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Encyclopedia > Austin 7
Austin 7
1926 Austin 7 Box saloon
Manufacturer Austin Motor Company
Production 1922–1939
290,000
Predecessor none
Successor none
Class Microcar
Body style(s) various including vans
Engine(s) 747 cc Straight-4
Wheelbase 75 inches (1.905 m)

The Austin 7 was a vintage car produced from 1922 through to 1939 in the United Kingdom. It was one of the most popular cars ever produced there and 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 [2]. The first BMW models (BMW Dixi) were licensed Austin 7s, as were the original American Austins. In France they were made and sold as Rosengarts while in Japan Nissan also used the 7 design as the basis for their original cars, though not under license [2]. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (847x641, 51 KB)1926 Austin Seven box saloon photographed by Malcolm Asquith. ... Automakers, also known as carmakers, automobile manufacturers, motor manufacturers, or the automobile industry are companies that design and manufacture automobiles. ... The Austin Motor Company was a British manufacturer of automobiles that rose to be a major motorcar brand, the dominant partner after merger with Morris in 1952 but declining after absorption into the British Leyland Motor Corporation, and its subsequent troubles. ... Car classification is subjective since many vehicles fall into multiple categories. ... A Messerschmitt KR200. ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... The straight-4 or inline-4 is an internal combustion engine with four cylinders aligned in one row. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Austin Motor Company was a British manufacturer of automobiles that rose to be a major motorcar brand, the dominant partner after merger with Morris in 1952 but declining after absorption into the British Leyland Motor Corporation, and its subsequent troubles. ... A vintage car is commonly defined as a car built between the start of 1919 and the end of 1930. ... Cyclecars were small, generally inexpensive cars manufactured mainly between 1910 and 1923. ... The Ford Model T (colloquially known as the Tin Lizzie and the Flivver) was an automobile produced by Henry Fords Ford Motor Company from 1908 through 1927. ... For other uses, see BMW (disambiguation). ... The BMW Dixi is a car. ... The American Austin was a United States version of the Austin Seven automobile manufactured by the American Austin Car Company from 1930 to 1937. ... Lucien Rosengart (January 11, 1881, Paris, France - July 27, 1976) was a French engineer. ... Nissan Motor Co. ...


After World War II, many Austin 7s were rebuilt as "specials"[3][4][5] including the first Lotus, the Lotus Mk1 which was based on an Austin 7. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Lotus Logo with monogram of its founder, Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman Lotus Cars is a British manufacturer of sports and racing cars based at Hethel, Norfolk, England. ... Lotus Mk1 was poriduced in a single copy as a trials car based on the Austin 7. ...

Contents

History

Austin 7 Saloon 1931
Austin 7 Saloon 1931

Austin had, before World War I, built mainly large cars but in 1909 they sold a single cylinder 7 hp built by Swift of Coventry called the Austin Seven.[6] After this they returned to bigger cars, but Sir Herbert Austin felt a smaller car would be more popular, in spite of protestations from the company's board of directors who were concerned about the financial status of the company. Austin won them over by threatening to take the idea to their competitor Wolseley, and got permission to start on the design which was by him (chassis, suspension etc) and Stanley Edge (engine) working together from 1921 into 1922 at Austin's home, Lickey Grange. Austin put a large amount of his own money into the design and patented many of its innovations in his own name. In return for the investment he was paid a royalty of two guineas (£2, 2s), (£2.10) on every car sold.[2] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... This article is about a unit of measurement. ... The Swift Motor Company made Swift Cars in Coventry, England from 1900 to 1931. ... For other uses, see Coventry (disambiguation). ... The Wolseley Motor Company was an automobile manufacturer in the United Kingdom from 1905. ... Lickey Grange is a Victorian private house and estate near Birmingham, England; important because of its association with the renowned automobile designer Herbert Austin, who once owned it and lived there for 31 years. ... For other uses, see Patent (disambiguation). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...


Two thousand cars were made in the first year of production, not as many as hoped, but within a few years the "big car in miniature" had wiped out the cyclecar industry and transformed the fortunes of Austin. By 1939 when production finally ended, 290,000 cars and vans had been made. Cyclecars were small, generally inexpensive cars manufactured mainly between 1910 and 1923. ...

Chassis

The Austin 7 was considerably smaller than the Ford Model T. The wheelbase was only 6 ft 3 inches (1.905 m), and the track only 40 inches (1.016 m). Equally it was lighter - less than half the Ford's weight at 794 pounds (360 kg). The engine required for adequate performance was therefore equally reduced and the 747 cc sidevalve was quite capable with a modest 10 hp output. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with pushrod engine. ...


