12-06-2020, 03:34 PM
I can only talk of my own experiences as a ageing novice to all things Austin Seven but I am besotted!
I purchased my A7 through my brother (a big seven owner) without ever seeing her, an early type 1936 Ruby, back in late 1983, whilst in my early thirties. For all intents and purposes a basket case, an empty shell on all fours but definitely not a runner.
I had never driven or ridden in one, but just had a real desire to restore an old car and a seven seemed to be an obvious choice.
My restoration started well, body off, complete rebuild of all mechanicals throughout, then like Andrew, my restoration stalled but in my case for nearly 30 years, children, finances, work etc and she just became a lot of stuff in the garage taking up room...however once retired I was able to complete her over a three year period finishing in late 2018. My dream of completing a full restoration fulfilled.
Now I cannot express in words the sheer joy it gives me every time I take her out of the garage.
I know she is not the finest restoration you will ever see, there will be those who will point out things that are not”correct”, but she is all my own work, she is a piece of history that I feel I have saved.
As Mike says, I am sure she will grow on you!
In terms of road use I have not driven her anywhere near as much as I would have liked to date, too many months lost last year to hospital procedures and now COVID 19 this year have somewhat hampered things, but I just get such a real kick out of driving her.
She is nothing like any modern, she has even acquired an old car smell even though all of the interior including all woodwork is new all because the original simply wasn’t there, she is not easy to drive, it is an effort, she is not quick, she is not quiet, but the smell of engine oil and fuel waft around delightfully and provided I do not have to use the brakes she is pure joy.
I have had her up to 50mph ........by the speedo ..... and was really pleased how smooth and stable she felt, personally I have not and would not take her out onto a motorway and avoid fast dual carriageways wherever possible.
But she is simply Ruby.
I purchased my A7 through my brother (a big seven owner) without ever seeing her, an early type 1936 Ruby, back in late 1983, whilst in my early thirties. For all intents and purposes a basket case, an empty shell on all fours but definitely not a runner.
I had never driven or ridden in one, but just had a real desire to restore an old car and a seven seemed to be an obvious choice.
My restoration started well, body off, complete rebuild of all mechanicals throughout, then like Andrew, my restoration stalled but in my case for nearly 30 years, children, finances, work etc and she just became a lot of stuff in the garage taking up room...however once retired I was able to complete her over a three year period finishing in late 2018. My dream of completing a full restoration fulfilled.
Now I cannot express in words the sheer joy it gives me every time I take her out of the garage.
I know she is not the finest restoration you will ever see, there will be those who will point out things that are not”correct”, but she is all my own work, she is a piece of history that I feel I have saved.
As Mike says, I am sure she will grow on you!
In terms of road use I have not driven her anywhere near as much as I would have liked to date, too many months lost last year to hospital procedures and now COVID 19 this year have somewhat hampered things, but I just get such a real kick out of driving her.
She is nothing like any modern, she has even acquired an old car smell even though all of the interior including all woodwork is new all because the original simply wasn’t there, she is not easy to drive, it is an effort, she is not quick, she is not quiet, but the smell of engine oil and fuel waft around delightfully and provided I do not have to use the brakes she is pure joy.
I have had her up to 50mph ........by the speedo ..... and was really pleased how smooth and stable she felt, personally I have not and would not take her out onto a motorway and avoid fast dual carriageways wherever possible.
But she is simply Ruby.