IDRIVEACLASSIC reviews: Austin 7 Cambridge Special (Baby Austin road test)

Here's the walk around chat if you're hard of hearing like me!
Now you’ll hear us mention throughout this video this is a 1929 car, but if you run it through a car checker, it’ll probably come back as a 1934 car.
This is because it’s a 1929 chassis but is sporting a 1934 engine and number plate, although the V5 confirms this is a 1929 car.
The Austin 7, although in my eyes looks very special and beautifully crafted even in our modern world, was actually designed as an economy car with the sole purpose of bringing more customers in the motoring world in a similar tactic applied by Ford with the Model T.
The car was made from 1923 to 1939 and incredibly for the time, 290,000 were made - which makes this car nicknamed ‘the baby Austin’ a proper part of motoring history.
Which meant naturally, it had to appear on IDRIVEACLASSIC at some point.
Interestingly though, the Austin 7 almost didn’t happen!
The car was created by Sir Herbert Austin and Stanley Edge at Austin’s home and they then pitched the idea to the board of directors at the Austin Motor Company who felt the car was too small to be economic and too far removed from what their customers believed Austin to embody as a brand.
Sir Herbert Austin was so adamant the car needed to be built, he threatened to take his design to the car manufacturer Wolseley and eventually the board of directors relented and Austin received royalties on every Austin 7 sold.
And to note, the Austin 7 was £165 new which is roughly £10,500 today allowing for inflation.
Despite the Austin board of directors being a bit reluctant about the car, the idea of smaller cars wasn’t a new thing and in fact, Sir Herbert Austin had been toying with the idea since 1921 when the horsepower tax was introduced.
The Austin 7s all sported the same engine from the factory - a 747cc straight 4 engine and body styles varied from 2 door tourers, saloons, coupes and cabriolets to a rather interesting 3 door van.
It’s a 4 speed manual box in this but the three speed and reverse was used until 1932, so I assume this is what this car would’ve had originally.
We’ve got synchro in second, third and fourth on this - although this wasn’t introduced as standard until 1934.
Now if you’re watching from abroad, you may know this as a completely different car because the 7 was sold under license across the world.
From BMW producing their first car, an Austin 7 under license named the BMW Dixi, in France they were sold as Rosengarts and Nissan even produced their first car which was based on the 7 design but cheekily this wasn’t done under license but later led to Nissan obtaining an agreement to build and sell Austins in Japan.
Now I mentioned this was a Cambridge Special.
The Austin Cambridge Specials were built by Bill Williams at Cambridge Engineering based on Cambridge Road, Kew Green, Richmond which was founded by Williams in 1934 and taken over by D.H. Thomas and L. Brown in 1958.
Bill specialised in competition Austin 7s, Hill climb and sprint cars. After the war he went into building traditional ash framed and aluminium panelled bodies for Austin Sevens, which by this point, were mostly clapped out and could be bought for as a little as a few pounds from a scrapyard and which Bill would transform from as little as £35.
A few companies went into this sort of market but he was the most successful by far and later expanded into tuning bits and wrote an interesting booklet called Rebuild your Austin Seven the Cambridge Way before writing a full on book titled Austin Seven Specials which this actual car we are testing today features in.
The last Cambridge Special was the LMW which Bill made for himself but never went into production.
ACV 401, Sally, the car we are testing was converted in the 1950s and there are around 60 Cambridge Specials which survive to this day.
I thought it was also worth mentioning whilst we did this video a little about what is defined as a classic car - because cars of this age although a ‘classic’ can be classified slightly differently.
The Veteran Car Club of Great Britain class anything built before 1905 as a veteran, and anything built between 1905 and the end of 1918 as Edwardian.
Whilst the Vintage Sports Car Club take the naming convention further as anything made from the end of world war 1 up to the end of 1930 as vintage and anything made from 1931 to 1940 as post vintage.
Which means classic cars are then anything made from this period or end of World War Two with no cut off date although some manufacturers like Jaguar class it as ten years whilst classic car insurers tend to pick either 20 or 25 years from date of that particular car’s manufacture date.
Before we test this, I caught up with the owner of the car, Guy, who told me a little bit about this wonderful cars history.