The chassis took the form of an "A" with the engine mounted between the channel sections at the narrow front end. The rear suspension was by quarter elliptic springs cantilevered from the rear of the chassis while at the front the beam axle had a centrally mounted half elliptic transverse spring. Early cars did not have any shock absorbers. Brakes were on all wheels but at first the front brakes were operated by the handbrake and the rear by the footbrake becoming fully coupled in 1930.


Steering is by worm and wheel mechanism. Worm and worm gear A worm gear, or worm wheel, is a type of gear that engages with a worm to greatly reduce rotational speed, or to allow higher torque to be transmitted. ...


Engine and Transmission

The four cylinder 747 cc, 56 mm bore by 76 mm stroke, side valve engine was composed of an aluminium crankcase, cast iron cylinder block and cast iron cylinder head. The pressure lubricated crankshaft at first ran in two bearings changing to three in 1936. An electric starter was fitted from November 1923 and although the early cars used magneto ignition, this changed to coil in 1928. A magneto provides pulses of electrical power to the spark plugs in some gasoline-powered internal combustion engines where batteries are not available, most commonly those in 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines used in small motorcycles, lawnmowers and chainsaws. ...


The 3 speed and reverse gearbox was built in-unit with the engine and had a variety of ratios depending on application. A four speed gearbox was introduced in 1932 and in 1933 synchromesh was added to third and top ratios extending to second gear in 1934. Synchromesh is the term used to describe a manual transmission in which gears are brought to the same speed during shifting by a synchronizer. ...


The back axle was of spiral bevel type with ratios between 4.4:1 and 5.6:1. A short torque tube runs forward from the differential housing to a bearing and bracket on the rear axle cross member. A torque tube system is an automobile driveshaft technology, used in cars with a front engine and rear drive. ... A differential can mean one of several things: Differential (mathematics) Differential (mechanics) Differential signaling is used to carry high speed digital signals. ...


The Swallow

1931 Austin 7 Swallow saloon
1931 Austin 7 Swallow saloon

In 1927, William Lyons, co-founder of the Swallow Sidecar Company, saw the commercial potential of producing a rebodied Austin 7. Lyons commissioned the talented coachbuilder Cyril Holland to produce a distinctive open tourer: the Austin Seven Swallow. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 554 pixelsFull resolution (964 × 667 pixel, file size: 99 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) 1931 Austin 7 with Swallow coachwork photographed by Malcolm Asquith. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 554 pixelsFull resolution (964 × 667 pixel, file size: 99 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) 1931 Austin 7 with Swallow coachwork photographed by Malcolm Asquith. ... Sir William Lyons (born 1901, died 1985) was a British automobile designer and the founder of the Jaguar car company. ... 1931 Austin 7 Swallow saloon The Swallow Sidecar Company was founded by William Walmsley in Blackpool, England to make motor cycle sidecars. ...


With its bright two-tone colour scheme and a style in befitting more expensive cars of the time, together with its low cost (£175), the Swallow proved popular and was followed in 1928 by a saloon version: the Austin Seven Swallow Saloon.


Approximately 3500 bodies of various styles were produced up until 1932 when Lyons started making complete cars under the SS brand. The SS badge] SS Cars Ltd was a British car maker. ...


Such was the demand for the Austin Seven Swallows that Lyons was forced to move in 1928 from Blackpool to new premises in Coventry. It was, in part, the success of the Swallows that laid the foundations of what was to become, by 1945, Jaguar Cars [7] [8] For other uses, see Jaguar (disambiguation). ...

Licenced production

Versions of the Austin 7 were made under licence by American Austin from 1930, Dixi (later BMW) in Germany from 1927 and Rosengart in France from 1928. In addition, chassis and running gear were exported to Japan and Australia to have locally made bodies attached. The American Austin was a United States version of the Austin Seven automobile manufactured by the American Austin Car Company from 1930 to 1937. ... The BMW Dixi is a car. ... Lucien Rosengart (January 11, 1881, Paris, France - July 27, 1976) was a French engineer. ...


