My friend Roy Warburton writes:

the bike was built by bob collier west midlands he built many race bikes a lot for sammy miller you may share this, the 2 heads were built of bullet alloy and the austin 7 block had fins around which were set screwed on wilt BA bolts to air cool it the flywheel was only half size so would rev really fast it had a norton gearbox frame AJS /MATCHLAS silver hawk,



its fully restored and in running order if anyone wants to see it ....it at Sammy Millers motorcycle museum trust at New Milton nr Christchurch Bournmouth

That's great R. It never ceases to amaze me, the lengths people will go to just to be different and because they can.
Regards Ian.

Location: Work ( sheffield)

nice one R,

stunning.

i take it the engine is started on a chain to the flywheel, as there is a kick start on the transmission box.

i`ve always wondered about an air cooled austin 7 engine.

it would get rid of the rad and surround making the car much more aerodynamic.

tony

A lot of 1950s bike magazines were passed to me by a cousin eons ago. Photos of Seven powered specials were quite common. Recently republished prints of bike road tests which I have omit the bhp. it would be interesting to hear from anyone how these bikes compared at normal rpm and everyday road speeds of the time. 13 bhp would likely surprise a modern 750 (or 250) bikie.

Bob Culver

Location: Auckland

Went to the Sammy Miller motor cycle museum yesterday,Could have spent much longer than the 2 hours I had to look round.Wonderful innovative and pure exotic bikes there including a 3 cylinder and 5 cylinder radials.
Two of Bob Colliers Austin seven engine bikes there too,sorry no pictures but really neat installations.

Poked my head in the workshop door,I'm sure it was Sammy Miller still working on bike restorations,(Now 82)

For anyone interested in unusual bikes google Allen Millyard,Look at the "Flying Millyard",a 5 litre Vee twin using a pair of Pratt and Whitney wasp cylinders

I too recently visited Sammy Millers museum. I was pleased to see the sectioned view of an A7 engine also a motorcycle with an A7 engine fitted.
There were also lots of other interesting motor cycles on display.
If you click the photo below it will take you to my photos I took.



Roger

Location: Haverfordwest

How many ways can manifolds be adapted?

Location: Auckland, NZ

Location: Brittany

I think what he meant to say was billet,as from a solid lump of alum.Billet seems to be more of an American term.

I will pass your questions on to Roy Renaud but I think Austin in the Shed has answered your query.

Location: Brittany

Quite a lot of hot air I should imagine Renaud.

I can't believe that Ruairidh! Would'nt the engine seize? I believe they would be filled with a heat conductive unable to boil fluid? Oil?
Sorry this is titillating my poor brain!

Location: Brittany