New here - 1931 RN Saloon

[Maxwelton]

Due to a lack of good judgement on my part, I have added another car to my "cavern of shame" (ie, unfinished projects and far-too-infrequently-used cars and bikes), this c. 1931 RN Box Saloon, shoehorned into the "storage" side of my shop:

   

I wonder if it's new to this forum as a printout of a thread from this place was in the stack of paper included with the car. I did a search to see if anyone else from Whidbey Island in Washington state in the US (where I am) had posted, but did not see it.

In any case, here's a couple of other general shots (please excuse the "novelty" fake uk plate on the back, not my gig):

   
   

A trio of friends bought this car about a decade ago from the estate of the prior owner. My friends did nothing with it, and decided to sell...but the car needs work, not interesting to any of them. They were going to pay me to do that work, but quickly came to the conclusion it would be easier and more "profitable" to just hand the Seven over to me and let me worry about getting it going. Fair enough, I'll just add it to my "get to it soon" pile.

   
   

The original black headlamps are in the spares, in "needs work" condition. I don't know what model these chrome lights are from, again very low on my list of things to attend to.

The guy from a decade ago seems to have done at least an ok job on the coachwork and the interior (though many detail tasks remain), but the mechanical side is unknown...though in theory the engine is "rebuilt". The clutch is MIA with the pedal flat on the floor. The electrics are diabolical and need to be completely redone, which is ok, as I kinda enjoy auto electrics.

This is car M145631 (it's titled as such, in any case). I'd be curious for your feedback as to how correct the details are.

This is the manifold and carb from a later machine, isn't it? I'm not too worried about it if, when I get to it, it runs OK with this setup. (I believe I may have most of the original carb in the small amount of spares, but not the original manifolds.)

   
   

I think I have the missing panels which cover the transmission.

I have no real history on the car; there is an AA badge from Rhodesia (of all places) in the spares box, but it doesn't seem all that likely this machine spent time there, but maybe?

Anyway, I have some pieces I would like to identify, I hope to post a few pics at some later time. This is probably enough from me for now!

[Maxwelton]

I think my earlier "car number" is wrong, not sure where that one came from. I got the acetone out and did some archaeology this evening and discovered this:

   

As you can (maybe) see, the chassis is 144781.

The number on the other tag is B4 7980, I'm not sure what that one calls out. Body number? Engine?

[bob46320]

What you need Max is the Austin 7 Source book - see the SALES section for some bargains.
https://www.austinsevenfriends.co.uk/for...p?tid=9887

Time limited offer
Bob46320

[Mike Costigan]

It's unlikely that the clutch is actually MIA; far more likely is the clutch pedal needs tightening onto the cross-shaft (in the right position!).

The Car Number and Chassis Number plates match, the 'M' number you quote is the engine number, and is almost certainly the original to the car. Austin Sevens are usually identified by the chassis number, but the Austin Motor Company always quoted the Car Number, which was the final number issued to the completed car, effectively what we would now call the VIN number.

[Maxwelton]

Thanks, Bob, I'll look at your listing. I do have a few books already, namely the Original 7 book by Mills, the Brooklands Books reprints of road tests and the like, plus the big manual by Woodrow and the two period artifacts below were with the car. One has a 1932 printing date and the other 1936. The handbook is in several pieces and well-loved (or tossed about in frustration, either is possible...no blood on it, though!) but the spares book is in good shape. The factory doesn't answer when I ring, though.

   

There was one receipt with the car, shown below, showing the car has probably been here in Washington for a good long while, predating both the creation and dissolution of the Rhodesian state, so that AA badge I mentioned above is probably someone's affectation (and not a great one, given the history there).

   

Shocking prices! Also included was this instruction sheet for the rings which went into the machine (I assume), with a letter written on the back in longhand:

   
   

Use of "daddy" in a letter from a presumably adult child is...charming? and so outside the relationship I had with my own father it caught me off guard.

[Dave Mann]

My records show that you motor was owned by G Downing in 2000 in Washington. The clutch pedal is secured to the clutch shaft with a cotter pin installed from above a fiddly job, if installed from below will move the pedal nearer the floor.

[Tony Griffiths]

Dave Mann is the leading expert on this model and will, I know, be pleased to help you with any questions you may have.

[bob46320]

The RN number should be stamped on the tunnel just behind the handbrake lever.

[Maxwelton]

I did find that number:

   

Does that look like RN 105?

