Lot 015: DF 3753 Austin Seven Mulliner Saloon

Brainchild of Herbert Austin and Stanley Edge, the Austin 7 looked almost impossibly small when launched in 1922. Occupying the same 'footprint' as a motorcycle and sidecar combination, it nevertheless boasted all the advantages of a 'full-size' motor car. Responsible for helping motorise Britain while simultaneously sounding the cyclecar industry's death knell, the baby Austin was brilliantly yet simply engineered. Based around an 'A-frame' chassis equipped with all-round leaf-sprung suspension, four-wheel drum brakes and a spiral bevel back axle, it was powered by a sewing machine-esque 747cc sidevalve four-cylinder engine allied to three-speed manual transmission. Available in a bewildering number of guises, the 7 remained in production until 1939. H&H is indebted to the vendor for the following description: "I understand that the car was last licensed during 1955 and as such has never been submitted for MOT testing. It was stored in good conditions until about two or three years ago. The body and interior have recently been the subject of some sympathetic refurbishment by Brian Purvis, author of the Austin Seven book, who describes 'DF 3753' as 'possibly the most original Mulliner Austin Seven he has ever seen'. The car appears to be in sound overall condition". Finished in brown with beige cloth upholstery, this utterly delightful Seven is said to "run well". A real timewarp, it is worthy of, and rewards, close inspection.