1936 Austin 7 'Ruby' : The Baby Austin

[@geoffnoyes520]

I had one of these as my daily driver, to school etc, as late as 1966-7 in Wanganui New Zealand. My first car, l thought it was lovely, so many memories, thank you for this video.

[@CEng-ge6sw]

Well done! Very nice to see the car so well cared for and in good hands.

[@nealeburgess6756]

What a lovely example of a Ruby. I have one from January 1936, however mine is a Mk 1 Ruby and this one from later the same year is a Mk 2. Driving an Austin 7 always brings a smile to your face. I have mine on the Costa Del Sol in Spain. It certainly attracts attention when driving along the coast, or up into the mountains.

[@CEng-ge6sw]

Yes, I always think of them as Mk1 and Mk2 Rubies: square window corners versus rounded corners etc. It's a distinction not often mentioned, even by the experts.

[@piearm1271]

Superb car, you can sense the enjoyment in its owner. A few years ago I was offered a ride on a Norton Atlas. Having being spoiled by disc brakes the cable operated drum brakes were a shock until I adjusted. What struck me was the wealth of feedback from the engine and chassis. Much more alive than modern machines and easier to service by a man in a shed with modest knowledge and spanners

[@roydavidlivermore4664]

Had one just like the photo from 1954 until 1958,my first car.

[@unclestuka8543]

I had one from 1957 to 1960. Great car

[@MartinHarvey]

I grew up in England and an uncle had one of these in the early 60's. Thankyou.

[@JohnsGarageIreland]

If my motorbike project goes well I hope to buy one

[@brianperry]

Four adults, plus myself...I was about 7 years old... drove down to Brighton for a day out from Rochford in Essex in the earlier fifties.... about 1952...I don't remember being cramped in the vehicle, although we must have been, I believe this must have been my first ride in a motorcar.Thanks for a memory of so long ago...

[@JohnsGarageIreland]

What a lovely memory

[@gbentley8176]

Just caught your channel. Great show and the owner is lucky to have such a beauty.

[@kellybrickey4300]

Great little car, and great owner! I always like it when the owner can tell you what it's really like. Just discovered your channel, and i subscribed. Thanks for an entertaining ride in this amazing 7

[@capiberra4118]

My late parents had an Austin Seven Ruby Saloon, as their first car, in the early / mid 1940's, and damn proud of it they were. The Ruby was a significant step up from a pair of bicycles with Italian Ducati Cucciolo (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ducati_Cucciolo) motors attached. The Ruby made a big difference to their post war mobility prospects and by the sounds of the tales told, they travelled and camped the length and breadth of Britain in their Ruby. (always "leaving just enough cash at home to pay the rent, in case" they came home skint!) There is a photo somewhere of the Ruby parked in a field with my mum lounging on the drivers side front mud guard, looking all Bonnie Parkerish (Bonnie & Clyde). Bought second hand, the engine had apparently been re-bored several times, putting it up somewhat in horse power, so dad said. It was sold, to some lucky third party, when they prepared to emigrate to Canada, fetching more than had been paid for it. Thanks for the view into their post war world & lifestyle. Godspeed mum & dad, where ever you are!

[@daviddjerassi]

What a beauty thank you i loved the story of its history long may you both last .

[@lookoutleo]

i would realy like an austin 7 . i know how to drive austin a35 as owned one , it was happy about 40mph that would be fastest you could go and brake with the engine and anticipate stopping . such a lovely car

[@Lot76CARS]

Excellent video John, what an interesting story, loved the detail about the lights on dipped and main beam, bet that took some working out! The owners know their cars well so thanks for letting him explain.

[@JohnsGarageIreland]

It was great to just sit back and listen to him talking all about it. The passion for the little Austin was dripping from him. Lovely guy

[@darrylmcleman6456]

You could drive it on the starter!!! GREAT STUFF! CHEERS from CANADA!

[@JohnsGarageIreland]

We used to have an old tractor like that! Love to see Canadian viewers, checkout the other videos!

[@Quinndiver]

@@JohnsGarageIreland Greetings from another Canadian viewer... lovely car, lovely video, Just finished my restoration on a slightly more modern descendant of Ruby: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJKypYqmo6iZg9E

[@kennethdong8490]

Great video. I have a '34 Ruby in Canada and I am missing a lot of pieces. This is very helpful in filling out the missing parts of the puzzle.I v

[@RogerWarren-ec2ql]

Very.good.to.johns.motors.australia❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@pregnantyellowfish]

This was my Grandfather’s first car. He’s had many legendary cars but he was rather fond of this one. Thanks for the video it helps me live what he would have at 18 in a strange way I suppose

[@JohnsGarageIreland]

Now thats a beautiful memory of your dad, it always amazes me the connections to the past cars can give us

[@dac3uk]

I had one of these in the late 1960’s.. I added a second solenoid headlamp so dipped beam was from both lamps. The main brake link broke on a downhill stretch and after that I decided it wasn’t too safe. I loved it! RV 9918 I wonder where it is now?

[@ianmcgee9945]

It's great to see this video. I'm restoring one of these Rubys in Canada. After seeing this I want to get mine on the road!

[@JohnsGarageIreland]

Very active Irish club linked in the video description if you need any support 👍

[@capiberra4118]

Where about, in Canada?

