RESEARCHING THE HISTORY OF YOUR AUSTIN SEVEN PART 3
The Austin Seven Factory
Ledgers were rescued from a clear out at Longbridge but unfortunately, they only
cover very specific car number and are currently held at the British Motor
Museum Gaydon, below is an extract from the Association Book Identifying Austin
Seven from their Factory Initials. The book is currently available to download
from their website and is a useful book to understand the difference in the
Austin Sevens.
“The ‘Car No.’ was an Austin Works Ledger number by which the factory or garage
could identify all assembled cars after engines had been fitted, tested and
passed. Some cars had replacement engines before they had even left the factory.
One saloon of 1929, was recorded to have had five engines replaced before it was
allowed to leave. The "Heritage" records known to survive are for just four
sequences of cars:
31st Jan - June 1929 A8 series Chassis 77535 - 87433 A8
101 - A8 9999
June - Oct 1929 A9 series Chassis 87434 - 97332 A9 101 - A9-9999
March - Sept 1930 B1 series Chassis 107228 - 117126 B1 101 - B1 9999
Jan - May 1931 B3 series Chassis 127026 - 136924 B3 101 - B3 9999
A search for information and the issue of a ‘Heritage
Certificate’ for a specific ‘Car Number’ is available on request”.
Due to the very limited number of records held, Austin cars from 1929—1931 are
not listed on the Museums website, but they do have the records above, just
email / phone them.
But what information is available and what do you get?
There
are two main types of certificate, Standard Heritage Certificate or a Premier
Heritage Certificate. For the Premier certificate you have the option to have a
photo provided by you added to the certificate. The opposite page shows a
Heritage Certificate for an Austin Seven on the Factory Ledger, which confirmed
the engine number, body and trim colour from the factory, also factory fitted
sunshine roof.
The Certificate records the build date as Wednesday 10
September 1930, sent to bodyshop Thursday 11 September and the buff log book
shows first registration on the Monday 22 September 1930, one week to build and
register the car, so they didn’t hang around.
If you are unsure if you want to pay for the certificate, you can arrange to
visit the Museum and inspect the ledgers.
Doulas Alderson DA7C