11-05-2019, 10:56 PM
Ian,
When I referred to better cars of the Seven's era, I wasn't thinking of the direct competition, but cars like the Riley Nine or the Singer Bantam or indeed even more expensive beasts.
As you rightly point out, the rival cars, such as the Morris Minor and 8, and the Ford 8 came along well after Herbert Austin had started to build his small car for the masses, by which time the Seven's design was getting a bit dated but had nevertheless, caught the motoring public's attention, especially given the Sevens almost eight year head start.
That having been said, however, the rivals were not built in the same quantities as the Seven. There are still quite a few Morris's and Fords about and the survival rate is probably about the same in percentage terms.
I don't think I share your view of build quality. Whilst it is true that Austins were extremely well made cars, both the Morris's and the Fords were sturdily built and worthy cars in their own right (apart from the early fabric bodied side valve Minors).
What The Austin Motor Company did have going for it was the fact that they also built some quite 'up market' cars like the 16 and 20 hp models definitely aimed at the well to do middle classes. Morris built Wolseleys to cater for this market, whilst Fords were not interested in building cars for that sector of the market. So, the advertising slogan; "You buy a car but you invest in an Austin" worked as well for the humble Seven as it did for the more expensive models.
When I referred to better cars of the Seven's era, I wasn't thinking of the direct competition, but cars like the Riley Nine or the Singer Bantam or indeed even more expensive beasts.
As you rightly point out, the rival cars, such as the Morris Minor and 8, and the Ford 8 came along well after Herbert Austin had started to build his small car for the masses, by which time the Seven's design was getting a bit dated but had nevertheless, caught the motoring public's attention, especially given the Sevens almost eight year head start.
That having been said, however, the rivals were not built in the same quantities as the Seven. There are still quite a few Morris's and Fords about and the survival rate is probably about the same in percentage terms.
I don't think I share your view of build quality. Whilst it is true that Austins were extremely well made cars, both the Morris's and the Fords were sturdily built and worthy cars in their own right (apart from the early fabric bodied side valve Minors).
What The Austin Motor Company did have going for it was the fact that they also built some quite 'up market' cars like the 16 and 20 hp models definitely aimed at the well to do middle classes. Morris built Wolseleys to cater for this market, whilst Fords were not interested in building cars for that sector of the market. So, the advertising slogan; "You buy a car but you invest in an Austin" worked as well for the humble Seven as it did for the more expensive models.