59 Austin Seven
Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 9:48 pm
I have started a thread on this car on the early mini forum but A lot of you don't post there so here it is also.
I have recently bought a Oct 59 Farina Grey Austin Seven so thought I better start a thread. My Sep 59 Morris has been pushed back in the cue as this car is far more complete and easier to do.
I bought the car from a elderly Gentleman here in Christchurch, NZ who has owned it for about 15 years. He bought it from a deceased estate and had planned to restore himself but hasn't got round to it. The estate he bought it from has had it over 30 years. In total its had 7 owners and all lived in Christchurch, NZ.
In Oct 59 it was sent to Wellington (Austin Plant) in CKD form and assembled there ready for the Mini Launch here at the start of 1960. Morris Cars were sent to Auckland. I have the original ownership papers, original hand book and a handy Austin Seven workshop manual.
The guy I bought it from said it was a runner when he bought it. Hes taken it to bits and had the shell bead blasted. Thats about as far as he got. I've not gone through all the parts yet but everything i've checked so far is dated 59, (starter motor, dynamo, ignition switch, wiper motor, radiator, fuse box, voltage regulator, distributor, floor dip switch, horn) Interestingly though most is dated Sep or Oct 59 which is right A few bits are dated Nov or Dec 59. I wonder if some parts were stamped with dates ahead of their time in the UK as they did not know exactly when cars would be assembled? Otherwise its just items been replaced very early in the minis life which is also possible knowing how much stuff went wrong on the earlier cars.
I'll put up some photos I took today and update when I have progress. Progress will be slow I think.
The shell for being 55 years old is very good but does need quite a bit of little welding. There are alot of pin holes from rust mainly in front floors. The brackets / bolts are still attached to the floor where there would have had it on a jig in the factory. The interior is all there except carpet. The cards are fleck but have had nice brown vinyl glued over them! I hope to be able to rescue them.
The front seats are very tatty but the rears are much better. I hope to rescue rather then buy newtons stuff. My last Clipper blue mini had mainly newtons stuff and although its nice, just isn't the same. I have some issues with their fleck material.
I have recently bought a Oct 59 Farina Grey Austin Seven so thought I better start a thread. My Sep 59 Morris has been pushed back in the cue as this car is far more complete and easier to do.
I bought the car from a elderly Gentleman here in Christchurch, NZ who has owned it for about 15 years. He bought it from a deceased estate and had planned to restore himself but hasn't got round to it. The estate he bought it from has had it over 30 years. In total its had 7 owners and all lived in Christchurch, NZ.
In Oct 59 it was sent to Wellington (Austin Plant) in CKD form and assembled there ready for the Mini Launch here at the start of 1960. Morris Cars were sent to Auckland. I have the original ownership papers, original hand book and a handy Austin Seven workshop manual.
The guy I bought it from said it was a runner when he bought it. Hes taken it to bits and had the shell bead blasted. Thats about as far as he got. I've not gone through all the parts yet but everything i've checked so far is dated 59, (starter motor, dynamo, ignition switch, wiper motor, radiator, fuse box, voltage regulator, distributor, floor dip switch, horn) Interestingly though most is dated Sep or Oct 59 which is right A few bits are dated Nov or Dec 59. I wonder if some parts were stamped with dates ahead of their time in the UK as they did not know exactly when cars would be assembled? Otherwise its just items been replaced very early in the minis life which is also possible knowing how much stuff went wrong on the earlier cars.
I'll put up some photos I took today and update when I have progress. Progress will be slow I think.
The shell for being 55 years old is very good but does need quite a bit of little welding. There are alot of pin holes from rust mainly in front floors. The brackets / bolts are still attached to the floor where there would have had it on a jig in the factory. The interior is all there except carpet. The cards are fleck but have had nice brown vinyl glued over them! I hope to be able to rescue them.
The front seats are very tatty but the rears are much better. I hope to rescue rather then buy newtons stuff. My last Clipper blue mini had mainly newtons stuff and although its nice, just isn't the same. I have some issues with their fleck material.
