Austin 7 at 40 mph

[peteacher52]

Ah, yes! ... Having owned a '37 A7 in my youth, I very quickly learned that 40mph meant hair-raising moments when trying to rein the steed in! Those little jam tin brakes needed regular adjustment to keep them even half-way decent. Herbert Austin, the old plonker, said he deliberately made the brakes that way because, he said, good brakes don't encourage good driving skills.

Yeah right!

Thanks for a nostalgic video.

[Concordemoment]

AAAHHHHHHHHAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH­HH

[sexteta]

Scary thought, i'm sure it's possible if the engine was on top form, plus the Ruby will be at least 8 years younger than this particular chummy. I wouldn't like to be a passenger though!

The Austin 7 racers have super chargers taking them to 75mph, although they look like bullets. Some good vids of them on YouTube.

[thomasking55]

I was talking to a friend of mine who in the late 1950s took a Ruby up to 55 - 60mph on the brand new M1 motorway to London. Any thoughts?? At a certain speed the steering the entire steering chain would violently shake until you sped up..

[sexteta]

No it's a four seater tourer, however it had just started raining so the lid was up.

[toad4eva]

that a box saloon? fantstic car i'll be getting one soon

[sexteta]

I've never been more scared than going at speed in that car. It's like sliding down the Cresta run on a tea tray.

[ChomuSclavus]

40? This looks far faster than 40. You appear to be going 90 MPH. At least.

[adn29]

I'd really like to see an Austin 7 that can do 90! That'd be rather impressive. And totally impossible.

[sexteta]

Yes it's a particularly clever chummy. Very confusing if you're driving it and it just switchs like that.

[littlehilldog]

oh look an E.U. compatable chummy l.h.d. and r.h.d. but will it h.p.i.