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Jack mount & boot fittings REVISED

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Brian Gibbons’ recent photographs: Chris Gould’s book outlines the construction details of four of the original wooden blocks which were screwed in place to hold toolkit items. This 1933 drawing details their use: However, at the time there was no … Continue reading Jack mount & boot fittings REVISED

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Nippy given by Lord Austin: AYA 653

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update June 2021; Bill Watton reports: I have been doing a lot of research with the Somerset Archives and at last I have found the registration which is AYA 653 dated 27/09/34 under W C Gunning  (my Grandfather). I do hope we may find this car. In September 1934, Lord Austin presented a Nippy to the daughter of the Gunnings dealer principal. We can surmise that the car was a steel Nippy in a light colour, and that the registration district would have been Somerset or Bath, from other Gunnings Registrations. This car would have been something circa YD 8000 or GL1800 from … Continue reading Nippy given by Lord Austin: AYA 653

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Portuguese Nippies

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Parque Eduardo VII Circuit, Lisbon, 1934 On June 4, 1934, a crowd estimated at 30,000 people converged on Parque Eduardo VII in Lisbon to watch the sporting competitions held there under the watchful eye of the President of the Republic, Marshal Óscar Carmona. Motorbike and car races were held, as well as a car elegance contest. At the end of the program, the renowned “ace” Henrique Lehrfeld made a demonstration with his racing Bugatti, but after three laps he suffered a crash, pulled out three trees and the pilot ended up in the hospital. Manuel Nunes dos Santos in Hillman … Continue reading Portuguese Nippies

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Red and Maroon forensics

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We discussed some of the evidence for cherry red here. Frank Curry’s 1934 Nippy is presently having restoration work done – a car which he has owned for nearly 60 years. Looking at the stripped body today, it was interesting to see the forensic evidence for colours on the metal. This bright colour has been on the car since he first knew it, but it has a grey primer underneath which looks suspiciously un-thirties. We thus cannot trust this red as we do not know its origin. Chris Gould suggested looking at the metal backing for the dash, and this … Continue reading Red and Maroon forensics

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interior trim panel examples – appeal!

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Please could you send images of trim panels which could add to this post as examples which are original or you know have been copied directly from the original. Rear panels round hood frame and back of cockpit: Here are some from Chris Gould: The Nippy trim panels were copied from what I think were originals except for the door panels. The “originals” were on my car and they had been recovered over the original trim. They had wood worm and I stupidly threw them away after copying. I saved some of the original covering, but over the years that … Continue reading interior trim panel examples – appeal!

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BMP 982 – an early 65

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David Hawker contacted the archive about an article for publication on his 1964 trip with a Nippy to Nice – via various Alps. He sent one picture, which started balls rolling… John Raeburn also made contact – he had found a car BMP 982 in a garage in Welwyn Garden City in 1968 – the same! “I bought BMP from a garage just outside Woolmer Green, where it had been abandoned by the previous owner, and it became my sole form of transport, up and until then I had a ’34 box saloon. The car was fairly original except for the engine which … Continue reading BMP 982 – an early 65

1936, Nippy1 Comment

EPG 76 appeal

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This car is on the register body number 475 with chassis number 205192 and registration number EPG76. The car was in Shropshire, Wellington/Telford in the late 1950s and early 1960s. EPG plates were registered in October and November 1936 in Surrey. The current owner purchased the car just over a year ago, advertised on Ebay. It had been the vendor’s father’s car in the southwest and had owned it for about 15 years. Apparently it had been used for trialing which may explain why all the fittings and most of the original instruments had been stripped out! Someone may recognise the car … Continue reading EPG 76 appeal

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famous company – BOL 504?

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This picture sent by Robin Hanauer shows Colin Chapman with the prototype/development Lotus VI, in perhaps 1952/3. The Nippy next to it is still on the DLVA system and had a new V5 issued in 1988, but has not been taxed. It is noted as a Red Austin 748cc. January 1936 registration. It must still exist – anyone know of it? Clearly it raced from the headlamps and lightweight front cycle wings. Anyone recognise the badges? Continue reading famous company – BOL 504?

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bonnet rest rubber section

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Austin literature and press images for new cars did not appear to show ANY sign of rubber for the bonnet rest area. The first cars photographed by the factory did show a rubber. This was used for the Light Car road test of the 65 in June 1933. This section was found on a car which must have been once-restored, and is wrong! This is the proper section, and please make contact if you have original examples, or wish to propose a different hypothesis! It would be helpful to know who has this in stock currently; please add a comment. … Continue reading bonnet rest rubber section

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early and late 65s for sale

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Body 10 has surfaced in Kent and Wayne Horn has kindly confirmed the stamped number. Chassis 167602, it is registered in January 1933 so makes it far earlier than the likely July/August 1933 of the road test car ALE 578. You can see the advert here. We wondered whether there might be evidence of the knife edge to the dash top, but Wayne thinks possibly not, despite some work in that area. Here is some evidence from the early body owned by Greig Smith in South Africa and you can see other posts with the CZ registered car in USA … Continue reading early and late 65s for sale

1934, 65, History1 Comment

a late 65 in wartime – is it still around?

