Location: Staffordshire

Will,

I have the rear section (behind the door), of a special that 'resembles' the rear of a Chummy body. It is in three sections (rear and two sides) and made from aluminium, it is rough but may prove useful, F.O.C. If you are interested contact me. It is located in Bristol.

Will,
Good luck with your project. I am in favour of anyone who can develop their manual skills. Not enough of them around! I started building my pretend ulster when I was your age and found out that it wasn't too difficult beating ali sheet,although I am hardly up to professional standard (I was an engineering apprentice in the steel industry-not really appropriate for tin bashing.We called "tin" anything less than 1/4" plate!). A chummy body,especially one with only one door may even be easier to make than the pointed tail shape.
PS. It sounds to me as though most of the agro was based on a miunderstanding.
Cheers,
Dave.

Location: Sheffield

Location: Shropshire

Ruairidh, the exact same thing happened to me last week when responding to an ad via my I phone. Afterwards I re-sent the message from the lap top at home and gained contact with the advertiser with no problem.

Location: Worksop Notts

That Pytchley saloon replica is an epic achievement, I'm still trying to understand quite what's going on under the bonnet, but who cares? It's wonderful!

Location: Near Bicester

Ivor Hawkins

That Pytchley saloon replica is an epic achievement, I'm still trying to understand quite what's going on under the bonnet, but who cares? It's wonderful!

Location: Nr. Selby, North Yorkshire

Not my car Ivor (I just posted the pics for Malcolm) so I'm only guessing but, if you mean the drilled cantilever brackets on the bulkhead, I think you will find they are merely to carry the throttle linkage to the twin SUs.

Ian Mc.

Location: Shropshire

There you go Will, the bar's been set, get your woodwork tools out and buy some rolls of leathercloth!

Love Malcolm's interesting carb linkage, it looks like something from a Bleriot monoplane.

Location: Near Bicester

The Pytchley is built on a shortened lwb chassis about 1933. Similar date engine that has been mildly tuned with an early cylinder head (shaved at an angle), lightened flywheel and cleaned up ports. I came across a matching inlet and exhaust manifold which I think are Cambridge Engineering, complete with twin 1 1/8 SU carbs, all in good nick ready to fit. That is why they are on the engine!
The throttle linkage was problematical and I did not want to use a cable. The up and over arrangement is simple and works a charm. The two brackets can be removed in a couple of minutes if needed.
Only downside to the engine is that it has a standard crank, I built the engine about 30 years ago when I didn't know about Phoenix cranks (not that I could have afforded one anyway).
The gearbox is a C/R 4 speed and the axle is 5.25:1.
The whole thing is very light, probably around 8cwt, so it should go okay. I might have to fit some rear springs with less camber. I thought the weight of the body might flatten them a bit but the body is too light!
The fabric covering is a cheap curtain lining material which is glued to the underlying plywood shell with varnish. Additional layers of varnish were added then primer and two coats of Farrow and Ball egg-shell, all done with a brush.
The only problem I seem to have is that the whole body, being of similar construction to a double bass, acts like a giant resonance chamber!
Ear defenders may be needed!

Hello Will,

I have just perused the responses to your posting and in doing so I would like to offer you a word of encouragement.

What you have taken on one day will elevate your pride to a justly deserved plateau, an achievement very few people have accomplished.

By all means you do what you want it is your car and all the correspondents’ comments while I am sure were well meant will no doubt rally behind you no matter what your decision maybe.

People like Bill Sheehan from what I have read, has a wealth of knowledge and a personal resource base to be envied, I am sure there are persons around the corner from you who would also encourage you who have a similar understanding.

For my part while it is not my intent to reveal my successes but suggest you consider rebuilding the Mulliner saloon back on the chassis. I say this as they were a beautiful styled body you would find surprisingly easy to do.

It will be necessary to find another saloon to enable you to establish a few measurements then using a program like Autosketch enter the dims into CAD. If you are not familiar with this program it is a simple yet powerful drawing package for the beginner with YouTube full of guidance. A skill that you will always use during life’s journey as it is extremely versatile.

Once you have the drawings it is a matter of “lofting” from the paper onto a building jig usually made of MDF .

For the timber frame it has been my experience steaming timber is very time consuming demanding a skill level that I will never have. I therefore strongly recommend laminating 1/16th marine ply gluing it together using epoxy adhesive

All these tasks will lead to a replica rebuild on a chassis with providence containing your DNA for ever.

I hope you accept my comments as one of encouragement and always remember it is your car and you do what you want.

