KNOW YOUR PEARLS

As an Austin Seven Pearl owner of more than 23 years, I have always collect-ed snippets about their history. The AC Pearl Cabriolet was introduced soon after the ARQ Ruby, in August 1934, and cost 7% more. It was basically a version of the Ruby de-luxe saloon with a retractable fabric roof but retain-ing glass side windows, in contrast to the AAK “Open Road Tourer” which had removable side screens. Once production got going, one Pearl was be-ing produced for every twenty Rubies. As with many car body styles, “Cabriolet” has its origins in the era of horse drawn vehicles, and referred to a light carriage with a retractable roof. The French word cabriole means an agile goat’s jump or caper! Apart from the roof and smaller rear side windows, the AC Pearl body was pretty much identical to the ARQ Ruby but with some added niceties like a driv-er’s door mirror. To cope with low sun there was a fearsome looking hinged tinted visor above the wind-screen on the driver’s side. These would give a modern day Health and Safety in-spector nightmares, and few are still fitted. The wood framing under the metal skin differs only in detail. Above the side win-dows are substantial wood-en cant rails for strength, tied together by a central metal cross tube for extra rigidity. The hood rolls back either part way or fully, and is then held in place with leather straps that engage with button head nuts on the side support irons. I am assured that these should be called “Landau Irons” and not “Pram Irons”. There is evidence that at least some of these were painted, mostly black. The back window is glass in a brass frame, and due to its weight there are a couple of little leather straps to stop it dragging down the hood when it’s open. The rear part of the hood has a fabric inner lining with horsehair padding, so it’s a cut above the typical single skin and feels snug for rear passengers when closed.

AC Pearls had their own body numbers, which ran from AC1 in August 1934 to about AC1600 in August 1936. I am aware of about 100 survivors of the “Mark 1” Pearl, which makes the survival rate about 6 percent, not bad for a cheap car. Available colours (each with contrasting fine lines) were mostly as per the Ruby: Royal Blue, Dove Grey, Westminster Green, Black and Cherry Red. The latter was only for Pearls, in place of Maroon. The most popular colour of the survivors is Cherry Red, which was also used for Nippies. I have reasons to believe that this was quite a dark red. For railway buffs, LMS “Crimson Lake” is quite similar. For some reason Austin’s publicity material showed these cars as a much brighter red, and this has misled paint restor-ers ever since.
In July 1936 the ARR “New Ruby” was introduced, with a more modern body style, a modicum of soundproofing and chassis updates such as a 3 bearing engine and much needed semi-Girling brakes. From September the Pearl got the new chassis but Herbert Austin (never one to waste anything) ensured that for several months the remaining few hundred AC style bodies were used up. These intermediate cars were still designated AC, but the body numbers became the same as the chassis number e.g. AC 249785. I’m aware of about 15 survivors of this type.

Finally in January 1937 the Pearl got a restyled and simplified body to match the ARR Ruby and became the ACA “New Pearl” (see comparison Motor Show photos). Gone were the Landau irons and the smaller rear windows, the hood being instead supported by an internal metal frame. The cross tube was also dispensed with. The back window became a little deeper and gained its own hinged supports. I am aware of about 100 survivors of the new Pearl, the last being registered in December 1938. Assuming a similar survival rate, about 1500 of these later cars must have been built. The col-our range didn’t change much, but the most popular colour for ACA Pearl survivors seems to be Westminster green. For 1938 the colour choice was cut back to Blue, Black or Grey.
It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if a few more Pearls turn up, people seem to have had a soft spot for them and kept the little gems tucked away for many years.

John Cornforth DA7C