You may be familiar with our magnificent Austin 7 Swallow, from seeing it at events over the duration of its restoration, or more recently out and about on the roads of Coventry.
Over the last few months we have been fine tuning the running of the car near our workshop, and more often than not we are stopped and asked the background of the Swallow, we love telling this story so here is a snippet for you to enjoy…
We bought the Austin Swallow in 2012 at auction, the previous owner, a radio engineer in the RAF, was presented with the car by his father as a birthday surprise in 1953. He used it as his everyday transport to and from his home in Bristol to the RAF station in Wiltshire for a number of years, until it was laid up in the garage of the family business in 1958.
First registered on the 6th January 1931, the chassis number indicates a build date of around November 1930. It is thought that around 3,500 Austins were bodied at the Swallow works; however the vast majority were saloons, it is estimated that fewer than 90 open cars survive to this day.
This project, which is very close to our hearts, has spanned nearly a decade and has seen many engineering minds cross its path.. causing a few grey hairs along the way and not just because of the time it has taken! Clayton Classics have fully overhauled the chassis and mechanicals, rebuilt the body and chrome, replaced the glass, and finished it with new interior trim and Cream and Racing Green paint.
Do give us a wave if you see us on the roads, and come along to our open day to see the Swallow in our workshop and hear more of the story.