1928 Austin Seven Chummy *Sold £12,000*

Description

• Restored over a 20 year period
• 1928 750cc model
• Handbooks, tonneau cover & hood cover

Charming, charismatic, captivating, that will be an Austin Seven Chummy! Simple, affordable and great fun. If you fancy a pre-war classic that is great value, easy to own and enjoy, then look no further.

Much is spoken of Henry Ford’s Model T, but the Seven mobilised the UK and much of the wider world. The first BMW was a licensed Seven. They were made in France and the USA, even Japan’s Nissan Motor Co had an agreement to build and sell Sevens.

It’s no surprise the delightful Austin Seven Chummy remains popular still today. Nearly 300,000 of them were built.

Body, Chassis & Exterior

The A-shaped chassis is robust and straightforward. These cars were built in the traditional way using a partly wooden-framed body with steel/aluminium. In general terms this does mean if you’re buying a Seven you need to be on the lookout for such issues.

Gladly not so in the case of this particular classic Seven. Our vendor advises us; “This particular Chummy has just emerged from a 20 year off the road rebuild”. We know some rebuilds can extend a little, but 20 years is a very thorough undertaking.

The re-build comprised, in the first instance, of “a full body-off refurbishment” which was at “considerable cost”. Once separated, the chassis was treated to a blasting taking it back to bare bones. We are advised, “there are no signs of repair or welding”.

The comprehensive work to the body and exterior included replacing “all steel floor panels”. And then finally attention was turned to the ash frame, of which we are advised that “all the ash frame was replaced”.

Interior

If you’ve not tried an Austin Seven Chummy before – everyone should – your first impression is that the Austin is indeed compact!.  With such a snug cockpit it’s little wonder the car was labelled the ‘Chummy’!

The interior of any classic car can be a expensive and frustrating to source if work is needed. The good thing, in general with the Sevens, is that there are a lot of outlets for spares and the great thing with this Chummy in particular, is that the hard work and expense has been taken care of.

Once body and chassis work had been completed, the focus switched to the inside space. The vendor tells us first off, “the interior was re-trimmed”.

After that “a new hood” was sourced and fitted. Then followed, new “side screens, door and rear cards”. The final piece of the jigsaw was to fit a “new floor covering”.

Engine & Transmission

The heart of the charming Chummy is the engine. This Chummy has the later and better 750cc unit.

Despite knocking on at almost 100 years old, the little side-valve engine in the Chummy is quite sophisticated. It is built around an aluminium crankcase, mated to a cast iron cylinder block with cast iron cylinder head. Cooling is via natural convection, without a water pump, and the dynamo was driven from timing gears.

The crankshaft is splash-lubricated. Originally it comprised of just main two bearings changing to three in later years.

The 3-speed, plus reverse gearbox was bolted on to the back of the engine. The gearboxes had a range of options dependant on the type of Seven you wanted, touring, sports, racing or trials. A four-speed gearbox was introduced in 1932 and in 1933 synchros were added, but only to third and top ratios.

The legendary Lotus founder, Colin Chapman, started from the simple Seven.

If you were minded to, there are a range of options to give the little Chummy a little more pep. Simple gains can be had from just a better carb, such as a single 1.25in SU from a Mini 850. Another stage is to combine it with the inlet/exhaust manifold from a later Ruby. Or go the whole hog and enter the Seven motorsport world, which we’re told by many is great fun.

Our vendor tells us about the engine on this Seven; “the engine has also clearly been rebuilt and starts and runs well with no smoke whatsoever”. He goes on to say, “the car drives well once you master the 3 speed crash gearbox”.

There is also a lovely video of the charming Austin Seven Chummy’s engine revving away sounding and looking on top form.

Additional information supplied by the vendor

“This particular Chummy has just emerged from a 20 year off the road rebuild, which included a full body off refurbishment at considerable cost to its owner the chassis was removed and blasted.

There are no signs of repair or welding.

The car has had all steel floor panels replaced together with all the ash frame

The interior was re-trimmed together with a new hood, side screens, door and rear cards, new floor covering.

Mechanically the brakes have been overhauled, there are 5 new tyre and a new exhaust.

 The suspension kingpins, radiator, hoses, rebuilt starter, new battery, wiper motor reconditioned,

 In respect of the engine this has also clearly been rebuilt and starts and runs well with no smoke whatsoever. The axle also appears to have been worked on

The car drives well once you master the 3 speed crash gearbox. As part of the rebuild it was home resprayed some 15 years ago and is quite presentable.

The car comes with handbook, a tonneau cover, a hood cover and storage bag (all new)”.

Phew. That is a list!

Update from vendor –  21/02/22 I have just noticed there is a small hole in the rear seat squab caused by side screens being stored on it

What the Press said.

This is what Autocar Magazine said, back in 1972 when it tested one for a feature. “General performance is good, being lively in ordinary road work. The suspension was good, a little pitching experienced and fairly heavy brake pedal pressure produced sufficient braking in an emergency”.

Their verdict?  “The Seven continues to give good, reliable service to thousands of motorists”. The car was on sale for £290!

Our view

Reports from the club scene tend to agree prices has been appreciating over the past few years. Sevens have not gone bonkers like Fast Fords have, therefore they are still very much an affordable prospect.

Seven owners do tend to love their cars. For that reason they seem to hang on to them for a long time and cars often change hands within the clubs rather than on the open market. It is great to see one come to market and we’re delighted to host it our platform.

A magnificent seven? We think so. We anticipate the final bids to end between £8,000-£12,000. Good luck.

 

Vehicle Location: Isle of Wight – it’s the responsibility of the winning bidder to make collection / transportation arrangements directly with the vendor. The vendor has advised that any potential bidders are welcome to view the Chummy and he will happily collect them from the ferry port.

Have a question about this vehicle? Please contact the Evoke team at auction@evoke-classics.com and we will speak to the vendor on your behalf.

Tedious but it’s vital you read this, please.

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