More Austin Seven history

Sir,

Regarding the letter in December’s Motor Sport from Mr. L. A. Goldstone, I will try and shed a little light on the mystery.

There is little doubt that Staton Abbey was wrong when he said in “The Book of the Austin Seven and Eight” that the last chassis was produced in July 1938 and that its number was 290135. Although there are some small inaccuracies in “The Austin Seven” it is obviously much more thoroughly researched and I think Wyatt’s figures much more reliable.

Reference to the 750 Club’s Austin Seven Register bears this out. The highest chassis number is that of a van and is 290958. It was first registered on April 13th 1939 and as far as I know is the youngest Austin Seven to survive. The youngest saloon on the register has the chassis No. 289460 and was first registered on January 1st, 1939. Next in chassis no, order is a member’s Ruby whose chassis has the No. 289161 and was registered on November 16th, 1938. Another member has a Ruby Delux No. 287224 Which surprisingly wasn’t registered until January 1939! Perhaps a demo model.

Either way Mr. Goldstone’s is probably the Youngest A7 car and almost definitely Youngest tourer, though I have a Motor “1939 Car Review” dated January 24th 1939 which lists five Austin Seven models including the “Open Road Tourer” at £115, two-seater at £108 and the Pearl Cabriolet at £129. Incidentally, the price of the Austin Seven in its first full year of production, 1923, was £165. Inflation hadn’t been thought of in those days!

Stevenage KEN COOKE

Hon. Sec. Austin Seven Section 750 MC