Lot 029: Austin Seven Pick-up

First registered in April 1933, DE 9289 started out in life as an ordinary Austin Seven Box Saloon. Three owners and 65 years later it fell into the hands of the current vendor who had far more ambitious plans for it. A professional mechanic and car restorer, he lavished months of work and far more money than he cares to remember to turn it into something that never actually existed. For Austin never made a pick-up version of the dinky little Seven, but this is probably what it would have looked like if they had.Featuring a beautifully restored front end, cabin and chassis of the original car, the rest of the bodywork has been entirely designed and built from scratch to an impeccably high standard. To give it a bit more pep but keep it close to the spirit of the original, the 747cc Seven engine has been ditched in favour of an 850cc Reliant Robin OHV engine and gearbox. It comes complete with a modern V5 and its original buff log book.Said to drive beautifully and in show winning condition, this is a marvellously executed creation that would make a great promotional vehicle, a practical working tool or just a fun car for taking round the shows.