Austin Seven RN Saloon

Launched in 1922, the Austin Seven was an unprecedented success that not only saved Austin but wiped out most other small cars and cyclecars of the early 1920s. Simply yet brilliantly engineered by Herbert Austin and his young protégé, Stanley Edge, at Austin’s Lickey Grange home, it quite literally put Britain on the road.

Occupying barely more tarmac than a motorcycle and sidecar, it still had all the comforts of a family saloon and boasted such luxuries as four-wheel drum brakes and (from 1924) an electric starter. Built around an A-frame leaf-sprung chassis and powered by a 10hp 747cc four-cylinder sidevalve engine, it had transverse-leaf spring suspension at the front and quarter-elliptics to the rear. Available in numerous different body styles, it remained in production until 1939. Tough, easy to maintain and huge fun to drive, it has long been the backbone of the vintage car movement.

Introduced in 1932, the RN was a re-styled version of the saloon with a longer wheelbase (81-inches rather than 75), slightly wider track, external spare wheel and rear fuel tank to give more room in the cabin. It also had a new four-speed gearbox with synchromesh on the top three ratios from 1934.

First registered in March 1932, this particular RN has reputedly had just five owners from new, the fourth owning it from 1981 until 2003 when it was given to the current lady owner as a Christmas present! During her eight years’ ownership the car has been in light regular use, attending many shows and picking up a fair few trophies on the way, including “Best Car Overall” at the 2004 Bristol Austin Seven Club Rally.

In lovely condition throughout with superb bodywork and a wonderfully patinated original red leather interior, the car is also said to be in fine mechanical fettle with an MOT until June 2012. Fitted with a Pytchley sliding roof, it comes with a small quantity of spares, a copy of an original owner’s manual and two copies of Pitman’s “Book of the Austin Seven.” Altogether a charming example of this most charismatic motorcar.