Joined: Nov 2017 Posts: 209 Threads: 18
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Location: Kennet Valley
Car type: 1932/3 AH tourer
Be interested to hear people’s views as to whether an AH tourer is ‘classified’ as.a ‘Chummy’ or not? Discuss.
I have always thought of mine as a LWB Chummy, more tongue-in-cheek than for any other reason. Being 6’2” and a bit decrepit I couldn’t fit into a SWB Seven, hence buying the AH.
The reason for asking is that the Austin Brochure 930 (?) for September 1932 actually describes The Four Seat Tourer as just that.
Personally I am not bothered, but I am curious as I’ve not heard the AH referred to in that way before.
True satisfaction is the delayed fulfilment of ancient wish
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 2,930 Threads: 160
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Location: Sherwood Forest
Car type: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
The term 'chummy' was a generic name given to any close-coupled four-seat tourer, and was used in the 1920s to describe a wide variety of makes of car - indeed Morris actually used it as an official name for one of their models. I don't think the term is appropriate for the long-wheelbase Seven which, in its day, was considered a full four-seater.
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 982 Threads: 97
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Location: Cheshire
It is definitely a LWB Chummy (no dickey seat), so long as that isn't anachronistic or an oxymoron?
Joined: May 2018 Posts: 1,918 Threads: 102
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Location: Llandrindod Wells
Car type: 29 Special, 30 RK, 28 C Cab
Hi Bob
I think you’ve answered your own post by not being bothered.
Similar arguments have raged about Top Hats (is an RK a top hat?) and even Ulsters.
I think owners should refer to their cars as they wish. If it causes the purists to shake their heads then so be it.
As Grey Mag editor I look forward to a mountain of “letters to the editor” decrying my views.
Cheers
Howard
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 858 Threads: 47
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Location: North Wiltshire
Car type: 1927 Chummy, 1926 Top Hat 1938 Big Seven 1/2 a Trials Chummy
I ran our AH tourer for fifteen years in the nineties and noughties, it was always referred to as "The Tourer", having a completely different feel and driving experience to a Chummy.
Joined: May 2018 Posts: 2,799 Threads: 533
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Location: Peak District, Derbyshire
Car type: 1929 Chummy, 1930 Chummy, 1930 Ulster Replica, 1934 Ruby
The AH is really, as Mike points out, a proper 4-seater. The short-wheelbase AF (mid-1930 onwards) and AG have rather more width than the previous models - and hence are more suited to today's more heavily built (fat) people - but I still regard them as being of the "proper" Chummy type.
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 444 Threads: 13
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Location: Dunchurch, Warwickshire
A lot of people consider that a Chummy has the smaller doors and a Tourer has the larger square doors.