Regards,

Doug Baker
Scarborough
Western australia

Location: Scarborough Western Australia

I would echo our friend Doug's comments there, Will. Steaming timber is a thankless task. It requires much planning and set up but very little skill. Take it from one who has steamed 10"x2"x32ft. oak planks into a 1937 narrow boat! I will never steam another timber! It also promotes later cracking unless your timber is very carefully selected and sourced, not always possible. Lamination is every bit as satisfying, but much less faff and can be done in the comfort of a small workshop, providing you open a window to get rid of epoxy smells and ALWAYS wear Nitrile gloves., I didn't and now have manky finger nails on my left hand and a map of lines and dry skin.
Making the male pattern to bend the ply round is an easy task with a jigsaw or preferebly a band saw. I bought my bandsaw from a Sunday boot fair for £12 and got 5 assorted blades for it off ebay for £13. I've cut everything from brass sheet to two inch thick epoxy block (Ureol) for my modelmaking jobs.
I suppose Doug's recommendation to use CAD is wise for a young 'un like you, but it's beyond my ken! I'm pretty good with a pen and paper, having been a draughtsman and tech. illustrator in my past lives. However you do it, it ain't difficult. Very little is in this world. mostly it's just a case of planning, information, right tools and enthusiasm. I have never been officially or longwindedly instructed in any trade/craft/skill. Just picked it up because I wanted to enough and because I am unemployable
Managed to raise a family of five on that attitude too, so it can work for some. There's not much you can't learn quickly.

I still can't play a saxaphone, dammit!.............

Currently swatting up on bashing aluminium. A 30 quid DVD, youtubes and £20's worth of mallets and dollies from the same Sunday market and I'm well on the way.
Wheelbuilding next, after I've mastered TiG ally welding. Customer has just ordered a Tig machine..AT LAST!!

Martin

Oh, I KNEW someone would come up with something like that!

Alas, I've blown me music budget on Special bits
But you never know.........
I might get more than a honk out of one yet!

Thanks for the link, Ruauridh.

Martin

Martin, Pity you didn't mention this when I saw you a couple of weeks ago. For my sins, I played saxophones for a living until I retired a couple of years ago.
Still play for fun though!
Dave

Location: Wet Bonnie Galloway

Haha!
Life is VERY strange, Dave.

I doubt I have the puff any more anyway.
It's so annoying. I have a very good ear, as they say, but a lousy memory and simply can't remember where the notes are on any instrument and I've tried a few. Oddly, fretless bass got me nearest to almost playing something. My Uncle used to play double bass for Billy Cotton and later at the Palladium.

Martin

Re: Short Radiator Cowl/Bodywork [1925 Chummy]

So here I am on the receiving end of post notifications - I thought on the above subject - only to find saxophones are now the subject.

The post was originally regarding "anyone who might know of" someone with a :- Short Radiator Cowl/Bodywork [1925 Chummy]

We had tried the for sale and wants page some months back - to no effect - so this post by William Leith was not an advert as such but a call to anyone who - maybe not having access to the internet - who knows? - anyone not looking at this website.

Instead, we have had a round of unfounded criticism plus a touch of the trade having as I now understand, a long term political whinge which can get liberally splashed on quite a number of new posts just so we all know, then some detailed and helpful advice on building a saloon and a special body, some off topic films to visit on You Tube, a lecture on how a forum works (having owned and run www.ClassicCARSforSale.co.uk, so I do not need to know how a forum works) and now something about saxophones..........

...all of which does not address the post!

Has anyone talked about a short rad or the makings of an early Chummy body being available through a third party? The closest we've come is the kind offer of 3 parts to a body, but otherwise some of the highest views of any forum posting of late, and dozens of off-topic posts.

I'm told the Austin Seven Friends website is generally helpful and... Friendly.

I, for one, have obviously missed something somewhere, and so have a number of people of late who have approached me to air their own views of the sorry state this website has become.

I shall unsubscribe, and all the off-topic players out there can now have a good old whinge about my comments if they want to.

Location: New forest

I suspect that the reason that no one has come forward with an original scoop scuttle body and the other parts which you require is that they are not readily available. Have you tried advertising on carandclassic?

Location: Stretham, Ely, the Fens.

Thanks, yes, one better - a dedicated website to classic and vintage car parts and accessories which you must try FREE !

See Chummy BODY wanted :-

http://www.classiccarama.com/classic-car-parts/advert/austin-7-chummy-body-vintage-period/

See Short RAD wanted :-

http://www.classiccarama.com/classic-car-parts/advert/wanted-austin-7-chummy-short-radiator-and-cowl/

Amusing you should recommend Car and Classic when I owned Classic Cars for Sale.co.uk - our rivals at the time that started some 3 years after us!

Many thanks for your comment - do have a look at the site mentioned!

Any on-topic response would have been good, knowing how hard it is to find these things. Being a recent graduate, my son has yet to earn the dosh to pay for new items!

Location: New forest

Charles

Grow up!

Of course you wont see this as you have left, with your ball.

I hope the subjects continue to drift, life would be very boring indeed if we only ever answered the questions as asked!

