Whilst talking to someone about Austin 7's I thought to myself, are there any countrys in the world that an Austin 7 has never been to. Can't be that many can there?

How interesting! Are we counting ones that have changed names recently? Sadly some of the Biblical ones are now too late to receive a 7. Before I sign off I'm thinking not just countries but other places......Goodwin Sands?

.

Goodwin Sands.

Now, is that not where they invented mountain rescue?


Mike

Any country I guess, new or old. I don't suppose an Austin 7 has been to either of the Poles.

An Austin Seven definitely went to Antactica - Austin Magazine Dec 1929



Try Google 'Austin Seven Hubert Wilkins'

http://www.south-pole.com/p0000106.htm

Under 'The Second Wilkins-Hearst Antarctic Expedition'

it quotes "Baby Austin automobile fitted with eight wheels and chains"

Bryan

No No Mike,
The Goodwin Sands is where they have the potholing club, the mountain rescue club is on the Romney Marsh!

.

Woweeeee!!!

Eight wheels and chains eh?

Who is going to build a replica of that. Do any other records exist, and are there any photos in existence.

Could be something of a Holy Grail.


Mike

A Boat Tail Two Seater was modified in a similar way to climb up Norway's highest mountain (successfully). I have some film of it...

Ruairidh

Location: deleted

don`t talk abought it show it ,we all want to see it, even if it`s snowing in Glasgow !!

So have I, Ruairidh. I shall be showing it at Beaulieu, C.C.

Re Antactica & Sevens. I don't believe Byrd's Seven reached there as they had to turn the ship back to Dunedin N.Z. In June 2004 I submitted a lengthy article on (Ozzie) "Wilkins and his Austin Seven" to the Association (Grey/Buff) Magazine but apparently it wasn't found suitable. Wilkins thought his was first car into Polar region, but I found that an Arrol-Johnston was there pre-WW1. If anyone's interested, email me direct & I'll email article in return. Cheers, Bill in Oz

Oh Bill, you'll always be suitable in my eyes!

I pressume it was sent to me, if so, sorry it never got to print...why not copy and paste it into a posting on this site.

Cheers

Ruairidh

Jon,

It's on VHS Tape at the moment (remeber them...), I'll need to convert it to digital then upload it...perhaps Chris has it digitally already??

Cheers

Ruairidh

We were talking about this at the V A R agm here in New Zealand. It is thought that the Byrd expedition seven was lost over the side by accident and thus has never reappeared. this came from the Dunedin members and reliable sources-can anyone elaborate-Bill Sheehan was right in his statement-Cheers Steve Hainsworth-P S am still negotiating with the National film Archive for copies of the Hector McQuarrie (around the world in a baby Austin) expedition footage which is in their posession-I have seen this sometime ago and is well worth the wait-There is even some footage of the demise of the Tahiti which sank with their first Seven on board

Here are some pictures of the Wilkins Seven. - Austin Magazine Sep 1930.





As Bill says, the first car was an Arrol Johnston in. I think. 1908. see

http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:NfXHeq8Xy-MJ:www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%2520fact%2520file/History/images/shackleton_first_car_antarctica.htm+antarctica+car+arrol+johnston&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=uk

This Wilkins Seven has a different layout to the Norwegian Boat-Tail mentioned previously.

(I can not find the thumbnail facility in Photobucket any more. Does anyone know whether it has changed?)

Bryan

I'd never heard of the Austin Magazine!

Does anybody know where there might be an archived run of this?

Here are a couple of pics of the Norwegian Boat Tail to give an idea of the layout.





Sorry about the quality - photos of PC screen.

Bryan

Did the Norwegian Boat Tail use a standard front axle modified to take the tracks? If it did justhink of the loading going through the kingpin with the mounts all the way out the side of the wings.

.

Eight wheels and tracks might well turn out as a half-track.

Mike

Hi Ruiardh, "copy", "paste", "posting" - what's that all mean? Remember this site is supposed to be about Austin Sevens and I've only had to copy many ! Seriously though, will get someone to show me once I get this current (new to me) pc sorted out a little. Eg - I can receive emails at the moment but can't send them. So to those who've already requested copies of Wilkins article, please be patient, will send on asap. PS, as I'm Tournament Director of both the Victorian Open table tennis championships (this weekend) and the Australian Open ditto next month (team entries from 8 other Countries ranging from Ghana to Kyrgyzstan take some organising) I'm rather busy and rarely home for phone calls, but will phone you asap. Cheers, Bill in Oz.