Body Styles [2]

Tourers

Austin 7 Chummy Tourer 1929
Austin 7 Chummy Tourer 1929
Type Name Description From To
XL prototypes 1922
AB Aluminium body four seater 1922 1924
AC 1924 1926
AD Four seater 1926 1929
AE Four seater. Two inches wider than AD 1929 1929
Two seater 1929 1930
AF Steel bodied Four seater 1930 1932
AH Pressed steel body. Four seater 1932
AAK Open road Tourer Cowled radiator 1934
AH Pressed steel body. Four seater 1932
PD Two seater 1934
APD Opal Two seater 1934 1936
AAL Open Road Tourer Covered spare wheel 1935
AH Pressed steel body. Four seater 1932
APE New Opal Two seater 1936

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Saloons

Austin 7 Box Saloon 1933
Austin 7 Box Saloon 1933
Austin 7 "New Ruby" saloon
Austin 7 "New Ruby" saloon
Type Name Description From To
R Aluminium or fabric saloon 1926 1927
RK Aluminium or fabric saloon 1927
RL Steel saloon 1930
RG Fabric saloon 1930
RN Long wheelbase steel saloon
RP 1932
ARQ Ruby Saloon 1934
ARR "New" Ruby Saloon 1936

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ...

Cabriolet

Austin 7 Pearl Cabriolet 1935
Austin 7 Pearl Cabriolet 1935
Type Name Description From To
AC Pearl Cabriolet version of ARQ Ruby. 1934
ACA "New" Pearl Cabriolet version of ARR New Ruby. 1936

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Sports

Austin 7 Ulster 2-Seater Sports 1930
Austin 7 Ulster 2-Seater Sports 1930
Austin 7 Nippy 2-Seater Sports 1934
Austin 7 Nippy 2-Seater Sports 1934
Type Name Description From To
50 mph Aluminium bodied. Long tail 1926
E Super Sports Aluminium bodied. No doors 1927 1928
EA Sports Ulster Aluminium bodied. No doors
EB 65 Type 65 Aluminium body, steel wings. Rounded tail. 1933 1934
AEB Nippy All steel 1934 1937
EK 75 Speedy Aluminium body. Pointed tail.
AEK Speedy Redesignation of EK 75 1935

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Coupés

Type Name Description From To
Type B Upper body fabric. 1928 1931

Vans

Type Name Description From To
AB, AC and AD Converted tourer 1923 1927
AE 1929 1930
RK Converted RK saloon
RM Converted RL saloon
RN Converted RN saloon
RP Converted RP saloon 1933
AVH
AVJ and AVK Converted Ruby 1939

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Austin 7
  • Andy's Austin Seven Page Contains details of Austin Seven Clubs, events, suppliers of spare parts and books.
  • The Cornwall Austin 7 Club website

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ...

References

  1. ^ Baldwin, N. (1994). A-Z of Cars of the 1920s. Devon, UK: Bay View Books. ISBN 1-870979-53-2. 
  2. ^ a b c d Mills, Rinsey (1996). Original Austin Seven. Bideford, Devon: Bay View Books. ISBN 1-870979-68-0. 
  3. ^ Classic Motor Monthly: The Super Accessories
  4. ^ The Austin Seven Special
  5. ^ Austin 7 Special
  6. ^ Georgano, N. (2000). Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. London: HMSO. ISBN 1-57958-293-1. 
  7. ^ Sedgwick, M. (1989). A-Z of Cars of the 1930s. Devon, UK: Bay View Books. ISBN 1-870979-38-9. 
  8. ^ Jaguar History: Swallow Sidecar Company (Retrieved 18 July 2007)

  Results from FactBites:
 
CarStuff: Driving Today (1154 words)
The Austin 7 had a wheelbase of just 75 inches, more than two feet shorter than the Model T. Its 40-inch track was also exceedingly narrow, and at 794 pounds it weighed little less than half of a typical Ford of its era.
His "Baby Austin," as it was called, was equipped with an in-line water-cooled four cylinder with a displacement of just 747 cubic centimeters — in other words, three-quarters of a liter.
On the other hand, because the Austin 7 chassis could be had so cheaply, it very often became the subject of a new body from an outside coachbuilder.
Austin: Weather and Much More from Answers.com (5305 words)
Austin was selected as the capital of the Republic of Texas in 1839 and became the permanent capital of the state of Texas in 1870.
Austin is administered by a city council of seven members, each of them elected by the entire city, and by an elected mayor under the mayor-council government system of municipal governance.
Austin is well known as a center for liberal politics in a generally conservative state, leading some Texas conservatives to deride the city as "The People's Republic of Austin." Austin's suburbs, especially to the west and north, and several satellite municipalities, however, tend toward political conservatism.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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