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This car was registered in Kent, probably in March 1934 so a late-ish aluminium 65. We are assuming that the photo was taken during the war years 1939-45. Note the characteristic white paint markings on the sills and front wings – very smartly done. The driver, Phyllis, married Jane Turner’s uncle in 1936. We don’t know whether the car was registered in the name of Longman or Jeremy, as Phyllis Longman or her family may have owned the car before she married Derek Jeremy (Jane’s mother’s brother). I wonder if AKT 106 still survives? Keep your eyes open… Continue reading a late 65 in wartime – is it still around?

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21st birthday Nippy kept for 60 years needs new owner

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Courtesy of the Vintage Austin Register, long term Nippy owner Ann Lloyd in Canada writes: “When I was 21 (which is a big deal in Wales; key of the door and all that stuff) my father presented me with this Austin Nippy saying “If I had money you would get an MG.  As it is, here’s an Austin Nippy with a speedy engine and a drip feed sump”, or words to that effect.  I was at University at the time and having it was a blast. I called her Heffalump from the Winnie the Pooh stories as just like Heffalump … Continue reading 21st birthday Nippy kept for 60 years needs new owner

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Thoughts on Nippy boot lid retaining straps

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Charles Holford reports: Nippys are owned by a great variety individuals who have differing views on the importance of originality. Some are enthusiasts for it and will go to great lengths to find original components and materials. Others are happy to modify their cars for a variety of reasons, often to improve safety and drivability. Let it be said there is room for all on this matter but as for myself if there is an area of my car that may easily be put back to, or close to, its original state when it is known I tend to do … Continue reading Thoughts on Nippy boot lid retaining straps

1937, 1938, Nippy4 Comments

Three bearing Nippy engines #2

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Charles Holford reports: Recently I was reviewing the article on pressure feed crankshaft three bearing engines. One came into my possession in 1969. They must be very rare for many reasons. How many Nippys were made with three bearing engines? Not so many and even fewer with pressure feed to the crank because they cost more and there was more choice of small sports cars by then. How many three bearing pressure feed engines are known to exist? In addition the pressure feed three bearing would have been just as liable to crankshaft fracture as the normal “spit and hope” three … Continue reading Three bearing Nippy engines #2

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Original sidescreens

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There is now evidence from two late cars – 1937 – that suggest that Austin screens were to this pattern, in two folding pieces. Very different to the other, more common, pattern parts from aftermarket suppliers, as they were designed only for use with the wind deflectors also fitted to 1937 cars. Many cars have been retrofitted with side screens as per the other post here – fitting in the entire space between hood, door and windscreen. Can you add more information to support the hypothesis? It is suggested that all other patterns are aftermarket, and that cars prior to the … Continue reading Original sidescreens

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Steering column cover plate

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The 65/Nippy steering column cover plate screws onto the floorplan near the pedals, and is specific to the model. The pressing is the same basic shape as the one found on the earlier Ulster (below) but the angle is different, the pressing deeper and the upper rim longer. Chris Gould created a wooden mould to re-create an Ulster one and by removing its angled base, the greater depth of the 65/Nippy one could be hammered out in a sheet of thin mild steel screwed down to the hardwood former. This is the comparison of the results with the base to … Continue reading Steering column cover plate

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Anyone remember or own DTN 426?

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A past owner reminisces: It was mine in 1968, I rescued it from a burnt out building and it was in a bad way, but complete, and had a proper Speedy engine in it. Because Pitmans book of the Austin Seven described the sports model as having this engine I did not place a particularly high value on it – I thought at the time that all Nippys had it. But in fairness I was only 16 at the time! I last heard of it going through Edmonds Auction partially restored several years ago. I also had two 65 cars; I have to confess … Continue reading Anyone remember or own DTN 426?

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Hood evidence

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The discovery of this picture from the late 1936 Paris Motor show clarifies some of the non-Austin designs that have crept into Nippy usage. The presumably 1937 model car – one of the last – clearly shows the same style of hood seen in the 1933 technical drawing. The two images of the same car (below) shows what has happened through time, with a lovely comparison (perhaps taken in the 1960s and the 1990s?) of what looks like a new hood uppermost, flap provision for side screens, and a curved door line. The lower picture shows a later hood replacement, … Continue reading Hood evidence

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Windscreen rubber for Nippy & 65

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June 2016 Update: This is the new rubber that Chris Gould sourced from a tiny section of his original rubber and has now had manufactured.

windscreen rubber

screen rubber1Here is a period drawing of the screen rubber in a 1933 roadtest. It appears to be flat rather than curved, and coming from the centre of the attachment profile. Any thoughts on choices from the selection of modern profiles listed below? What have you used? Continue reading “Windscreen rubber for Nippy & 65”

65, EK75, History, Nippy, Register, Speedy2 Comments

Thoughts on Production figures and the Register of surviving 65, Nippy and 75/Speedy

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It seems reasonable that after 80 years, the surviving cars should give a good basis for extrapolation and comparison to the perceived total production figures, without much knowledge of anything else. Statements made in respected Austin Seven texts can be tested using the statistics available. It seems that the number of Nippies producted was massively over-estimated.

Continue reading “Thoughts on Production figures and the Register of surviving 65, Nippy and 75/Speedy”