1938 Austin Seven Ruby Deluxe Berline

For years in the 1920s and 1930s the tiny Austin Seven was a best-selling little car. It set every standard of small packaging, it seemed cheeky, simple, and promised low cost motoring. In many ways, it was similar to the Mini which followed decades later. Initially on sale £165, (in the UK only the mass produced Ford Model T was cheaper,) so it provided unbeatable value for money.

Austin sold tens of thousands of these little cars every year. At first the tiny 747cc engine produced a mere 10.5bhp but this increased gradually over the years, culminating at 17bhp in the mid-1930s, by this time an Austin Seven could reach more than 50mph.At its peak, which lasted for more than a decade, well over 20,000 cars were being sold every year. In later life the engine found further use in Reliant three wheelers, and a passion for racing, encouraged by the 750 MC, saw power outputs pushed up to extraordinary levels.

This delightfully original Austin Seven Ruby was first registered in 1938 and is described by the owner as running and driving excellently. The car was restored in the 1990s and resided in a large private collection in Belgium, until returning to the UK earlier this year. Offered here without reserve, don't miss your chance to own a piece of British motoring history.