Austin Big Seven

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On 13th July 1937, Lord Austin made a speech to the general press introducing the new Four-Door Austin Big 7, launched to fill a gap in the market between the Austin Seven and Ten horsepower models.

A more robust cast iron monobloc engine of 885cc provided a bit more oomph to carry the increased burden of four doors, an extra 6 ½” of wheelbase and a modicum of refinement. The plan all along had been to soften the market to the idea of the Seven ceasing production in favour of a new, wider Big 7 range. Sales of the Big 7 were not quite the success hoped for and in 1938, the year this example was made, only 8,000 cars were produced.

The history of DYC 633 prior to 1986 is not known. The vendor’s father bought the car in 1995 and quickly found it was in need of some attention (his first round the block ride resulted in the car filling up with smoke!). The vendor, a funeral director, handed the car over to the company’s mechanic to have it sorted.

The engine and gearbox were removed and overhauled and the bodywork was attended to and repainted by a specialist in Bolton. The sunroof was re-manufactured by Colman Milne (suppliers of hearses to the funeral trade) at great expense, including rolling the steel frame by hand. The brake, electrics and other components were overhauled or replaced by the company mechanic over a period of five or six years.

The car then languished in the back of the company premises until recently when the owner’s plans to finish it off “in his old age” were thwarted by a series of strokes. Thus the car is presented as an unfinished restoration. It does start (with some encouragement) but will need a thorough inspection and some finishing work before it is fit for use. It is a sedate but highly presentable little car that any home mechanic should have on the road in time for the summer.

There are currently no documents with the car but some may turn up in time for the sale.

AMENDMENT - The engine has not been re-conditioned as per description and there is now a file of paperwork, to include an old style logbook, photographs before any restoration, handbook and a number of bills from the late 1990s.