[@NM-pz8ir]

I remember this car well from the 1970's as the original owner used to drive it from down South (Sussex I think) to Lincolnshire to compete in the MG Car Club's Trial each year. I acted as his "bouncer" then and was able to drive the car around the venue in between sections which was great fun in my early teens! Somewhere at my parents' house, are some photos of me in the car at the time. It was used extensively in lots of competitions with some success and we managed to win the trial I mentioned earlier on more than one occasion. The car was originally dark green but was changed to red after a couple of years to make it "stand out better" in the competition paddock. How time has flown but I remember those days fondly even though it's 40+ years ago since I last saw the car. I now own a very original 1937 Austin 7 Nippy which has given me lots of fun over the last 30 years or so and we have done over 250,000 miles in that time together including trips to Italy, Spain and the Netherlands as well as all around the UK. These really are great little cars and I have been fortunate to have been involved with them since my dad bought one in the mid 1960's.

[@NM-pz8ir]

I've just remembered something else about the car in the video. At one time, it had a rear view mirror from a Spitfire fighter plane. Being a "Special" there were no issues over keeping things original!

[@paulleighton8522]

What a beautiful car! I love that you only took it on "gentle" village roads, it seemed somehow completely appropriate - after all when the car was built, most of England WAS rural villages. And it was very interesting when you said "we haven't maybe come as far as we think we have," I agree. The basic controls, etc, after 90 years, are essentially the same. That can't be said about other everyday items invented around this time we still use today, like the phone for example. But I don't envy you that gearbox in the least Steph!

[@grayfool]

Excellent. These cars really put Britain on the road in their day. They are a huge part of Britain's motoring history. They are also a reminder of how crucial Austin was to the UK, add in the Mini and you have two of the world's most popular cars ever. Well done for having a go Steph, not an easy thing to get to grips with.

[@___Steinn___]

Thank you for showing us such an old car in every detail. Loved every second of it! 😍👍👍👍

[@idriveaclassic]

Aww thanks xx

[@qrm8772]

The honest simplicity of this car is amazing. The wheels,the petrol tank,and the exhaust are pure art. It"s everything you need and nothing you don't. Truly this is a classic.

[@engraver6]

I never thought I would see one of these built by my friend Richard's father Bill Williams really enjoyed watching this.

[@neilpiper9889]

I had a 1933(registered) Morris Minor with an 847 cc overhead camshaft engine, with 2 bearings, roller bearing at the front, 4 speed gearbox, hydraulic brakes, and push button electric start. The accelerater pedal was in the middle. The dynamo stood on end at the front of the engine and drove the ohc. Oil would drop down into the dynamo causing it to stop charging. I remedied that by placing a strip of v shaped metal to take the oil beyond the dynamo. My friend had an Austin 7, cable brakes 2 bearing crankshaft. We used to be competitive over the cars and girlfriends! He was often seen under the car on very hot days tightening the brake cables.

[@robertl2856]

I so admire your courage....driving and bringing these classics to life for us.

[@MrEBog]

Cracking video. I knew I had to watch it straight away and wasn't disappointed. Loving the variety of cars!

[@123sheepdip]

A wonderful channel so informative and fun to watch. Love your humour. Keep up the excellent "work".

[@darranyoung6077]

Wow, beautiful car! Nice to get a peek at the Marina & Herald in the background too!

[@jasonkowitz4598]

This is a great little car. If I had one of these over here in the states I would be driving it all over the place. Thanks for sharing!!!

[@andygreen1a]

Oh wow, looks amazing, but you had a great time with is old Austin. Great review as always.

[@iana6713]

That is a pretty wee car. When I was a kid our local Austin-Rover dealer had a green four seater one of these on display in the corner of the showroom next to the new Montegos and Metros.

[@idriveaclassic]

Aww lovely!

[@ruggerobalzan7725]

idriveaclassic 7

[@hutchcraftcp]

Austin 7's were even sold in the USA. Marketed as the American Austin from 1929-1934 . the depression caused the company to reorganize into the Bantam motor car company. Bodies were restyled and the original engine modified. Production ended in 1941 with WW II.

[@vitameat]

Bantam also built the first prototype of what eventually became the Jeep. Due to lack of plant capacity, Willys-Overland got the bid to make them instead.

[@gryfandjane]

Wonderful, Steph! Thanks for introducing us to “Sally”.

[@andy40456]

Loved the video. Always wondered what it would be like to drive one. Thanks Steph

[@Noel50724]

Thanks Steph, a very enjoyable film Two characters showing an interest in your Marina at 1.20!

[@chrispenn715]

Well done Steph - I know these are quite a challenge to drive. Good job! Nice to see another old car still being used and cherished. I had a 1930s Morris Eight some years ago - great fun and terrifying at the same time!

[@idriveaclassic]

I can imagine!

[@johnsbox]

Your channel will be a great success Steph, if you continue this kind of stuff. Variety is the spice of life!