Stuart. (ducking behind a wall now)

Location: Devon

Ruairidh

I'm sorry there's been no reply on that - I think your kind offer came through on that Friday just before the VSCC Cotswold trial near Cheltenham last Saturday week with all that rain - and we had intended to ring you on the way back via Bristol but it all got too late at the end of a days' marshalling on the trial. Have you got any photos you could wing over please?

These things are about.... Winston Teague reported on his post of 23 Nov : "I bought a complete short rad and core at Beaulieu in september, for less than the price of a replica shell, from a well known A7 nut."

Location: New forest

Stuart

Another instance of not needing to be told what to do. Try harder, and be polite.

Surely you ought to start your own post and air your comments in other parts of the Forum relating to "passing the time of day" rather than clearly not addressing the question...

Ducking behind a wall could be termed as 'childish'?

Touche.

Let's have some answers addressing the post !

Location: New forest

Location: New forest

Location: The 3D shed, Tewkesbury

Charles

O you are still here!

There have been very many answers addressing the post from one angle or another, the fact that you dont like them is hardly anyone elses fault!

As it is quite apparent that no one has an early scoop skuttle body laying around which they wish to part with, the advise on building a body is, I would have thought, quite helpful. Short Radiators and shells come up on that well know auction site from time to time. Roach engineering will build a normal chummy body and to my mind they are quite a reasonable price.

Sadly the days of being able to build an A7 up from bits, on a budget of £3.50 have gone. My project sits in the garage awaiting funds at the moment, so I am not unsypathetic. However, haveing a serious go at pretty much everyone who has posted on this subject and the site in general is not going to win you many friends or allies!

Stuart (Not behind a wall anymore because it failed to deflect a lack a sense of humor)

Location: Devon

Charles,

I would suggest (from experience) that it might be worth appealing for a core irrespective of its state, or even ask directly for one to donate tanks to a new core. Worst case you get something cheap that can be re-cored although there is a chance you will get something that someone with the right skills can economically repair.

The lower tank on my fathers chummy is a brass casting soldered to a brass pressed sheet piece. Its a wonderful thing but would be very expensive to replicate.

Regards

Rob

Location: The 3D shed, Tewkesbury

Location: New forest

Thanks Rob for your very helpful advice - good points - will try that

Location: New forest

Location: New forest

About fifteen years ago I bought a very bashed about chummy body from the late John Heath from his premises at Much Hadham for a very small sum. His business was taken over by a young chap whose name escapes me at the moment, someone on here will tell us I'm sure. My point is that there may be some remnants still left in that yard which may be of use.

Location: Stretham, Ely, the Fens.

Graham? Huckle
Kettle Green
Much Hadham
Herts
SG10 6AF 01279 842735

Location: Stretham, Ely, the Fens.

Location: New forest

Is it a scoop scuttle?
There's a nice photo of one of our new bodies in Charles' wanted advert!!

Location: New Forest

(quote)Off topic replies don't answer the questions, do they? No-one this end has ever suggested building a car on £3.50.....the engine alone is several thousand pounds. The sense of humour evaporated when the quite humour-free 'going for the jugular attitude' came in from reply number 1. Have a look. I'm sure you might have a sense of humour failure and step back aghast at the line this post took initially, and continued until I stepped in and made a stand.(/quote)

I agree that off topic replies do not answer YOUR question, however they are of interest to many others. I for one had my suspicions that trying to steam wood for a body was a waste of time in these days of modern glues. So surely they do no harm?

The Chassis that you / your son own was sent out to a coach builder, it will have identification as quoted somewhere in this thread signifying this. As such it will always be somewhat of a poisoned challis if built up as a special. The stigma of having, in recent history, the remains of the body still with the chassis will remain with that chassis for a very long time! Im afraid the opening reply on here, whilst inaccrurate, will not be the last time such things are said of the car!

I personaly found your outburst against the "traders" quite inexplicable and offensive. Without the small busineses supplying new parts we would not be able to run our fun little cars! Anyone self employed or running a small business at the moment is under preasure, times are hard! The investment which has gone into sourcing new parts is huge, so I think its quite acceptable for suppliers to have a winge every now and then. I should point out I am not a supplier or in the A7 industry.

Ok thats the end of it, as far as Im concerned. You said you were unsubscribing and I belive you to be a man of your word.

Stuart

Location: Devon

From the first mention of this vehicle it seemed there would be tears before bedtime.

I am surprised, given Dads self confessed great knowledge of the internet, classic cars and obviously broad range of contacts, that he didn't suggest that the remnants of a very interesting historical car, still with some valuable parts and a chassis as supplied to a coachbuilder, should be offered to someone with sufficient interest to rebuild the car completely as with Malcolm Parkers car - and I wouldn't think he is a money bags builder.

