1931 Austin Seven EA Sports 'Ulster'

Lot details
Registration No: OV 9
Chassis No: 132080
Mot Expiry: None

Arguably ranking alongside the Bentley 3-litre and Vauxhall 30/98 as one of the all time great Vintage sportscars, the Austin Seven EA Sports was introduced in February 1930. Soon nicknamed the Ulster on account of its resemblance to the Works racers which had achieved such success on the Ards TT, the model featured a doorless boat-tailed two-seater aluminium body, 'dropped' front axle (complete with bound transverse-leaf front spring), close-ratio gearbox and side-mounted exhaust system. Specially tuned, its 747cc four-cylinder engine developed over fifty percent more power than standard. As rare as they are desirable, just 168 EA Sports are thought to have been made before production ceased in 1932

A genuine EA Sports as confirmed by its listing in the surviving Austin factory ledgers at Gaydon, this particular example was supplied new by the Alvis agent and sometime Brooklands racer, Frank Hallam of Birmingham. Road registered as `OV 9' on 13th April 1931, the Seven's early history is otherwise unclear (though, a surviving black and white photograph suggests that it might have spent time in the Cheddar Gorge area). Post World War Two, the Ulster is known to have passed through the hands of Surrey residents Derek Tate (1947), John Bailey (1953) and Arthur Lamb of Lamb's Garage, Hindhead (1955). Restored by Graham Smith up in the Lake District during the late 1960s, the Austin was subsequently owned by Vintage Sports Car Club members Graham Beckett and Andrew Harding.

The latter commissioned Tim Myall of Pigsty Engineering to assemble the car's current engine. Thought to be the Ulster's second replacement powerplant its specification reportedly includes: "a Phoenix crankshaft, high-lift / `fast road' camshaft, aluminium finned deep sump, uprated oil pump, high compression cylinder head (post 1937 type), semi-downdraught SU carburettor, oversize inlet valves and Renault conrods and pistons (with shell bearings)". Finished in green with brown upholstery, `OV 9' is described by the vendor as being in "good" condition with regard to its engine, gearbox, electrical equipment, interior trim and bodywork. While, he rates the paintwork as "good" too except for some microblistering to the bonnet.

The two-seater is understood to retain its original chassis, chassis / commission plates, bonnet, dashboard, windscreen frame and body tub (albeit that the latter has had some new metal let in to the floor area etc). The three-speed close-ratio gearbox is to Ulster specification and the 4.9:1 `banjo' rear axle was apparently an option for the model. The touring wings and running boards are correct-style replacements as is the exhaust system. Genuine Ulsters are a rare sight on the open market and it is hoped but not guaranteed that this one will possess a fresh MOT certificate by the time of sale (weather permitting).

PLEASE NOTE: This vehicle does not have an MOT.