Austin 7HP
1909
Austin Seven Single
Cylinder Car
In 1909 Austin stared to work on a 7 hp single cylinder, by using
one cylinder-block from the 18/24 engine as a basis for a tiny
single-cylinder engine. This engine of 1099 cc produced 9 hp at
1300 rpm, it was installed in a very light frame. A prototype was
made at Longbridge to see if it was a practical vehicle to produce.
After evaluating the project it was decided some time after to send
the vehicle along with the drawings and body patterns to the Swift
works at Coventry. It was there in a separate department that
R.H.Every was put in charge of putting it into production. The
Swift Company which was controlled by Harvey Du Cros, had agreed
that the vehicle could be made at his factory. It appears that they
were badged as Austin and Swifts and according to records out of
the 1,030 produced 162 were Austin's. The car was sold for £150 but
it was not a success so after just two years from launched,
production ceased.
Single-cylinder
engine in chassis
FRONT
___________________________
REAR
Richard Dimbleby and Leonard
Lord at a VCC Meeting
One of the last versions
made