.

In summary:

• A well-presented, very original-looking car
• Apparently the subject of a major restoration in 1988
• Comes complete with full weather equipment