Taking stock (2)

1937 Austin Seven Ruby

converted to

Super Accessories - (Super 750) Special

• Chassis, back axle, steering, engine and transmission all from 1937 Austin Seven (955 UXF).
• Engine rebuilt by Alba Austins in Glasgow, Super Alloy head, twin 1-1/8” SU carburettors, custom exhaust.
• Front suspension: Bowden independent from the 1950's.

• Wheels 4-1/2” custom built by Barry Brown in Windygates, Fife.
• Racing seats manufactured by Hunts, USA.
• Fuel tank custom built by Simon Hall, SiFab Ltd Warwickshire.
• Custom roll over protection bar by Performance Protection.
• Bodywork by Reynolds Fabrications with the help of Aliblast and David Taylor, Linlithgow.
• “Cherry Bomb” exhaust.
• Radiator to fit custom cowl by Newquay Radiators, Cornwall.

To do:-

• Fit mudguards all round.
• Repair the bodywork removing unsightly holes.
• Lights and indicators before running on public roads
• Vintage tyres for car trials
• Aero-screen and rear view mirrors

The images shown above were taken just prior to entering the Monklands Sporting Car club Hill Climb event 27th August 2016.

Here is an Index page for the build

Seat belts

As part of the safety on this build seat belts have been conceived from the start. The lower mounts are on the chassis and the top mounts are part of the roll over protection.

Here is an Index page for the build

Creating a front body

The kit of parts I purchased did not include the front metalwork, all of that has had to be fabricated from scratch. Super Accessories never supplied the front metalwork as every car was different according  to their build guide from the 1950's.

Fortunately I had a good place to start in that I created the front skeleton of the car in tubular ERW steel box section on which I can now hang the alloy panels. I used ERW box as this I hope will help stiffen the chassis. I deliberately kept the design simple and very close to the original design. I therefore envisaged  only 4 main panels at the front.

1) Side panels 2 off with a bulge in the lhs to increase the foot well area and a cut-out for the SU carbs on the rhs.
2) Front bulkhead cover panel or instrument binnacle.
3) Bonnet (one piece).

The rear bodywork needs tidied up but that can wait for now the challenge is to enter an event this year.

I decided that both the side panels would be made from 1mm alloy and be wire edged to improve safety,stiffness and durability. The first image shows the usual starting point a cardboard model. I must have made a good job of the ERW fabrication because the cardboard model was sufficient for both sides.

Simple cardboard model is sufficient

Panells cut out and wire edged and protected with tape

First offering up rhs.

Bolted in place lhs

The bonnet

This part of the build was most feared by me as distortions in forming it would be most obvious to anybody looking at the car. I decided to make a "buck" to assist in this part of fabrication. A buck is necessary in order to try out the fabricated bonnet for shape before trimming it to length. The bonnet sits in the instrument binnacle and radiator recesses. The buck was made out of scrap bits lying about the workshop namely some scaffold poles and some angle iron left over from a motorbike packing case.

What started out as a cardboard model of the front side panels and the fabrication of a buck has resulted in a pleasing front bodywork.

Here is an Index page for the build