[@charlesshipp4188]

Well done Steph, brilliant as usual, well brave to drive that little beauty !

[@AMStationEngineer]

Designed and manufactured during a time when both people and cars had character; that had to have been a damn fun drive! Thanks for sharing!!

[@michaeltutty1540]

Absolutely wonderful. A real treat. Sally is truly something special. You might note that Austin 7 was the beginning of Jaguar Motor Cars. After being the Swallow Sidecar Company, SS began in the car business building custom bodied for the Seven. Later, they went in to building their own cars, with Jaguar being a model within the SS 100 range. After WW II, the negative connotations of SS led to the company being renamed Jaguar.

[@krisjones5125]

loved the fact you were looking for them indicators when you first turned. such an amazing little old car, also sounds like a monster truck but has a tiny exhaust

[@steved3702]

Great review, Steph. I wasn't planning to be drawn in by another YT channel, but I think you've got me!

[@asa1973100]

Superb little car really enjoyed this video. Once again excellent work from your good self.

[@retromechanicalengineer]

Lovely video as usual, thanks Steph

[@phhu7554]

Great video of a lovely little car and that ERF at the end of video looked rather nice too.

[@petergouldbourn2312]

Another great video Steph. You’re very good at what you do. 🇬🇧

[@rydermike33]

Sally is a real beauty. I just love Austin Sevens and have always wanted a Ruby. Well done on the drive Steph, I'd love to see how many 'modern' drivers would manage in a pre-war car. More like this please, many thanks as always.

[@garyjohansson8859]

Great posting Steph. Thank you

[@seancooke4127]

Wonderful Steph and I think you really enjoyed driving a car this old. Visibility seems to very good and it does sound throaty. Your gear changing was fine. You passed a gorgeous big ERF C series on the way around and I could see the corner of a Triumph Herald at the beginning. Great drive, as usual, many thanks. Take care out there. 👍

[@josepharturi5442]

I love your upbeat personality and these videos even though l don't drive.

[@DavidPritchard-ju8ed]

Wonderful thanks for sharing I have always loved the sevens

[@chrisskelhorn5727]

Lovely to see your beautiful smile Steph! It really makes my Sunday sparkle! :-) I haven't driven an Austin Seven since about 1973! And I did wonder how someone of slightly more diminutive stature would get on with it! And indeed, getting in and out, which is an art form in itself! But they are such lovely little cars! Good video though Steph, and when are you going to try the Triumph Herald? :-)

[@theshowman8478]

Lovely car ! What a joy to watch.

[@mickphillips6735]

Aww that was over really quick love these old cars more please

[@guseast6684]

I love this channel hopefully you keep up making videos 👍

[@idriveaclassic]

I’ve got plenty more coming up! X

[@guseast6684]

@@idriveaclassic great to her

[@applanateearth586]

Oh my god I'm so jealous right now....this is one of the best you have done....

[@innovativeprevention1931]

Great review as always thanks

[@replevideo6096]

I really enjoyed that because my father's first car was an open Austin 7, although I'm not sure which model. That was a long while before I was born so I never got to see it. It had wooden floor boards which he had to replace when he bought it because they were rotten. I have ridden in an Austin 7 saloon belonging to a friend in the early 1960s. Four of us went out for a meal in it, and as it laboured up a steep hill in town, a cyclist overtook us.

[@RoyCousins]

Great video. 👍 Austin Sevens are popular in pre-war trials, hill climbs and auto tests. It was also the car that saved Austin after poor sales with larger cars in the 1920s.

[@black_jackledemon6298]

Enjoying your videos from central Texas USA. I love unusual old vehicles of all types. I have 3 different brands of small antique farm tractors. Probably 2 by weeks end as I'm willing to sell even as low as at cost sometimes to someone that will both use it as a tool and conserve it as well. 😊👍

[@Gerk8]

Steph, where are your racing goggles? Lol. Thank you for another great episode!

[@peterriggall8409]

I think it is great that you will have a go at anything Steph. My Dad wrote his life story and related a time his Mum was driving an Austin 7 down a hill when he was a small boy in the back and he told his Mum that the car goes a lot better downhill with the clutch in. He got a good clip around the ears after his Mum managed to regain control. 😊

[@alexanderproudlock2328]

Great video Steph!! The car reminds me of the charm and character of the Austin Chummy. Great review, I hope you do more vintage and post war cars in the future

[@idriveaclassic]

I’ve got something else up my sleeve!