I am sure Dad knows of Bugattis, Bentleys etcetera that have been reconstructed from much less. Perhaps the fact that it was a lowly Austin Seven that this course wasn't taken.

To build a 'special' with the rare parts acquired should not be the preferred way and I would have suggested that any old early chassis, running gear and engine would suffice - and if this 'special' was to re create a rather odd early 'special', who would know.

Tony.

Location: Melbourne, Australia

Tony,

No one has yet said to me anything along the lines of:
Oh - please could I buy your chassis for ££££ / swap it for my similarly vintage chassis in good condition / restored. I'm building a Mulliner Fabric saloon, and it would be a real bonus to build it up on an original chassis. Thank you so much, I do hope you consider my offer.

I'm trying to get myself into the world of vintage car driving, and I'm afraid Austin sevens are still the cheapest way to do it, so I saw my way in by buying a rolling chassis when it came up for sale!

You're right - people build up cars using fewer parts for example people out there find a part of a type 13 Bugatti and all of a sudden their type 23 is now a Brescia! Blue Nick - based for decades on a rolls 20 chassis is called a 30/98! They made about 280,000 austin sevens. They made about 500 30/98s of which about half that number still exist - making them truly precious and valuable - there is one for sale today at H&H auctions in Newbury - have a look at the estimate! If anyone is genuinely as precious about my car as any of you have lead me to believe, offer me some money and prove me wrong and build a Mulliner! The chassis is lowered for sports use, and the rear axle ratio has been modified to 5.25:1. You'll have quite a job undoing all my work. Unless you have a pre 1930 chassis lying around in fully restored condition, ready to go with a racing engine or a lot of money, you certainly won't get the engine, as after three years of saving and collection of parts, it has been tuned up to the heavens by Pigsty - one of the reasons I can't now afford to visit Mr Roach for a shiny new bodywork, and one of the reasons my car will be really quite special, like Mr Inglis' car.

Please - I emplore you, take my offer. By the way it doesn't have the valued C prefix...

My car is not and will not be listed for sale unless Mr Mulliner Fabric Saloon builder can make it worth my while - who I would be genuinely delighted to meet.

I am sorry to seem upset about this matter - I'm still excited to be joining the world of Austin seven ownership, but I'm frankly tired of reading posts by people from the sidelines who aren't prepared to do it themselves.

Thank you everyone who has been a help to me. By the way, I used to play the saxophone in a band too! I was the lead alto!

Location: Glorious Sunny Hampshire

Will,
Have a look at Sales and Wants. There is a short rad and shell offered in exchange for the one you already have.

Location: Stretham, Ely, the Fens.

Location: New forest

Erm, Will says the chassis in question does NOT have the precious C prefix, so isn't a lot of the above a waste of effort?
Not a Mulliner, or any other coachbuilt it would seem, after all.

Will, good luck with your search, but don't forget the home build possibility. It really isn't that difficult if you're motivated enough.

Martin

Will,

I take your point about cars with small production numbers, but even though based on the 'mass produced' (sic) Austin Seven, the Mulliner was only made in very small numbers.

In the Austin Seven world cars like an original Gordon England Cup and similar (still based on an Austin Seven chassis) attract considerable attention.

This is not to mention the fabled Gr*ssh*pp*r Check the archive.

Sorry your question attracted quite a bit of sometimes harsh comment but welcome to the fun of the Austin Seven.

Just out of interest you wrote "I'm trying to get myself into the world of vintage car driving, and I'm afraid Austin sevens are still the cheapest way to do it, so I saw my way in by buying a rolling chassis when it came up for sale!"

I suggested this recently but was promptly corrected by some members pointing out that there are quite a few cheaper Vintage Cars out there

Tony.

Location: Melbourne, Australia

Here we go off on yet another tangent. Henry - are you sure about all chassis having a 'C' stamped before the number up to '28/'29? As one who has been involved in at least half a dozen Pramhoods, I've yet to see a 'C', although David Cochrane tells me his 1925 Chummy has it. The only 'C' I've actually seen in the flesh/iron is on my 1930 Ulster. Apologies to Will/Keith for the slight diversion, but it's how we learn more about Sevens, by asking on the Forum. Cheers, Bill

Location: Mount Eliza, (not a mountain but hilly, overlooking the Bay) Australia

So what IS cheaper than a Seven?
Despite their prices these days.

Martin

Martin,

I can't find the posted reply now but something like a Humber or Morris was suggested as cheaper than the usual pre 1930 Chummy at around £14,000 upwards and I recently saw an M type MG listed for £14,950.

I take Tony B's point about Austin 7 spare part price and availability being very reasonable compared to many others.

Tony.

Location: Melbourne, Australia

When I first started playing with Austin 7's a bullnose Morris was at least twice the price of a chummy. I have recently seen two for less than £10,000, one at auction and the other advertised.

Location: Stretham, Ely, the Fens.