Austin 7 RL Short Wheel Base Saloon 1931 sold for £10,812 at the April 25th Classic Car Auction
Lot 41
This car has been in a private collection in Switzerland for many years and is in quite remarkable condition. The engine is a total rebuild by ‘Austineers’ here in the UK. It has covered about 1000 miles approx since the rebuild. The bodywork was restored by the well known Austin specialist John Heath. To complement the very fine bodywork the interior has been fully re trimmed on the continent to Austin style with high quality black leather including all the door and fixed panels. The interior headlining, also done on the continent, is magnificent and the original sliding roof is fully restored to as new condition. Fully fitted black carpets with bound edging, complete the interior.
The car is finished in Dark Green with Black wings and wheels. The tyres are in excellent condition. The chassis and running gear were restored by Vince Leek to match the standard seen throughout. A comprehensive set of paperwork will come with the car to include some photographs, and invoices with brief details of the work undertaken.
The RL type two door Saloon was in production from March1930 with an upgraded model from June/July1930 until the RM saloon model was introduced on 7th January 1931. This particular RL was first registered 17 Jan 1931 and it features the short scuttle design with louvred bonnet sides and chrome radiator surround. The short wheelbase models continued until the last quarter of 1931 when the later RN saloon with a chassis 6 inches longer was introduced.
RL saloons feature the famous 750cc Austin Seven side valve engine with a three speed gearbox , coil ignition, coupled brakes, electric start and features like the opening windscreen, sunshine sliding roof and Lucas R47 double dip headlamps.
For safety in use on modern roads, flashing indicators have been added to ensure safe changes in direction can be clearly indicated. Hand signals are not in common practice on the roads today. The 6 volt battery is a recent replacement and features an isolator for safety.
- Chassis number, 127600,
- Car number, B3-675.
- Body number, 9100.
This RL saloon is likely to be the best available. It is listed by both chassis number and registration number in the Austin Seven Surviving chassis register. The copy used for reference was dated 2005.
Note: The DVLA have just assigned this vehicle an age appropriate registration number. The new reg is “773 UYF”. Documents to follow after the sale.
Condition: Concours
Estimated sale price: £7,000 – £9,000
Sold for £10,812.
View the entries in our upcoming classic car auction.
Additional Information on the Austin 7
“The Austin 7 was an economy car produced from 1922 until 1939 in the United Kingdom by the Austin Motor Company. Nicknamed the “Baby Austin”, it was one of the most popular cars ever produced for the British market, and sold well abroad. It wiped out most other British small cars and cyclecars of the early 1920s;[1] its effect on the British market was similar to that of the Model T Ford in the USA. It was also licensed and copied by companies all over the world. The very first BMW car, the BMW Dixi, was a licensed Austin 7, as were the original American Austins. In France they were made and sold as Rosengarts. In Japan Nissan also used the 7 design as the basis for their first cars, although not under licence.”
Source: wikipedia.org
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