In Sheffield that would have been a 3 Litre special. ( Because it's got three leets on t'front.)

Location: Gard, France 30960

This Registration number SMG71 on an Austin 7 in 1956/57 is most unusual.
Any idea how this came about please?

Location: Bristol

I don't have any photos of me with my Sevens - I was always the one with the camera!

So I'll see who I can embarrass with some of my candid shots! Let's start with Dave Wortley, helping Tony Griffiths cleaning his chummy for 1968 Beaulieu:

Ian,
I am sorry I am unable to help and sadly George is no longer with us.
Bryan

Location: Hertfordshire

Thanks to you both.
I didn't know that Mike.

Location: Bristol

Location: Auckland, NZ

More from Dave Mann:

Hi Ruairidh
Please would you post the attached photos of the late Chris Rogers with his RN saloon CZ 765, the Vicar, on his tour or Europe in 1960 kindly sent to me by his friend John Dixon on the forum under the above heading. It took some tracking down but I eventaually found his car a couple of years ago. Regards Dave Mann

Do you know where photo number three was taken please Dave.

Location: Bristol

My guess would be the North Cape Ian.

Correct Ruairidh, the photos are at
1) Reichstag
2) Brandenburg Gate
3) North Cape
4) Near North Cape

I wonder how many of these excellent pictures would have survived if they had been stored on some long forgotten and incompatible hard disc...bring back the enprint!

I had assumed either North Cape or Arctic Circle where a similar erection has been placed as you know Ruairidh
Thanks for the info Dave.

Location: A little south of North Cape

Here you are Mike,you first on left on our way to VSCC Lakeland Trial 1970.Second left Tony Griffiths, third left Annette Griffiths,fourth left ? and fifth left me. Tony's chummy PL 3002 and my chummy YC 5012 behind us. I remember being very cold and wet but not as cold and wet as the following year when I stupidly rolled the chummy and flattened the windscreen against the scuttle and drove home to Sheffield without windscreen and newspaper tucked in my coat in an attempt to retain heat.

Location: Sheffield

Tell that to young people today Dave and they won't believe you.

Location: A little south of North Cape

I would be interested if anyone recognises the bumper on my car as a UK accessory. The blades are quite well made but the brackets are heavy and crude with a very local look.
Damage to the car at front far less likely without!
(I read somewhere years ago that an Oz University that did slow speed crash testing used a Seven to demonstrate that damage was not inevitable. It just bounced back off the wall.)

Location: Auckland, NZ

Winston Teague sends the following:

Hi R, attached is a pic from VSCC Youth A7 Raid to France 1988 or 90. Im kneeling, replacing a mangled oil seal on my then new pressure fed engine, with, from left, Ben Collings, still into it all in a big way, James Baxter, also up to his neck. Jonathan Proctor, now a high end historic car broker, Matt Blake in the foreground (still has his Chummy) and the late Great James Diffey standing over me (Still miss him, always will). WFX is Tim Jones Ulster, now red and blown and still in everyday use, Ian will remember him & it from Tim’s time at Uni in Bristol. My Ulster is resting, dismantled at the moment but the same pressure fed engine is still going in the RK hotrod strong 27 years later, still with O rings! The pic was taken by Jo Winder (still loving her Speedy). Of the rest of the crowd many have car nut children, lots of whom are A7 drivers now.

From Tom Abernethy:

Glasgow Students' Charities Day , January 1962. I'm wearing the compulsory pith helmet and my navigator Mike has a whistle in his mouth. We would drive into a main intersection in the centre
of Glasgow, blow the whistle and stop and direct the traffic. When we had caused sufficient confusion and mayhem we made a quick exit . Hard to believe in this day and age that we were allowed such freedom. Tom Abernethy.



Real camping! A Good Companions Minor tent , a pork pie and a bottle of Double Diamond for breakfast. Douglas Weir and myself en route from Glasgow to Beaulieu , July 1965.
Tom Abernethy.

Congrats again, Paul, but I doubt what you've started is finished yet. Hopefully as Friends sift through their photos they'll pass them on to this site for many years to give everyone enjoyment.
Ian D - I notice you're still talking erections. (Only envious, 'cos I've never been anywhere near that far North - was that the trip in the 12?).
Cheers, Bill

Location: Euroa, Australia

You may remember Tony Johns from his visit to UK in 1981 with the justly famous 'Raid Cars' (given an excellent mention in Martin Eyre's book 'Austin Seven Competition Cars 1922-1982')

In 1960 when Tony owned my Chummy he built his first Austin Seven racing car, both shown here at a Melbourne race meeting with Tony about to climb aboard.



Note back then no roll bar !

Tony.

Location: Malvern, Victoria, Australia.

