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Wooden Austin
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Registration No. BS 9606
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Motor Cars
Wooden Austin
Home Motor Cars Automobilia Next Auction
Registration No. BS 9606
Chassis No. AJ 2233
Engine No. M 50329
Estimate £12,000 - £15,000
We are particularly pleased to offer the celebrated Wooden Austin in this sale. This is on account of a 40 year competition history, and in particular because it was originally built to provide fun for as many people as possible. You can read all about it in various Bulletins and in Bill Boddy’s account of his loan in the
December 1973 issue of Motor Sport.
This highly developed and proven car is one of the quickest road equipped Sevens in current use. The
blown engine now fitted takes full advantage of its handling and braking, making it a formidable road and
competition machine.
Builder and owner Sandy Skinner acquired the car as an abandoned 750 Formula project. The main
attraction was an advanced chassis layout using boxed side members, proper crossmembers and lowered springs and steering and the deal included all mechanical parts needed. The distinctive body, less
bonnet, had been completed on boatbuilding lines using top quality lightweight ply and modern adhesives: a 26 gauge stainless steel under skin strengthens the shell and keeps the rocks out on trials. A rare carrossier badge with the logo and initials of the Societe pour le Construction des Automobiles en Bois is on the fully instrumented dash.
The Wooden Austin first appeared on the road at the start of the 1970s with effective hydraulic brakes and a Big Seven front axle, the latter acquiring VSCC blessing. The aim was to use the much stronger axle beam and larger kingpins: the result, with no wheel camber and clever use of the flat front spring for sideways location, is uncanny road holding. One reactionary said ‘I hate it. It’s nothing like an Austin Seven’. Which was of course the whole point.
The original engine was neither special nor expensive. It was good enough to bring back pots in just about every form of VSCC competition except concours, of which the owner disapproved. At Prescott the owner managed second in class and first Vintage in pouring rain. A VSCC President put it very briskly up
Drumhouse and you can see its Welsh amphibious qualities in a photograph accompanying the article ‘The Joys of the Seven’ in the 1984 VSCC Golden Jubilee book.
In this form the Wooden Austin was lent to all comers including learners. A long term loan Jane Arnold-Forster was particularly successful: Jane collected the better part of a couple of dozen awards in everything from rallies and driving tests to hillclimbs and the Hour Blind.
In 1997, in work overload and with an approaching house move, the car was sold. Over the next eight years astonishing sums of money were spent, some wisely, and a supercharger was fitted. Tragically the original 1924 registration number was sold and the Austin now runs under a BS age related number. The car was repurchased in 2005 and much further work carried out.
The engine now has a full pressure fed Phoenix crank, Renault shell bearing rods, and a remote fullflow
filter with Cosworth relief valve. A ‘fast road’ camshaft is used with oversize inlets and a Whatmough-Hewitt alloy head with 18mm plugs. A bottom end rebuild has just been completed by Myall (Pigsty
Engineering) with new bigend shells and rear main bearing. The water pump is special and a double capacity header tank is used. Electrics are 12 volt and wiring is in place for an electric fan although this has proved unnecessary.
The Cozette type blower is by Rawson with revised drive arrangements and gives impressive torque as well as top end bhp. It delivers at about 4.5psi, which is regarded as quite enough on a road car using a standard block and crankcase. Ducted air and exhaust heat shields made a surprising difference to blower output.
The back axle was rebuilt by Vince Leake with a new David Cochrane 4.9:1 crown wheel and pinion and the gearbox presently fitted is a Vince Leake ultra close ratio four speed unit. This suits the engine and axle ratio perfectly but is not eligible for VSCC events: however, spares include two three speed boxes, one close ratio and the other standard Chummy for trials and Prescott.
Over the past five years much work has been carried out to ensure reliability and to allow the blown engine to deliver its full performance. Most of the hydraulics have been replaced, with Aeroquip used for all flexible lines. The steering was rebuilt last winter and various changes made to improve comfort: the steering rake is now less acute and the driver’s seat is adjustable, with room for a reasonably slim six foot conductor.
Flashing indicators with audible warning, a plug-in high intensity rear light and QI headlamps are
concessions to modern road use and there is even enough room for a soft bag and a Barbour jacket in the tail.
The car is ready to go, with a recent MoT certificate. There is a VSCC buff form, which will as usual have to be renewed on change of ownership, and a card from the then VSCC Secretary confirming that the car has been accepted as a Vintage Special with the Big Seven front axle. As well as extra gearboxes various small parts are included and there is a very complete history, engineering and maintenance file which includes details of all Myall engine work. The car also comes with a pair of 17in. wheels for possible trials use,
although its successes have been on 3.50X19 tyres.
The owner is now a bit old for speed events and has reluctantly concluded that he is losing the battle with arthritis. He hopes his creation will continue to provide a lot of people with a lot of fun.