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+--- Thread: 1929 Austin Seven Van "Bella" (/showthread.php?tid=974)
1929 Austin Seven Van "Bella" - Ally Monce - 15-03-2018
Hello ,new on here ,having a 1929 Austin Seven Spanish bodied van which I am trying to restore ,riddled with woodworm which are long gone so am renewing the bits that matter.Having done all the mechanicals,stub pins,wheel bearings ,track rod ends etc, I started Bella up for the first time in over a year and she was running nicely until the cooling fan at the pillar decided to come loose with the spindle and lodge itself in the radiator .Do not know what parts I will require as yet as Bella is now in my back garden with a cover over her until I get the enthusiasm to work on her again cheers Ally
RE: 1929 Austin Seven Van "Bella" - Dave Prior - 15-03-2018
(15-03-2018, 12:25 PM)Ally Monce Wrote: Hello ,new on here ,having a 1929 Austin Seven Spanish bodied van which I am trying to restore ,riddled with woodworm which are long gone so am renewing the bits that matter.Having done all the mechanicals,stub pins,wheel bearings ,track rod ends etc, I started Bella up for the first time in over a year and she was running nicely until the cooling fan at the pillar decided to come loose with the spindle and lodge itself in the radiator .Do not know what parts I will require as yet as Bella is now in my back garden with a cover over her until I get the enthusiasm to work on her again cheers Ally
Hi Ally-
Out of interest, did the van come from a seller in Dover?
RE: 1929 Austin Seven Van "Bella" - Martin Prior - 15-03-2018
Hi Ally. Sorry for the commercial, but if you need any help with the woodwork, Dave and I (trading as Martin Prior and Son's Motor Works) are specialists in A7 timber components and kits. Please drop us a line if you need anything.
Is your van the one in the pictures? It was on sale a couple of years ago as a 1929 Austin Seven van with a complicated Spanish history.
RE: 1929 Austin Seven Van "Bella" - Ally Monce - 15-03-2018
(15-03-2018, 04:09 PM)Martin Prior Wrote: Hi Ally. Sorry for the commercial, but if you need any help with the woodwork, Dave and I (trading as Martin Prior and Son's Motor Works) are specialists in A7 timber components and kits. Please drop us a line if you need anything.`
Is your van the one in the pictures? It was on sale a couple of years ago as a 1929 Austin Seven van with a complicated Spanish history.
Hi Martin ,yes that is it and I am the mug that bought it however it has occupied my time as old cars are my thing .Yes it has a complicated foreign history and has had much make do and mend over its life with hydraulic brakes fitted,so I am continuing the make do and mend theme as and when I get in the mood .Have gone over all the mechanicals and was at the bodywork until the cooling fan spindle broke free and went into the radiator so will leave it for now
cheers Ally
RE: 1929 Austin Seven Van "Bella" - Martin Prior - 16-03-2018
Hi Ally.
This little car raised some heated discussion on the Forum and on Facebook when it was offered for sale.
There was a lot in the "back story" that raised more questions than answers.
I found a number of photos of it that suggested that although it has a 1929 A7 engine, there's a lot more Morris than Austin in it. Is this indeed the case?
On the plus side, it's a pretty little van and the body looks very well made. I'd be very interested to know more about it.
RE: 1929 Austin Seven Van "Bella" - Ally Monce - 16-03-2018
(16-03-2018, 07:46 PM)Martin Prior Wrote: Hi Ally.Hi Martin ,
This little car raised some heated discussion on the Forum and on Facebook when it was offered for sale.
There was a lot in the "back story" that raised more questions than answers.
I found a number of photos of it that suggested that although it has a 1929 A7 engine, there's a lot more Morris than Austin in it. Is this indeed the case?
On the plus side, it's a pretty little van and the body looks very well made. I'd be very interested to know more about it.
I have the heritage certificate which declares that she is an Austin however working on her I think that the front axle may be Morris as the king pins are larger diameter she also has a Morris radiator now badly punctured! and I believe a Morris 4 speed gearbox .She has hydraulic brake system and hydraulic dampers all round so all in is a bit of a mongrel .According to the certificate the original colour is Brown to which I intend to return it and stripping the dash back ii was Cream so will return it and the cabin to original Cream when I get round to it.She deceived as she looked better on photo than in the "flesh" More to follow cheers Ally
RE: 1929 Austin Seven Van "Bella" - Derek Sheldon - 16-03-2018
IT At one stage it was purportedly a Rosengart by the vendor, I was unable to support that idea. Glad to see that it has found a loving home
RE: 1929 Austin Seven Van "Bella" - Martin Prior - 16-03-2018
(16-03-2018, 09:32 PM)Derek Sheldon Wrote: IT At one stage it was purportedly a Rosengart by the vendor, I was unable to support that idea. Glad to see that it has found a loving home
I seem to remember that it was even more baffling, Derek. Wasn't it claimed to be a "prototype" produced by an un-named "sister company" of Rosengart?
Ally, sorry. I'm not trying to slag the van off, but it IS a very puzzling one. I suspect that the heritage certificate may have been issued on the strength of the engine number alone - it doesn't require any sort of inspection to get one.
Some photos showing the chassis would be very interesting.
RE: 1929 Austin Seven Van "Bella" - Mike Costigan - 17-03-2018
Are the two photos that Martin posted supposed to be of the same vehicle? There seem to be quite a few differences: the wheels, obviously, but they have different front bumper blades, the doors seem to be different, and even the slope of the windscreen appears to be different. Maybe someone in Spain produced a number of them?
RE: 1929 Austin Seven Van "Bella" - Martin Prior - 17-03-2018
(17-03-2018, 09:44 AM)Mike Costigan Wrote: Are the two photos that Martin posted supposed to be of the same vehicle? There seem to be quite a few differences: the wheels, obviously, but they have different front bumper blades, the doors seem to be different, and even the slope of the windscreen appears to be different. Maybe someone in Spain produced a number of them?
Yes Mike, I believe that it is the same car. When it arrived in the country it was pale grey-blue - there are other photos of it in 2013 in the same condition at http://vintageman.zenfolio.com/p686224276/h63F84DB1#h63f84db1 . In the first picture above, it happened to be in the background of a photo of another car that the dealer was selling. I believe that this is the guy that Ally bought it from and that he "improved" it before selling it on.
I wondered about the apparent difference in windscreen pitch, but I think this is an optical illusion due to having clipped the picture from a corner of a much larger one.