Swallow I "Missed Out" On

[Maxwelton]

I mentioned in my thread introducing myself (I think) that the same estate which had the RN I eventually ended up with also had a Swallow saloon. A couple of folks have expressed an interest in any pictures of the swallow, and these couple of crummy snaps are what I have. I did not get any chassis info or anything else useful from the car because it was pretty clear the widow and her advisor had an elevated idea of its worth compared to its condition (and mouse population). I should have checked back in, they sold it for less than half of what I offered, without calling me, just to be rid of it a few months later.

   
   

And here's my car in situ in front of the Swallow. Can you smell the mouse pee? (This building was second-worst in that regard I've been in...the other was at an estate near the Oregon border which, I swear if the wind was right, you could smell up here, 180 miles away.)

   

Here's my car (not mine yet at that point) when my friend who was buying the RN removed the rear seat to check underneath:

   

[Robert Leigh]

I went to buy a Ruby once, and the owner had an inflated idea of its value. At inspection I lifted the rear seat and found rats, which surprised the owner. I made a low but I thought realistic offer which was not accepted, but I left my phone no. About a month later the phone rang: he wanted to accept my offer, but I told him my car was loaded for a holiday in France and I was leaving in a minute so I could not collect until my return. He said mine was the only offer, but it had to be cleared today, so no deal. I suspect it went to the scrap man.

[Ray White]

My wife had an Uncle who passed away having never finished the restoration of his Austin Swallow saloon. I had hoped that - knowing my interest in Swallows - the car would come to me. I would have paid a reasonable price for it, so you can understand my annoyance when I heard that his widow had given it away.!

[Stuart Joseph]

Many year’s ago I responded to an advert in the Exchange & Mart for Austin Seven parts for sale in Presbury Cheshire (known as Britain’s richest village). When I arrived I was shown a double garage filled with A7 parts including two A7 Swallows a two seater and a saloon. The asking price for the entire contents was £32!! I left with an oil pressure gauge for my Super Accessories as my father said we had nowhere to store the cars and parts.

[Reckless Rat]

Stories like this are the reason that we cherish the cars that remain, whatever their condition. When you think about how rudimentary and vulnerable their construction is compared to a modern car, it is truly amazing that so many still survive given the vagaries of climate, winter salt, wear, abuse and attrition.

Make the most of what you've got. We are now custodians for future generations of seven ownership