15. Andy Lowe – 1930 Austin 7 Supercharged

Andy discovered this delightful Austin in 1978 and paid just £25 for it, and it was clear that he’d bought something rather special. There was once a supercharged engine and a body constructed from aluminium.

The car was soon stripped down and the engine, suspension and hydraulic brakes,,were rebuilt with the former benefitting from a host of modifications including a rare downdraught SU carburettor. The suspension was uprated with additional links and 15-inch wheels were fitted to replace originals that were of three different sizes. But in forty six years of ownership plenty more work has been carried out.

“The engine has been modified further and now features a Cozette supercharger,,although tracking down the necessary parts was quite difficult” says Andy. Other upgrades included a pressure-fed crankshaft and oil filter and a ten-stud cylinder block, and the car now benefits from an electric water pump. Unfortunately, replacing a broken crankshaft required additional work.

Andy goes on to explain that the Austin has been used for everything from holidays - the luggage rack at the rear came in very handy for camping equipment - to the work commute. And it has covered many miles on trips across the UK and Europe for rallies and tours.

Looking as charming as this it’s no surprise to discover that the car has received plenty of attention at major classic car shows, and it has also featured in books about the Austin 7. It is certainly eye-catching, and we are sure it’s going to have plenty of admirers at this year’s show.

“Although it no longer does any camping it still gets used for holidays, and I still enjoy attending plenty of events and race meetings. I’d definitely describe my time with the car as being 47 years of fun!”