Ian Dunford writes:

1967.
One hour before wedding and one day before setting off for Norway.



The car and owner are still in the family but, perhaps, even more remarkable - so is the suit!

1962 ish I think up on Beeley Moor,Derbyshire. Im on my mums knee in the front, safety first in those days!




Maybe a year or so after,car now fitted with a front airdam.

Location: Chezvegas

Fellow I purchased APE from. Photo taken about 1947.





Bill of sale 1947.





Couple of years ago.






Another move




Present state!!

Location: Vernon British Columbia

Great thread and I've uncovered a few photos from the era I think Tom Abernethy has mentioned. I was introduced to A7s by his friend Alec Mitchell, my sister Mairi's then boyfriend and subsequent husband. They were in a sort of gang with a chap called Ian Bell and got up to all kinds of mischief. I inherited Ian's 1928 Chummy YC4818 'in bits and boxes' illustrated in the following photograph at the age of 16 thanks to £50 from my father who wanted to deter me from 'killing myself on motorcycles'. It took me just over a year to restore it....of sorts, but I reckon it's one of the best engines I ever re-built. Sadly the car no longer exists despite lots of searching.

http://s793.photobucket.com/user/doctorbob7/media/3584_zpsgicvwsqp.jpg.html

James' photo...

Sunday, 14th April 1975. Me, aged 17 years and 14 days, practising for my (successful) driving test in the RP three days later. The car is still my daily driver.

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

Martin Prior

Sunday, 14th April 1975. Me, aged 17 years and 14 days, practising for my (successful) driving test in the RP three days later. The car is still my daily driver.

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

Hi Mike. Haha,very good. I can remember that trip out! Cant remember who owned the Fraser Nash but was the BMW Anthonys?
I think it is Jenny in the photo but it could be Sarah! I only sold the RP a few years ago when I got the Ruby Tourer finished.
Anyway,similar weather and era, here is Sarah and Jenny. Not an Austin unfortunately.

Location: Chezvegas

Yes, that's Anthony's BMW ... and the Frazer Nash is his too, now! At the time it was Derek Fernley's car.

Two topics

Re Gord French’s post, US $535 seems a helluva lot of money for a toy Seven in USA. Dont know how Canadian dollar compared. Maybe cars were scarce and actual prices inflated as elsewhere at the time but desperation has its limits.You could buy a real car, a new Chev or Ford, for US $1200 or so. Just postwar my father was offered NZ £200 on several occasions for our RP bought in 1940 for £70, before serious rationing. (Wages here somewhat higher than UK; tradesman around £12 per week. A new A40 about £600 plus backhanders.)

I love the idea of going for the driving test in a Seven in 1975. Would have to refrain from flick of the wrist U turns and other Seven specialities. Any prudent tester would grant a pass, for fear of the challenge to do better! I was looking forward to doing the oldies test in mine, then the spoil sports scrubbed it. I suspect they were losing too many testers from traumatic stress syndrome. Allowing employees in some cars or with some drivers would likely not meet the latest health and safety rules. If driver got out to pull on the tyres for a really tight park, the inspector might not be impressed to learn that it is done to avoid straightening the track rod or breaking the steering arm. Testers fail cars if not considered roadworthy. I wonder what they would make of the vacuum wiper in a downpour.

Location: Auckland, NZ

Hope the following photos load properly this time. The first circa 1965 shows Beaulieu Motor Museum when exhibits were just housed in what looks like a few sheds, a marked contrast to the current sophisticated museum. Also of interest are the Pullman coaches as a backdrop (headed I believe by a similarly static Schools class Steam Loco). Sadly, I don't know the name of the chap in the foreground but someone on the Forum may.



The next photo is of Alec Mitchell and Tom Abernethy at the same Austin 7 rally ? 1965.



I have to thank these guys for inflicting their interest on me as having Austin Sevens most of my life have provided me with something simple and stable when everything else at times was so complicated and confusing.

Location: Ferring, West Sussex.

Bob Culver

Two topics

Re Gord French’s post, US $535 seems a helluva lot of money for a toy Seven in USA. Dont know how Canadian dollar compared. Maybe cars were scarce and actual prices inflated as elsewhere at the time but desperation has its limits.You could buy a real car, a new Chev or Ford, for US $1200 or so. Just postwar my father was offered NZ £200 on several occasions for our RP bought in 1940 for £70, before serious rationing. (Wages here somewhat higher than UK; tradesman around £12 per week. A new A40 about £600 plus backhanders.)


I agree, for a 10 year old car. I've attached the invoice for my Dad's new 46 Chev he purchased after returning from overseas WW2. There was a rubber shortage then so he was on his own to find tires!
The Can dollar was about par with the US at that time and I think 1 pound sterling was about $4 Can dollars.

Location: Vernon British Columbia

Hi James A

I love your observation "having Austin Sevens most of my life has provided me with something simple and stable when everything else at times was so complicated and confusing."

