Austin seven ulster

[Murieta]

Hi all,

I would suggest creating a prewar thread, notably for Austin sevens as they have been produced in the US as "American Bantam".
It could care about any prewar british car and use will show the most popular models ....

Murieta, que bonito ...

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Welcome to you, Murieta!

Do you have a Seven? Pictures, please!


Mickey

 

[Murieta]

Hi Mickey,

Photo is in the "new member" thread.

Now the bad part: I can't find the right trim (semi-hard rubber thingie, about 1" diameter) to protect the edge of my cockpit and stop hurting me against said edge. Would anybody know a US retailer/supplier that would make that kind of trim?

Thanks in advance

 

[Deleted member 8987]

Plumbing pipe insulation?

 

[Roger]

Are you familiar with the Austin Seven Friends website? I'd suggest you ask the question in the forum there.

I do know exactly the trim you mean!

The Austin Seven was produced in the USA as "American Austin" or "Bantam", by the way, and Jack French, who ground your camshaft, was my father. I have a real Austin Seven heritage, though no seven at the moment.

 

[Roger]

By the way, are you the chap I've seen, on another web site, who lives in L'Hay les Roses? I ask only because I used to live in France, not too far from there, and worked in Montrouge.

 

[Murieta]

Hi Roger,

Small world indeed. Yes I live in L'Hay les Roses. What were you doing in Montrouge? Apart from the school of Dentistry I don't know much about this suburb.

I'm familiar with the A7 site you mention but did not get any help from it. I am also on the Austin seven owners club forum but it's not very kicking either. I toured the BCF forum in hope for pre-war stuff but you're the only serious contact I got so far. No big hurry but I need to cover "Austerlite" for rain so I think I'm going to make that liner plus tonneau myself with some local "Home depot" help ....
Not anybody can boast A7-linked genetics such as yours. My dad was driving Amilcar specials but they are out of reach for me nowadays.

You must refer in your post to the TR Register forum. That's my favorite place. The guys are really top notch mechanics and drivers and they do have an uncanny sense of humor coupled with a great expertise in avoiding good taste and style with ultimate grace. We had a forum meet at the last 2010 TRR intn'l week-end in Malvern and it was a real gas.

Cheers,

 

[Roger]

I'm a bit surprised that Austin Seven Friends couldn't comeup with anything. There;s a few well-known suppliers and builders and they're a very knowledgeable bunch of guys. A few Ulster-owners too!
I worked for Schlumberger in Montrouge, on a couple of different assignments, andlived in Ville d'Avray, Garches, and Bailly at different times. Great part of the world.
I love those 6-cylinder twin-cam Amilcars, GP cars in miniature, but rare as can be and pretty much priceless today.

 

[Murieta]

Yes, I was quite disappointed.
I get most of my seven stuff from Tony Betts (County Austins) or David Cochrane (A7 components) and also from Ebay UK. I just got a remote gearshift lever and Bowdenex period cable brakes. I am now trying to turn my rear axle into semi-girling, but I want to keep the cables and 17" wheels. No Morris Minor parts for me.
The only modern part I accepted was a Supaloy head and a Bosch dizzy. My twin 1" SUs and manifold is correct prewar material.

I have a good friend (now retired) who worked for Schlumberger, named Georges Gauchet, a wonderful photographer. May be you knew him. He was hard not to notice on account of his Algeria war tattoos.

Cheers,

 

[Murieta]

As a sequel to this and a private mail with Roger French, I'd like y'all to know I am interested in any austin seven racing bit you may wish to part with.

Right now, I am looking for a remote gearshift (4-speed gb) and a tonneau cover, among other things.

Cheers,

 

[equiprx]

Some where in my Rolex Monterey Historics photos is a pic of 'The little bastard' Austin Seven Special, that raced there in 2008. Came away with my personal 'best of show'.

 

[aeronca65t]

Some where in my Rolex Monterey Historics photos is a pic of 'The little bastard' Austin Seven Special, that raced there in 2008. Came away with my personal 'best of show'.

This one?

 

[Deleted member 8987]

As a sequel to this and a private mail with Roger French, I'd like y'all to know I am interested in any austin seven racing bit you may wish to part with.

Right now, I am looking for a remote gearshift (4-speed gb) and a tonneau cover, among other things.

Cheers,

Funny what jars one's memory. Somewhere I think I still have a Hot Rod magazine from late 40's or early 50's, telling one how to fix their open-fendered 32 or whatever with a side-mounted shifter trans, to a LHD, but RHD type floor shift, using a Ford column shifter from 1940-1950, so you can keep in practice during the week shifting with your left hand, so when you go racing with your TC on the weekend, you'll be all set.

Sorry.

 

[equiprx]

Some where in my Rolex Monterey Historics photos is a pic of 'The little bastard' Austin Seven Special, that raced there in 2008. Came away with my personal 'best of show'.

This one?

I don't think so, it sat a lot higher, don't remember a such a prominent roll bar and the rear leaf springs were wrapped with jute or hemp. I could be all wet about the name on the car also. Mind is been very addled lately but I did love that car.

 

[Murieta]

Sure is a great little racer. I'm trying to keep things more "pre-war" or discreet for my car.
BTW, it's named Austerlite because it's an Austin, with a Ulster replica alloy body (light) and if you fuse the words you get Aust-ster-lite which also refers to the Austerlitz battle where my ancester Josef Falk got the french citizenry together with his "Legion of Honor" medal. Bit of familial "infantry humor" there ...

Cheers,

 

[aeronca65t]

......I don't think so, it sat a lot higher......

These are all "Monterey 7s": there's probably others.

And because they are "specials", they may have been built long after WW II.

Still, they are neat little ankle-biters.

(<span style="font-style: italic">by-the-by--your "little bastard" term sounds like the name for James Dean's Porsche: the one he died in</span>)

 

[PAUL161]

......I don't think so, it sat a lot higher......

These are all "Monterey 7s": there's probably others.

And because they are "specials", they may have been built long after WW II.

Still, they are neat little ankle-biters.

(<span style="font-style: italic">by-the-by--your "little bastard" term sounds like the name for James Dean's Porsche: the one he died in</span>)

Has any of these come up for sale? PJ

 

[Roger]

Nial's right, many of these cars have been built post-WW2, many indeed since the 70s or whenever it was that a class for racing such cars came into being in the UK. They're not eligible for Vintage racing, mostly, so are a bit specialised and still fetch high prices. Buy in the UK and ship over if your pockets are deep.