[Tony Griffiths]

Welcome to the mad world of the Austin 7. As you are new to the car, here's some background that I hope you'll find useful - there is, of course, even more if you search online:
CLUBS:
There are so many Austin 7 clubs that, in 1969, an association of them was formed - and this is now the go-to place that hosts a mass of important data: https://a7ca.org/ It's a large site with lists of clubs, a superb archive of historical data, reproduction handbooks, chassis and car registers, A7 history, A7 model identification, events, etc, - explore the A7CA website: https://a7ca.org
The page that links to the most important sections is: https://archive.a7ca.org/
DIRECT LINKS to HANDBOOKS, PARTS MANUALS, and SALES CATALOGUES
A comprehensive collection can be downloaded as PDFs: https://archive.a7ca.org/collections/han...rts-lists/
Sales brochures can be found here: https://archive.a7ca.org/collections/show-brochures/
The Pre-War A7 club has a useful Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pwa7c .... with other enthusiasts forming groups for specific models or regional interests.
As a club member, you will receive not only the club's magazine but also the Association Magazine, published quarterly since 1970 https://a7ca.org/about-us/magazine/
BACKGROUND and BOOKS:
To read the fascinating background to the car - with reproductions of the notebook by Stanley Edge, the design draftsman see: https://a7ca.org/austin-seven/the-people/
Austin 7 books can be bought from: http://www.pwa7c.co.uk/bookshop.php. This is a good collection of material, including historical and technical literature with data on specific models such as the Type 65 and Nippy, Grasshopper and Ulster, etc.
For engine, other mechanical work and restorations one highly recommended business with personal attention, vast experience of the Seven and much helpful advice is: http://www.albaaustins.co.uk
IS YOUR AUSTIN 7 ALREADY LISTED in the ARCHIVE?
The A7CA provides a list of known vehicles at https://a7ca.org/chassis-register/ Check to see if your car is listed (or to add it—that would be very useful). It includes versions by English Austin, American Austin and Bantam, German Dixi and BMW, and French Rosengart. You can search by Model Type and chassis, car, and registration numbers.
For new Austin 7 parts try these links - in no particular order of recommendation:
David Cochraine at: https://www.a7c.co.uk/aboutus.php
Jamie Rogerson at: https://www.theaustinsevenworkshop.com/
http://austinrepro.com/ This company offers standard and also beautifully made, difficult-to-find reproductions of headlamps, speedometers, rev counters and various items for standard cars and also the Swallow, Nippy, Ulster, etc:
For both new, used and some refurbished parts try:
Tony Betts at http://www.7ca.co.uk/ and http://www.southernsevens.co.uk
Ian Tillman at http://www.oxfordshiresevens.co.uk/welco...re-sevens/
A helpful link (though some parts are out of date) with details of other repairers, restorers, gearbox, suspension and bodywork experts, etc: https://oldcarservices.co.uk/austin-seven-specialists/ (some of these will be out of data)
The Cornwall Austin 7 Club's website is especially useful with lists of suppliers and much technical advice, etc. https://www.austin7.org/
If you want to know about 'Technical Data & Specifications', thread sizes, etc, this page will help: https://www.austin7.org/Data%20Pages/Tech%20Data/
For detailed information about the Austin 65 and Nippy Sports models see: https://aus7in.wordpress.com/
For detailed information about the Ulster Sports models see: https://ulster7.wordpress.com/
INTERESTING ODDS and ENDS
For 25+ pages of digitally restored, attractive and high-resolution Austin illustrations (that you can download and print out) see http://www.lathes.co.uk/austin7
Fitting indicators, a guide is available here: http://www.lathes.co.uk/austin-7-indicators
Improving the lights: http://www.lathes.co.uk/austin7-2/page18.html
For the 100th anniversary of the Seven's introduction in 2022, a thousand cars attended a special event: watch the film here: https://a7centenary.com/
Chassis Numbers: 
- most Sevens before the Ruby had the chassis number stamped to the nearside chassis rail just behind the rear engine bolt. This was accompanied by two narrow, aluminium plates riveted to the outside face of the nearside bulkhead; one stamped with the chassis number, the other the Car Number. 
In the UK, many Sevens were registered when new using the Car Number, not the Chassis Number (the Austin Motor Co. always asked for the Car Number, not the chassis number).
Stamped into the transmission tunnel just behind the handbrake (the rectangular cover plate for the latter might need removing to find it) is the 'Model Type,', e.g. AF, AE, RN, etc.
By 1936, most Sevens used a Car Number incorporating the chassis number; e.g. for the Nippy, the plate had the Car Number prefix AEB plus the body number - the latter stamped into the top of the transmission tunnel just aft of the handbrake.