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Travelling in the old style
When former Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced the car scrappage scheme, one resident of Seaforth Avenue didn’t give it a thought – despite his motor being well over a decade old.
In fact, Malcolm Day’s perky little two-seater is a 1938 model - making it a rather sedate 72 years of age. But it is certainly no banger, and still goes well – “It’ll cruise along quite happily at 40mph,” says Mr Day, adding: “Until you get to a hill. But I’ve taken it to France two or three times.”
Mr Day, 59, who has lived in Seaforth Avenue for 20 years, bought the Austin Seven Opal from a nearby collector. “The Opal came from a guy in New Malden about a year ago,” he says.
“He’d rebuilt it. He had rebuilt several vintage cars, he had a house on the coast. But age and illness caught up with him – he was also quite tall with bad knees – not a good combination for the Opal. So he decided to sell.”
Trafficator
The Opal is a light car, with no back seat, and the engine size is a mere 747cc. And with its single windscreen wiper, somewhat basic interior and trafficator – a manual signalling arm, unknown to younger generations – it lacks many of the modern luxuries. But Mr Day says he does manage to get 40 miles to the gallon from it.
And if starting is a problem, the cranking handle could be called into action.
The retired property manager, who worked in Wallington, fell in love with Austin Sevens at an early age. “I got interested in them as child. My parents and aunt and uncle and me – five of us – used to drive to Bognor Regis in one. It was fabulous, and the sun always shone in those days.”
Since retiring a year ago – which he has no regrets about (“I’m loving it, I skipped out of there. So did all the others.”), Mr Day has had plenty of time to indulge in his hobby. But the Opal is not his only vintage motor.
“I’ve got two more at the back – a 1937 Austin 7 Ruby and 1932 Austin 7,” he says.
Soon, the member of the Austin Seven Owners Club is off to Ventnor on the Isle of Wight, with a group of 15 enthusiasts, to share their love of the iconic car.
And on 6 June, the National Trust has invited all Austin Seven owners to a gathering at Hatchlands Park, East Clandon, near Guildford, Surrey.
External links:
Surrey Austin Owners Club
Austin 7 Owners Club
The Pre-War Austin Seven Club
Wikipedia
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Malcolm Day’s 1938 Austin Seven Opal gleams in the sunshine
Even the AA badge is a vintage design of the period
The interior is in good condition if somewhat basic by today’s standards
Rain? No problem – the car boasts a single wiper
There’s a hand crank if starting the car proves difficult
The trafficator arm – an early indicator – pops out from the car’s side
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