1933 Austin 7 Cambridge Special

1933 Austin Seven Cambridge Special

Highlights

• Painstakingly restored Cambridge Special originally built by Unipower in 1950s
• Beautifully detailed car in dark blue with red trim
• Only 1, 000 mile since ‘nut and bolt’ restoration
• One family ownership since 1949
• A proper one-off and a genuine labour of love

The Appeal

Looking through the photographs of this exquisite Seven it is hard to decide whether to buy it and merely stand and admire it, or actually exploit its elevated specification.

It began life as a standard Seven and has been in the same family for over half a century. In the 1950s it went to Unipower to be turned into a ‘Cambridge Special.’ More recently it has been subject to a truly painstaking, highly detailed restoration for which the words ‘but and bolt’ barely do it justice. The results shine out of the photos. The level of detail is awe-inspiring. Look closely and you’ll spot bespoke wheel boss and wheel spinners that reference the car’s distinctive registration.

The specification fills several pages and you can find out more below. Beautifully finished in dark blue with a contrasting red leather interior - plus matching red wires - this lovely little racer has covered only 1, 000 miles since completion.

Now available for the first time outside the family in 75 years, this is both beautiful vintage classic and detailed work of art. We know it will be popular with bidders.

The number plate ALP11 has been valued at £15, 000 by itself.

The Condition

• Extensively recently restored to a very high standard as can be seen in photos
• Beautifully finished in dark blue with high quality respray and few signs of age
• Vendor advises that there is a small chip on a wing
• Red 5x15 wire wheels with ‘ALP’ branded spinners to match numberplate
• New Dunlop Racing tyres fitted
• Detailed specification summarised below
• Retrimmed interior in red leather with twin seats and matching carpets
• Engine-turned aluminium dashboard with vintage dials rimmed in brass
• Dual cowl dashboard trimmed in matching red leather
• Few signs of age or use across exterior or interior
• Neatly detailed bodywork with sharp aluminium polished side trims
• Fully rewired with modern wiring and LED lighting
• Standard Austin Seven A-frame chassis with custom modifications for roadholding stability

Specification includes:

• Cambridge body reworked over the years
• Body extended by 4 inches to accommodate a taller driver.
• Aluminium over wood bodywork
• Wood is a combination of Ash and ply
• New custom bulkhead with compartments to conceal any modern equipment
• Early standard A7 radiator cowl for a racked font end look made in steel
• Steel lower side scuttles
• Aluminium bonnet and upper side scuttles
• Aluminium front wings with closed in sides to stop spray onto windscreen when on full lock
• Original aluminium dash aero bulges
• Original Cambridge windscreen
• Rear aluminium wings extended to suit the longer body
• Rear dummy fuel tank with smaller fuel tank in the base
• Storage compartment above fuel tank within dummy fuel tank
• Custom rear lighting board with spare wheel carrier
• Deep blue paint
• New aluminium dashboard with a machined finish
• Brass gauge bezels
• Smith’s speedo and rev counter
• New oil, temp and volt gauges
• Bespoke wood-rimmed wheel with inlaid boss referencing numberplate
• Lucas switch gear with custom machined brass knurled knobs
• Original Spitfire aircraft starting button
• Unipower emblem as a nod to the car’s history
• Fully upholstered in red leather
• Red carpets
• Custom bucket seats with storage compartments underneath
• Large storage compartment in the rear behind the seats
• Three tonneau covers - driver and passenger, driver only and full cover
• Front wheels Dunlop 4. 00/ 15 tyres with rear Dunlop 5. 00/ 15 tyres
• New 5x15 rims with spokes by Nick Mouat in Andover England powder coated in red
• Fake spinners for a traditional look with bespoke etching
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The Mechanics

• We are told that the engine capacity is 750cc
• 35hp output at the wheels, comparing to 11hp factory output
• 4 spd manual gearbox rebuilt in 2022
• Twin SU carburettors and electronic ignition
• High-pressure oil pump and custom oil pressure relief valve
• Morris 1000 hydraulic brake conversion front and back
• Full specification summarised below
• Beautifully detailed engine bay as showHistory and Paperwork

• First registered 9th January 1933
• Same family ownership for the last 75 years
• Originally built by Unipower in the 1950s
• Considered the first Unipower car ever produced
• Complete and recent ‘nut and bolt’ rebuild
• Only 1, 000 miles travelled since the rebuild
• Plenty of information available following the rebuild
• Made to look as if it was built by the factory
• Two registered keepers recorded by DVLA
• Current keeper since May 2016 same family member.
• Recorded as grey by DVLA but now painted blue
• Previously painted blue to August 1989
• VIN number B8342
• Current keeper is an engineer who oversaw the restoration