Austin 7 information

Sir,

Mr. Goldstone (Vintage Postbag, November) asks about late Austin Seven chassis numbers. Staton Abbey is confused by the introduction of the Big Seven in July, 1938. In fact the Seven overlapped. Going back to source, though some Austin literature is not quite accurate, gives the following over this period.

One main change to the Seven in July 1938 was that the semi-Girling brake of the previous two years altered to full Girling on the rear only. (“Austin Cars 1936-1939”)

Mr. Goldstone’s “Tourer”, which has four seats, is the AAL body type and this along with the AC (cabriolet), APE (two-seater tourer) and ARR (Ruby saloon) are all listed as “ceased February, 1939”. (Austin Service Journal).

This information is beyond my usual brief and I have not the final chassis numbers listed in the literature I skimmed through to provide these notes.

Headstone DR. D. C. M. BURNS, Librarian, Austin Ten Drivers’ Club