Hot Rods Anyone build An Austin Seven (1930-ish) Hot Rod?

Love the single RR fender, to protect the driver's arm. Gosh, this is a beautiful car (along with the maroon one posted earlier).

 

Too small for my big, redneck self.

 

Give this a look: https://www.hotrodhotline.com/brandons-paper-bag-princess-1928-speedster#.Y4TYAZbMLIU

 

Here's a cool old one...

 

This one belonged to a club member quite a few years back, was powered with an English 4 cyl Ford Cortina engine and 4 speed box..

 

Hi Kiwi 4d, I think that was a Morris 8, owned by Jenny Audain in Thames, NZ..

 

Here is another one.
https://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/threads/baby-ruby.552615/unread

 

The ROCKET see Post #40

 

An A40 is way bigger than a A7! It's bigger by a fair amount than an A8 even.
My A8 is small enough inside that only some bucket seats will fit side by side, but an A40 is plenty roomy to fit any bucket seat side by side. I've got 42" door to door inside my A8 and my buckets are 19" wide, so the door handles press against my seats. I have to open the doors to move my seats forward or back, and then close them.

 

ROCKET again....out for a cold spin on Boxing Day.

 

Ed Taylor's Austin 7 roadster.

 

Austin Seven, Brooklands, Ulster, Specials, search would give you the British interpretation of a Hot Rod of the period.
Colin Chapman, the founder of Lotus Cars started off with an Austin Seven Special

https://tcct.com/news/2021/04/colin-chapman-and-lotus-four-stories-that-only-a-few-know/

There are some threads on Retro Rides Forum that may help, such as

https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/152938/austin-7-box-saloon
https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/89665/1935-austin-ruby-slingshot-coupe.

Try searching the UK based hot rod / modified car for more information it's there somewhere.

 

But, as the brochure shows- if you roof chop and lower it, it'll look much bigger than it actually is. Who knew the factory was it's own Custom source?

Phil

 

Norman Tigg , the Rocket , and the Stig at a UKHOTCAR meet.

 

More Norman and his Rocket.

 

First time poster longtime lurker. Blowby check messages.
I picked up a '33 Ruby shell and added a V8 60 to the parts pile. I fiddled with some chopped sketches and like the minimal chop.

 

Put me at the top of the list should you decide you aren't going to build it. Should make a nice ride!

Lynn

 

...I had a vision of 'Lotus Super 7'... lol

 

Now that I have finally started working on the Ruby, glad that this thread is being updated.

 

Damn SandCrab, does that body take me back. In my young and foolish days I saw a body just like that mounted on a trailer at an outdoor winter swap meet. Guy that had it guessed wrong on the weather(5 below) and was freezin' his ass off. Since the body was bolted to the trailer a deal was struck for the works. Plus, he'd used about 3 bazillion sheet metal screws to hold it all together. As I'm looking at it in my rearview mirror on the way home I realize it ain't gonna be a two seater for this boy. Long story short(I know, too late) ended up slicing and dicing a dj postal jeep for the roller part. Had a buddy of mine help me juice the chevII 4 banger(he used 'em in his midgets), and mounted everything but the drivers door and the hood/grill solid to the frame. Couple of 6" deep foot boxes, and as I recall my first double roller chain center steer setup handled the comfort. Used Olds Tornado rims to get the tires kinda close to the body and save me a shit ton of work. Fun little autocross car.

 

RJP, I remember one as the roof top advertisement of a wrecking yard on old Highway 40 leaving San Pablo in the '50's. I always liked the shape and 70 years later here it is.

 

That was a great post. I spent several hours downloading and reading that last night. Thanks. The article doesn't address the Jag rear in depth, but I installed an XKE IRS in a 1950 Austin Devon and the 52" track worked perfectly. The Ruby is so narrow I would expect it to require shortening the wishbone and halfshafts. I had planned on an narrowed 8" Ford, but may measure for another Jag rear.

 

I found this on Craigslist and had to add it to my stash. It had the floor and a firewall that my shell lacked and same rot on the doors, but again no frame. Someone had started to make a Phaeton out of it I guess. It has a decent grill, the dash and the luggage rack.

 

I'd build something like this if I had a rolling chassis.

 

The engine used in Reliant cars (some three wheelers) in England was developed from the Austin 7 motor and it's a common mod there. Not that you'll be able to find one in the States so easily.
Bit of a story here about owning a stock 7 Ruby....
https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/218561/1937-austin-ruby

 

I'd like to see how the power gets from the engine to the rear axle.

 

Here is a link from when I brought my '36 Ruby home.
https://www.austinsevenfriends.co.u...2&pid=9013&highlight=new+ruby+is+home#pid9013
It's getting close to 5 years ago. If the images don't load (Some kind of glitch going on, I'm trying to figure it out. They work in some browsers, others, not so good), right click them and you can see them in a new tab. Lots of pictures of the car and it's underpinnings. Austin Seven Friends is a GREAT resource, it's the Austin 7 community's H.A.M.B. . I have not done much with the car. I have other projects going on, I'll play with it when I can devote some real time to it. Right now, it's in my "showroom", with a Bolger Bobcat wooden sailboat (mast up and sail rigged ). It's worth what I paid for it, just to look at. Mike

 

I am purchasing a new project that may end looking somewhat like this. Still trying to decide on body style. Love these pics.

 

a 4 cylinder Cosworth ought to fit and move it along pretty good.

 

When did tiny British cars become Hamb friendly hot rods?