Austin Seven History

Herbert Austin designed and introduced the Austin Seven in 1922 as a real alternative to motor cycles and the mostly unreliable cyclecars of the period.  It is said that his wife felt sorry for families riding around on motorcycle combinations and instructed Herbert to build a “motor for the millions”.  The design incorporated in miniature features normally only found on the larger cars of the period and shared the usual Austin high quality materials and production methods.  The chassis was versatile enough to carry many different types of body and was used by many coachbuilding firms for their own designs – Burghley, Boyd-Carpenter, Mulliner, Gordon England, Swallow to name but a few.  The design was licensed to other manufacturers and was produced in France as the Rosengart, in Germany as the Dixi, which became BMW's first car, and in the USA as the American Austin later the Bantam.  Over the 16 years of production the design changed little from the first “Chummies” to the jewels – Ruby, Pearl, and Opal – of the late thirties.  The wheelbase was extended from 6’ 3” to 6’ 9” in 1932 and the engine grew more powerful as the bodies became heavier – 10bhp in 1923 to 17bhp in 1939.  Nearly 300,000 Austin 7s had been made when production ceased in 1939 giving way to the more modern Big Seven and Eight.  Over 7000 chassis are known to exist today.

From the outset the “Baby” proved its worth in competition.  In 1923 Austin sported a team of fabric bodied lightweight which raced at Brooklands and Boulogne.  E. C. Gordon England achieved some early successes and could lap Brooklands at over 80mph.  Herbert Austin was firmly felt that success in competition led to sales of production cars and maintained Austin’s presence in motorsport up to the war.  Austin works cars as well as many privately owned Sevens competed in races, hillclimbs, sprints, and trials.  The culmination of the racing Austin Seven was the exquisite Jamieson twin overhead cam single seat racer capable of 120mph from just 750cc.

Today Austins outnumber every other make of lightcar in vintage motorsport demonstrating their longevity and versatility.

Nigel Coulter - Brooklands Centre