Austin 7

Post by **Jay-Minor** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 6:08 pm

Hi guys, I’m seriously thinking about buying a 1936 side valve Austin 7 Pearl, went for a test drive in it today and it runs a sweet as a nut, however 1 thing that scared me was the cable brakes, so my question is a follows:
Is it possible to upgrade this to hydraulic and if so where could I source the parts and roughly how much would it cost me.
Thanks in advance

Post by **Judge** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 6:20 pm

My Cowley has rod brakes

Post by **chrisd87** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 6:32 pm

I would love to build an Austin 7 racer/special sometime in the future. Cable brakes would be part of the fun!

Post by **BigMark** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 7:37 pm

Cant help you on the brakes but nice to see another Enfield/Moggie fan.
I have a 1950 Model G 350 ready to go back together again (90% restored)

Post by **modify55** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 7:48 pm

There was an hydraulic brake set made for the Austin Seven, you should see the owners club for availability

Post by **paulhumphries** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 8:10 pm

I've fancied an Austin 7 for years.
I've decided that a special would be a nice long term project so bought a copy of the L M Williams book for myself as a Xmas present !
Looking at the various web site I see at least one person has converted to hydraulic brakes by using Minor items.

Paul Humphries.

Post by **BigMark** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 8:18 pm

This one Paul?
Williams (L M), Austin 7 Specials, Building Maintenance and Tuning
Where did you get it from??

Post by **Judge** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 8:21 pm

Have you ever noticed how many classic car owners, rather than wanting a later car, prefer to have an earlier one

Post by **chrisd87** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 8:31 pm

Mark, you can get it from the Austin 7 Owner's Club shop. Go to http://www.austinsevenownersclub.com and then 'club shop'. It's listed as being by Bill Williams but with the title you mention - I assume it's the same book.

Paul, is the book any good? I'm tempted to get it.

Post by **paulhumphries** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 8:41 pm

BigMark wrote:which book is that Paul?

It's a classic -

"Austin Seven Specials, Building, maintenance and tuning."

I've had a library copy out numerous times over the years so thought it was time to buy a copy.
Look on Amazon and you will see they sell for "serious" amounts even secondhand. I was lucky in that I only paid £20 for a mint copy.
I've already got workshop manual and other books on Seven's.

Actually I have a story.
The overdrive on my MGB was slipping in reverse so I bought a complete car for spares. I broke the spares car and sold the Rostyle wheels on eBay. Buyer asked me to deliver and insisted on paying my expenses even though I was traveling to the same area (London) anyway. I went inside for a cup of tea and his house was full of Austin Seven items. We got talking and he said that he originally was from the NE but had settled in London after WWII. In late 40's he neeed a car to travel back to NE so bought the only one he could find for sale - a 1920's Austin Seven tourer. He said it had been laid up since beginning of war so he had to recommision it and decided to brighten it up by brush painting it bright yellow.
It got him to and from the NE without problems.
I said wonderful story when he then said did I want to see the car !
Outside at back of a huge garage was the bright yellow tourer. The hood was tatty and side screen windows (celloulose) yellow and cracking but otherwise it was complete. He even showed me the remains of the tin of yellow paint.
I wonder how many other Austin Sevens have had only two owners and the second for 60 years ?
Of course I asked if he consider selling but already knew the answer

Paul Humphries.

Post by **BigMark** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 8:43 pm

Hi Paul, the OC has it for £15.50 is this the same book??

Post by **paulhumphries** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 8:44 pm

chrisd87 wrote:Mark, you can get it from the Austin 7 Owner's Club shop. Go to http://www.austinsevenownersclub.com and then 'club shop'. It's listed as being by Bill Williams but with the title you mention - I assume it's the same book.

Paul, is the book any good? I'm tempted to get it.

Wished I'd seen that - and saved myself a few pounds.

I rate the book as worth having even if you never own an Austin 7.

Paul Humphries.

Post by **BigMark** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 8:48 pm

I shall get me a copy on order!

Post by **paulhumphries** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 8:50 pm

BTW what is also interesting if anyone likes Austin Sevens is the original Morris Minor.
I had a look at one that was in an auction("real" - not eBay) and was tempted but bidding went beyond my limit.
Accelerator pedal is in middle - between clutch and brake !

Paul Humphries.

Post by **Willie** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 3:00 pm

As someone who owned five Austin Sevens you are right to desire something better than the original cable set-up. The front brakes actually
come on when you turn a corner and the whole braking system is operated via a thin steel rod which can,and in my case did, snap with nasty results. One of my friends fitted front hydraulic brakes over 45
years ago so it is possible but I dread to think of the extra loading on those tiny little king pins!

Post by **paulhumphries** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 5:30 pm

This thread has made me make a decision.
I've just won this on eBay -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... _W0QQfviZ1
It's going to be a very long term project but will be a good start for an Austin Seven special.
As much as I appreciate a complete car is a better starting point they are getting scares for turning into specials so collecting parts as & when found will be yet another new hobby.

Paul Humphries

Post by **Kevin** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 5:44 pm

Well that certainly is a starting point

Post by **chrisd87** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 5:45 pm

Well done! I spotted that chassis on ebay and it looks like you got a bargain. Do you know what the regulations are about getting a special on the road? I assume you don't have to go through an SVA otherwise that'd be an absolute nightmare.

Post by **BigMark** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 5:50 pm

paulhumphries wrote:This thread has made me make a decision.
I've just won this on eBay -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... _W0QQfviZ1
It's going to be a very long term project but will be a good start for an Austin Seven special.
As much as I appreciate a complete car is a better starting point they are getting scares for turning into specials so collecting parts as & when found will be yet another new hobby.

Paul Humphries

I'm only 45 minutes up the road if you need a hand.
Cheers
Mark

Post by **paulhumphries** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 6:03 pm

chrisd87 wrote:Well done! I spotted that chassis on ebay and it looks like you got a bargain. Do you know what the regulations are about getting a special on the road? I assume you don't have to go through an SVA otherwise that'd be an absolute nightmare.

As far as I know specials build on an existing chassis don't need SVA - nor do vehicles over 10 years old.
DVLA have informed me that my 1978 ex Iraq army (war booty and sold by Britsh army at a disperal sale) CJ5 Jeep is exempt from SVA when I put it on the road so all I have to do is get dating certificate based on chassis number, MOT , insurance, appropriate form and fees to get registered. They say in a lot of cases they won't even need to inspect !
I suspect a similar proceedure COULD be applicable to a 1930's Austin Seven special - ie a dating certificate based on chassis number and then age related registration isssued.
I'll have to look into what to do in more depth idc but to be honest for the price I'm paying I'm prepared to have to "jump though loops" to try and get on the road - and then not succeed.
I'm working on the basis that the chassis will be a jig to build a body and am prepared to have to buy a "rolling chassis" at a later date to get a valid V5.
When you think about it a lot of people spend £50 on a good night out so less than £40 plus fuel to collect isn't too much.
I've now got to sort out the front brakes pulling to one side on Minor so I can fit a roof rack and collect (familly Chrysler doesn't take a roof rack and drink more fuel than the Minor).

Paul Humphries.

Morris Minor Owners Club

Austin 7

Austin 7

austin brakes