The same thought occurs with ever increasing frequency. I hope you are not enforcing any copyright. It is not just computers, phones, and electronic gadgets, but laws, modern cars, even house electrical work, plumbing etc. When I first started work a senior engineer told me he had last been involved with matters technical when the screen grid radio valve had been invented, and his knowledge ended there(1929?). At the time it struck me as preposterous. Despite having worked in the field I am now similarly behind the times. But Seven matters remain the same, except that modern exhaust valves apparently last beyond 5,000 miles, and some cars can lock their wheels.

Location: Auckland, NZ

Thanks Bob for your comment and Mike for the info.. Don't want to hog this thread but I hope it's of general interest to the Forum. Here's a couple more. The first is a rather dapper and flamboyant character possibly Barry Clark with a young Ian Dunford facing him.



The second one shows lots of faces but I don't know any of their names...Help !!!

Location: Ferring, West Sussex.

Dear James

In the 1960's I worked with Alex Mitchell at Barr& Stroud at Anniesland
Also with Tom Abernethy's Brother Ronnie.

I had the remains of a Nippy, but the daily driver was a very rust Morris 8 Tourer, famously listed in the Profile of the Mortis 8, as what not to to to a pre-war car!( before I bought it though)

You mentioned Ian Bell, could he have been Ian Bell who was journalist? As his widow lives on our village.

I now am building a GE Cup model rep, inspired , by seeing both the first Abernethy's Cup and Brooklands but after a 50 year gap!
I might just post a photo of myself in another Morris 8 bought the day before my wedding!

What a great strand.
Bill G
Scottish Border

I can confirm the yellow jacket is Barry Clarke; I recognise the beard in blue, but cannot put a name to it for the moment - could be Martin Eyre, but definitely not John Fitch.
Neville Barr in the hat on the left in the second photo.

Apologies for misidentifying Ian Dunford, the 3/4 rear view of 'Bearded Blokes' is obviously challenging more than me ! Don't think it's Mike Hodgeson, so the jury is still out on that person. Thanks for the info. on Alec and Tom, Bill. Fortunately, the Ian Bell I'm referring to is still alive and well according to my sister Mairi, who I phoned regarding this matter, and he's a retired engineer. I'm fairly certain that the following photo is of a young Ian Dunford but it presents another problematical rear view of someone in a jumper this time !



Appreciate that the following (fairly awful quality) photo is a bit 'off piste of the younger me' theme but as I said in an earlier entry reveals how much Beaulieu Motor Museum has changed. Think this is Tom Abernethy's Chummy in the foreground and the static Schools Steam Loco 'Stowe' and a couple of Pullman coaches in the background... as a bit of a steam buff, I would be interested to know what happened to them.

Location: Ferring, West Sussex.

the static Schools Steam Loco 'Stowe' and a couple of Pullman coaches in the background... as a bit of a steam buff, I would be interested to know what happened to them. (Quote)

Sorry, "off topic", but "Stowe" is under overhaul at the Bluebell Railway and 1st Class Pullman car "Fingall" is operational on that line. 1st class car "Agatha" is owned by VSOE (Orient Express) and is stored in a dismantled state. 3rd Class Parlour Car No.35 was burned at Beaulieu in 1972.

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

I think the chap in the yellowish jumper I'm talking to in James photo may be Dave Blessley from South Wales.

Location: Bristol

Oh!.
It also appears to be one of the very rare photos of the short period of time before I started combing my parting in a circle

Location: Bristol

Thanks for the 'steamy' info. Martin, I should've known about Stowe, as I live so close to the Bluebell. It's great to be able to add some names to the photos. There are quite a few more but they are more about cars than people, apart from this one, Tom Abernethy is the only familiar face to me on the far right !

Location: Ferring, West Sussex.

The absolute bounder is sat next to my wife to be.
ian Dimmer on the far left.

Location: Bristol

Ian, the absolute bounder's efforts seemed to pay off ! 'Didn't you both do well' in my best Brucie voice !



By the way, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ian !!! I'm sure I speak for everyone on the Forum when I offer my thanks to you for being such a stalwart in the Austin 7 preservation movement.

Location: Ferring, West Sussex.

1982, car park of the White Horse, Milton. We had been asked by local TV to assemble the cars that were doing the Joggle. I wasn't, but went along for a cheeky lunchtime pint (close scrutiny of the photo will reveal my personal pint pot that hung behind the bar). I ended up being interviewed for the TV though can't remember what I said, apart from the last question. "And finally, how long do you intend driving these cars?", I took time to consider my answer, took a tug at my pint and replied "Till I fall out of it, I suppose". That bit got edited out of the piece broadcast..



Both car and driver look remarkably similar today...

Location: Cambridge

Love it!