Austin Ulster replica

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 There is a long and often illustrious tradition of modifying Austin Sevens and this Ulster replica – built in the style of the 1929 team cars – is part of that tradition.

The vendor started with an incomplete project bought from the estate of a Dutch enthusiast. This consisted of a fairly complete body - possibly built by a Dutch carrosseriebouwers (bodyshop) – but with the ‘wrong’ chassis. Our vendor then collected all the ‘right’ parts, including a short-wheelbase chassis, to build a 1930-specification car with which to go vintage trialling.

At this point, it starts to get technical, so we will list the salient features: the engine uses a 1930 coil crankcase with a Phoenix 1-5/16 “ splash-feed crank, reconditioned Austin rods, over-sized oil pump, 58mm sports pistons, 29mm inlet valves, Newman sports cam and 1-1/4” downdraught SU carburettor. There is a four blade fan fitted and the radiator was recently re-cored.

The gearbox is the standard 3-speed box with new clutch-release bearing, and drives through a Hardy Spicer 4-speed style prop to a long-nose banjo with 5.125:1 ratio diff. The front axle is unbowed, has recent new kingpins and bushes and has medium camber springing. The wheels are new 19” wires fitted with Blockley 350 section tyres and new wheel-bearings have recently been fitted.

The body is steel, as is the floorpan and all is very sound, although there is some history evident in the metalwork. The body appears to have been built to suit the taller type of Dutchman and our vendor, who is 6’4”, reports that he is quite comfortable in it although he does say it is – ahem – a narrow cockpit. He also says “the paint is a bit tatty in places”. We think it’s fine.

The car is being offered for sale as the vendor – who lives in France – is losing his storage space in this country and is also involved with a flighty piece from Wolverhampton (he is building an aero-engined Sunbeam). He is keen to point out that this is not in any way a ‘replica’ but a car built in the style of an indeterminate team car of the late ‘twenties.

It was built with the intention to compete in vintage trials and does not aim to be bright or shiny. The car was UK registered in June 2018, declared manufactured 1930, with a sports-style body and has the non-transferable number plate BF 8668.