Lot details
Registration No: UT 7778
Chassis No: 105740
Mot Expiry: June 2008

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.

According to its V5C registration document, 'UT7778' is an Austin Seven Ulster that has had just three owners from new. The car is also listed as an EA Sports (Ulster) on the Austin Seven Clubs' Association Register and featured as such in both 'Austin Seven 1922 - 1982' (published by Brooklands Books) and an Autocar article (27th November 1982). Indeed the latter describes how the father of a former keeper "found the car in an advertisement, guessed it might be an 'Ulster' - it was described as an Austin Seven Special - and made a nocturnal transaction in the wilds of Norfolk after having ascertained that the chassis and engine fitted the original specification". Reputedly treated to extensive restoration work during the 1970s, 'UT7778' carries an Ulster-style aluminium body by Stuart Rolt of Shepshed as well as Ulster-type "headlights, back axle, exhaust, instruments, front spring, wheels, steering wheel and horn etc". Although not original to the chassis, its Austin Seven engine sports a period Cambridge 14-stud cylinder head and downdraught carburettor. Unfortunately, the chassis number associated with 'UT7778' is from a batch for which the factory build records no longer exist (the earliest confirmed EA Sports is chassis 107778). Thus, the car's original identity cannot be definitively established. Recently fettled by renowned specialist Austineers of Bradford-on-Avon, the two-seater was apparently found to "go very well" and from a driving point of view to be "excellent in every respect except for the brakes". Benefiting from fresh tyres and a new battery, 'UT 7778' is variously described by the vendor as being in "good" (three-speed close-ratio gearbox, electrical equipment, paintwork) or "very good" (engine, interior trim, chassis, bodywork, wheels / tyres) condition. A delightful Vintage sportscar, it is offered for sale with the aforementioned publications, MOT certificates dating back to 1981, "some period paddock and sporting photographs taken at various events over the years" and MOT certificate valid until June 2008.