[@thomaspridmore106]

Thanks so much lovely car lovely demo hope it run for years to come memories

[@JohnsGarageIreland]

Very grateful to the owner and custodian for their time. Such a lovely car.

[@cormackeppel5878]

Great video John, great to see the old cars and the owner did a great job explaining all its features.

[@JohnsGarageIreland]

It was a credit to him and all the other Austin Seven owners in Ireland who have helped him out along the way. I was delighted he let me film him.

[@RogerWarren-ec2ql]

Look.after.your.ruby.australia.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@screenname3922]

My late father also owned one Austin seven car it was a black coloured one. DR. M. G. A. RAJA

[@robinwells8879]

Beautiful. One day I would love to pop over and join the crew for a picnic run in my 47 10

[@eoghanobrien6980]

Brilliant video, one of the very best you've done!. Hats off to the owner for keeping it so well!

[@nygelmiller5293]

Actually, I remember family friends had a green one like this - and Mrs Iles made little (ornamental?) curtains for it! Checked, I think, and I don't expect that actually closed, so you couldn't stop in a lay by, for a snooze!

[@johnnybeer3770]

Great video , I like the idea of the staggered clutch pedal giving you room to put your left foot on the floor, and the rear lights match the car perfectly. As a kid in the '50s I remember our local doctor making house calls in one of these .🇬🇧

[@sidneysisk225]

Thanks Loads. I think the design is great. I want to own one. I woud like to meet the designer: a bit strange and a bit quirky but in a depression Britain what do you expect. I'm 93 and I smiled broadly during the entire show. Love it. Compare it to the fascist VW: It is a bit of fresh air and British freedom. I went to school in G.B. and hitchiked all around the country and drove in morew than one Austin. Especially remember a Butchers's van with the butcher and his wife out for a holiday. Because my Dad was a butcher in Windsor Locks CT and we had Chevvy delivery vans that we boys used on dates.

[@ianjohnson948]

My mother had one in New Zealand in the early 60s. Apart from a broken axle we never had any trouble with it. A great little car.

[@RogerWarren-ec2ql]

Great.car.the.seven.i.use.a40s.in.australia❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@davidsheppard1362]

Lovely old car. Excellent presentation.

[@JohnsGarageIreland]

Thank you. Lots more nice videos on the way.

[@lesliewoodr5211]

the nicest car ever made !!

[@sidneysisk225]

I agree!

[@nygelmiller5293]

Well done for actually DEVELOPING this car (modern indicators, 12 volts). AND keeping the look totally original by having the indicator bulbs (or L.E.D.s ?) inside the housings on top of the wings!

[@2loudspeakers]

Amazing! Great video!

[@JohnsGarageIreland]

Thank you very much, glad you enjoyed it

[@screenname3922]

Very interesting video.

[@paulmiller1359]

What an amazing car! Thank you for posting this.

[@JohnsGarageIreland]

You're welcome, would be grateful for any shares

[@flyinghigh2373]

It was my first car in New Zealand about 1964 mine was a 1935 Austin 7 that cost me 50 pounds Had a lot of fun in it. I was an apprenticeship motor mechanic at the time

[@JohnsGarageIreland]

Now thats a story? Did you modify it at the time?

[@christopherstubbs9333]

Lovely video, lovely car and really nice owner. I remember the old dip and switch as it was called 🙂

[@JohnsGarageIreland]

Thank you so much for the kind comments, I know the owner will also appreciate them.

[@soloperformer5598]

If only engines were that simple today.

[@JohnsGarageIreland]

Could you imagine it, very low compression so it'll run on practically anything combustible.

[@nygelmiller5293]

​@@JohnsGarageIreland You mention low compression engines running on practically anything? Does it cope with unleaded fuel?

[@nygelmiller5293]

It really does say something about car design through the ages - that one of the FIRST cars, here actually DID have a spare wheel - something missing on today's xars designed by FOOLS.

[@glynluff2595]

My first car. Ah I remember the front brakes. Slack off for daily use and tighten up for MoT! If you turned the wheel sharply they would come on hence the slack!

[@caffjohn]

Were you given an exemption to keep the uk registration number?

[@JohnsGarageIreland]

Great question, as it was imported when it was new it was allowed to keep its plate. Until the 60s or 70s this was common on UK and Irish cars and fully legal. They could keep their plates when exported.

[@nigellacey559]

Fabulous

[@JohnsGarageIreland]

Thank you 😊

[@SandraAshby-zk6ql]

Very enjoyable 😂. I have a similar Ruby Austin 7 in New Zealand.

[@JohnsGarageIreland]

I'd love one, had such a lovely day with it

[@ramblinevilmushroom]

So this is it! My grandfather told me a dirty limerick once about this car, i wanted to know what the car was because of it. Im still confused about why there was a meme that far back making fun people who drove them though....

[@RS-vu3df]

6.08 Please fit a gromet to the plus lead.

[@jayamd3579]

yeah i cringed at 12v conversion but id do exactly the same, if it was sat in a museum then all original, but since its a real car 12v all the way

[@JohnsGarageIreland]

It's the balance between originality and usability, there is a fine lime but this one looks very original

[@RogerWarren-ec2ql]

Super.austin.own.12.trucks.plus.....few.a40s.australia❤❤❤❤❤❤