| Many attempts to produce a small, reliable and economical car had been made since 1910, but it was not until the appearance of the Austin seven that this type of car became practicable. Up until 1920 the only small cars available were the some what crude cycle cars. The Austin Seven was introduced as an alternative, a car in miniature, made from high quality materials that were normally used for larger Austins. In the next ten years approximatly 290,000 'Sevens' and about 20,000 Big Sevens, were in use. |
| 'Life Worth Living' With an "Austin Seven" you can spend it where you will, for travel costs you about 1d. per mile with your jolly young family. The "Austin Seven" makes happiness inevitable, and it is a very smart little turnout to be proud of.' From an Austin Seven sales broche, c1922. |
| My collection of memories starts with the Austin Seven. I can only just remember the car as I was probably about four or five years old. My elder Sister,Pat, has confirmed my recollection as she can also remember an Austin Seven. We cannot remember the exact year or model but it must have been the first car that Father bought after the family moved from Swansea to Salisbury. The move was prompted by the announcement that Swansea was a likely target for the German Air force. My two sisters and I have to be eternally grateful for that wise decision, since soon after moving, my Grandfather's Chemist shop in Swansea received a bomb from 'above' which went through 3 floors and finished up buried in the cellar! Luckily the bomb did not explode so my two Grandparents, who were in the shop, survived the War and a few years later also moved to Salisbury. |
| All photos of my own vehicles will have a 'frame' around the image. |
| The Start of it All |
| Two examples of theAustin Seven. An attractive 'drop head' c.1922/4. The saloon example I think would have been very close to the model my Father owned. c.1940/1 |
| I do not have a picture of Father's car but the Short wheelbase model shown mid & bottom was the type he had, and from memory it was grey. I know that there was a waiting list for these cars when they were announced in 1948/9 and my Father was one of the first customers to get one in Salisbury when we were living in Castle road. Alas it was not to his liking and he sold it at a profit within three weeks! I remember, as a small boy, starting to evaluate cars and I thought that it was like a big ball rolling along the road. I thought of it as being 'comfy' but a bit like a jelly. |
| STANDARD VANGUARD PHASE 1 |
| THE NEXT VEHICLE I CAN REMEMBER WAS THE VANGUARD 1947-1950 |
| These early cars were fitted with an 1850 cc engine |
| The Triumph Mayflower made from 1949 to 1953 fitted with a 1250 cc side valve engine. These cars were made by the same company, at the same time, in the same factory, in Coventry as the Vanguards above. |
| This was the last car that my Grandfather bought, in about 1950, and the car eventually was passed on to my sister Pat. She is seen here with son Paul outside our house near Victoria Park in Salisbury. The car did not handle too well and often felt as if it wanted to end up on its doorhandles if cornered too enthusiastically! |
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| THE TRIUMPH MAYFLOWER RAZOR EDGE SALOON IT'S LARGER COMPANION WAS CALLED THE TRIUMPH RENOUN |
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| TRIUMPH MAYFLOWER |
| THE LARGER TRIUMPH RENOUN |