Austin 7 Ruby Restoration - First Drive

Welcome to our Austin 7 Ruby restoration video where we take the Austin Seven for her first drive and visit the previous owner. We promised when we started the restoration of the Austin 7 that we would bring her back to the former keeper when we had her road legal. He was very happy to take the Ruby for a drive and give us his approval for what we have done so far.
The first long drive was always going to be a special occasion and we made the most of it to test out our semaphore indicators that we have bought flashing bulbs for. We have also found that the Austins gearbox is changing gear a lot easier than when we bought her up the road to our garage. The synchromesh on second and third gear seems to have improved by using it which surprised us but if there was some old oil sludging things up we will change the oil as soon as possible.
We have found that our Austin 7 Ruby has the usual problem of the dynamo not charging. We will have to attack this as an important job.
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#austin7 #vintagecars #carrestoration

[@davidyeo5925]

I love sevens. Well done. Couldn't see a rear view mirror though.

[@classicandvintagecars]

Everyone loves a 7. We were using a temporary plastic mirror. Just found a 1930's mirror and the original mirror should be in our friends shed for us to eventually use.

[@udayveermittal8780]

I am truly glad to see a young person like you interested in restoring classic cars! It is always difficult to find people in our generation interested in these beauties! Love your pretty Austin 7. Beautiful colour! Mine is red and black!

[@classicandvintagecars]

Thank you, there are many youngsters coming into owning and loving these cars. Fingers crossed they will be in good hands for years to come!

[@user-xb4le4og8e]

Well good luck lad looks lovely

[@ianmcgee9945]

I'm restoring a Ruby in Canada, it's great to see this one back on the road. Well done!!!

[@classicandvintagecars]

Fantastic that another one will be on the road. Good luck with your restoration project!

[@geoffnoyes520]

Truly lovely restoration! I owned one the same as my daily driver in Wanganui new Zealand, (mostly to high school) in 1967-8. My first car, l was so pleased with it, and thought it wonderful. Brought back some memories, great job, thanks again.

[@classicandvintagecars]

A fantastic first car, thank you

[@Simonpollardwalks-gardendesign]

Wow, must be amazing to have the car on the road. A real labour of love...

[@classicandvintagecars]

It is fantastic to have her on the road again

[@austinswallow]

The hook of the wiper operating spindle should align with the wiper arm, when the wiper is "parked", it sits up at the very top of the screen and the hook sits into the hole in the pull knob. The crank handle should not hang down as you have it, it will make an annoying tingling sound, it needs to be turned to the "quarter to nine" position, where the spring will hold it in that position! Exciting first drive, a great achievement, shame the youngster has to wait before he can drive on the roads, well done to you both!

[@classicandvintagecars]

Thank you, I will change the wiper arm now you have shared where it parks. Our starter handle does make that tingling noise especially when going uphill. It doesn’t hold as you describe so I guess we have a spring missing. We will look into fixing this! Thanks for the info.

[@vueittraining]

Looks an amazing car

[@classicandvintagecars]

It is, thank you

[@FlipFlopPsycho]

I do love a great restoration project!

[@classicandvintagecars]

It is good fun

[@allanriches9381]

Great work.

[@classicandvintagecars]

Thank you 🙏

[@alansmith8837]

Loved it love a go in it probablly not lands end to john o groats thou. Ps dont usually aprove of cars having a name but thats got to be the exception has it got one

[@classicandvintagecars]

Thank you, maybe not a LEJOG car yet but maybe we can quieten it down a bit. The name came with the car and we are in contact with the previous 2 owners so it would be rude to change the name.

[@keithquestedelectrical9785]

Looking and sounding good Will look out for you when working nearby

[@classicandvintagecars]

Thank you, give us a wave 👋

[@Rocksolid-Health]

Looks awesome

[@classicandvintagecars]

Thank you 🙏

[@SuperRetroville]

Good job! Its great to see it driving so well. The charging issue might be the dynamo fuse (in the field coil circuit) you should be able to light a test bulb between the field terminal on the dynamo and chassis. The resistors which control the summer/winter rare charge settings often go open circuit and cause a similar problem. If you put the switch in the winter charge or headlights on position with the engine turning over ar road speeds and the ignition light goes out, then its probably one or more of the resistors. Could also be dirty points in the cut-out box or even the carbon brushes in the dynamo sticking in their holders if theyve got greasy.

[@classicandvintagecars]

Thank you for the information! The fuse is ok and switching the lights on or to summer charging doesn’t change it. We have just been on a short drive and the light went out for a few minutes and the amp meter showed a small charge at high revs. The red light came back on towards the end of the drive and stayed on at high revs on the driveway. As it was not driven for about 50 years I’m thinking that the brushes should be changed. I can’t find a loose connection to explain why it works intermittently.

[@104gramophone]

I am very impresed in your enthusiasm .Do you keep it under cover in a garage?

[@classicandvintagecars]

Thank you, yes we keep her in a garage

[@alanmony1582]

Drives just like mine, don't take your eyes off the road!! You two wouldn't happen to have a spare windshield latch, would you? It's the only part I don't have.

[@classicandvintagecars]

Definitely can’t relax when driving her! We don’t have a spare latch unfortunately, we have a spare screen though.

[@bobbates7343]

My Mums first car in Canada was a A7 .

[@classicandvintagecars]

Excellent, thanks for sharing

[@thra5herxb12s]

It makes one heck of a racket 😂

[@classicandvintagecars]

Definitely don’t need a radio

[@davidfrankton4139]

PLEASE be careful using that starting handle. Broken thumb or wrist could be very painful.

[@classicandvintagecars]

We would imagine a broken thumb or wrist would be very painful so take appropriate care. Had more injuries playing cricket than working on vintage cars.

[@no1boss897]

You wouldn’t know wear on the Austin nine wear the oil pressure valve is at all have an issue with the oil pressure going right up on start up then goes back to normal

[@classicandvintagecars]

This is where it is for the Austin 7 as I’m not sure where it is on a nine but I would guess it is the same place www.da7c.co.uk/technical_torque_articles/oil_jet_cleaning_guide.html#:~:text=OIL%20JET%20CLEANING%20GUIDE&text=One%20of%20the%20requirements%20during,jet%20to%20clear%20any%20crud.

[@BarrieWeston]

Dynamo not charging

[@classicandvintagecars]

It’s on the list of jobs to do still