Hi
The usual rules apply here - as any academic knows: There are primary sources - information created at the time that you can rely on - like the Gaydon records and other original documentation - and then there are other sources where varying degrees of judgement are required. Makes it interesting.
Regards
Colin

Agreed, and I think this car IS interesting; but I just don't believe the Longbridge prototype story. I think it's great that it has been restored as it is to preserve its Spanish history rather than trying to create a B-Type replica, but that doesn't put it into genuine B-Type territory value-wise!

I had a long conversation a couple of days ago with the owner of this car, who has had it for around forty years.

He stands by the car's history as previously outlined. He has original documentation pertaining to its import to Spain in 1927, but this gives nothing away as to the type of body then fitted.

He then has a couple of letters written by two previous Spanish owners in the 'seventies, containing their recollections of the car going back to the immediate post-war period.

Unfortunately, there is nothing first-hand covering the period around 1930 when the present body was fitted.

The wings currently fitted apparently date from the 'seventies or 'eighties, so are not of any help.

The square lower corners in the door windows were reputedly made by the Spanish coachbuilder when he cut out the similarly-shaped rear quarter windows (now filled in).

The number B-167 that was mentioned does not in fact have a "B" prefix and is the body number stamped into the top of the transmission tunnel.

The Source Book information and photo probably originate from contact between the current owner and Mr Purves in the 'seventies, when restoration of the car was discussed and so is unlikely to come from an independent source.

The owner has pointed out that the "Profile Publication - The Austin Seven" contains a drawing (probably C1970) showing a stretched coupe; this is indeed the case. He argues that as the proportions are very similar to those of his car and that the drawing may have been based on a period photo of it.

Location: Herefordshire, with an "E", not a "T"!

Dave Martin's article in the latest (2016B) Association Magazine provides some interesting snippets of information. From the Weekly Despatch Ledgers it seems pretty clear (well, to me anyway!) that B-Type coupe production ceased in September 1930. The last despatches were three cars on 27th September; the column allocated to the coupe has then been amended to read AVD Van and there are no more coupe entries... except there was a lone coupe despatched between January and May 1931.

Could this be the Spanish car? It seems odd that a 1927 car would be returned to the Works and be re-bodied with a non-standard item and then be recorded in the Despatch Ledger, but who knows?I have no doubt that the car has some coupe origins - the lower seating and steering arrangement are pure B-Type, but it seems a most ungainly look to it and doesn't fit at all with the current (1931) Austin style ...