[@alexanderproudlock2328]

idriveaclassic fancy reviewing a Riley?

[@markkimberley3083]

Well done Steph a great job keep them coming please

[@michaeltreadwell777]

What a great video, yet again. From the angle of the camera, it did look like you were going to hit the kerb a few times, but you didn't ! Not my type of car, but fun to watch all the same. Take care and be safe Steph :-)

[@shaunw9270]

That's such a lovely little car . Not seen one since the 80's . Love it 👌

[@idriveaclassic]

Aww my pleasure!

[@PurityVendetta]

God Steph, I'm really envious. I'd love a drive in a 7 particularly a Cambridge Special!

[@MattysCars]

Excellent choice. Great review as always 👌

[@idriveaclassic]

Thanks love x

[@mechanical-adventrues]

The gear box is a dog legged gear box as its not like most classic/modern cars where you go left and up for first instead in the Austin its left and down great video love classic cars😊👍

[@MarkfromNewYork]

Steph i really enjoy all your videos.

[@sambone8194]

That looks like an absolute cracking blast!

[@dmodeboy]

Haha that's a cutie. Great video Steph. I think I would have to resist dressing up like Noddy if I drove it 🤣

[@grotekleum]

That was great, thanks for sharing.

[@neilcurson4505]

Started building an A7 special in about 1960, Gambling Cadet fiberglass body shell, stoped front axle and Bowden cable brakes speedex? Engine parts etc. Alas iost interest never finished the build. 38 years later I built a Citroen 2cv special, finished in 98 , still have it, great fun for an OAP!

[@SquareoftheyearFM]

Very good, always fancied an Austin 7

[@Howlingd0g]

This is adorable! Seeing how all the modern cars (even the ones thought of as "small") absolutely dwarfed you and Sally was amusing but also kind of telling of how far away we've moved from the simple pleasures of driving. Cranky gears aside, she looks like an absolute blast to drive and I'd love to have a go if I ever got the opportunity! Question for anyone out there who knows - was the children's TV car character Brum supposed to be an Austin 7? They look very alike in many ways but I'm not too knowledgeable on vintage cars past a certain age!

[@davidmartin6735]

Crumbs .. ✋ hand signals 👍 great video again Steph Thank U 😊

[@idriveaclassic]

I drive a morris minor with trafficators, I’m well versed!

[@paulfisher1160]

Hi there, Thanks for sharing. Always love driving my dads 7's. Very nice to drive with a remote gear leaver and makes it feel a lot more modern. Clutch is a switch. in or out haha. You will get use to it. Open her up and then the steering becomes alive in it own way and direction. Scary to sometimes think it was meant to carry the family for the price of a bike and sidecar. Id still go for it. I do find where i live in the world.that the modern generation dont respect them on the road though so things like indicators become a must. Have to adapt. Thanks again, Regards, Paul

[@bcfairlie1]

Soon fabulous. Both you and the Austin

[@frankclack9096]

I had a Wolseley wasp back in the sixties when I lived in Plymouth 🇬🇧 was a vintage motorcar

[@catjudo1]

Steph, you might find this amusing. My mother is about your height and has rather short arms and legs (a trait she passed on to me, sadly), and when she and my dad were dating he owned an MGB. A pretty green one that he really enjoyed. When they got married he ended up selling his rust free Southern lovely because Mom couldn't drive it. Even with a foam pillow behind her, her little feet couldn't reach the pedals enough to drive it properly. Blocks on the pedals were no better. So, the MG found a new home. Dad has long known how to wrench a car, so whoever bought it got a good one.

[@andrewhuxley4634]

Nice to see you driving a vintage

[@martinevans1256]

Great video again you don’t see one of those everyday

[@johndutton9739]

Another great vid - one question - what were the brakes like? I guess you were going pretty slowly but I’d be frightened of the old brakes not stopping very well. Really lovely car - quite want one! Thanks 😃

[@retr0naut823]

Comedy moment at 1.20 in 😊 Scarper!!!

[@idriveaclassic]

Hahahah. I forgot to edit that OTT. Oh well.

[@akr01364]

Here in the New England area of the US we have a number of these old things kicking around. They were sold under the "Bantam" name here (the company went on to later become what we now know as Jeep) and given our roads aren't of the always broad and straight type the rest of the country has smaller ones like these tended to sell well here. The city I work out of, Boston in the state of Massachusetts, has garages from the time that weren't built for a Model T. But, this, in fact. I've yet to drive one myself. But, there's always a few at ever car show.

[@billyhill101]

Truest stunning loved it thank so very much

[@ghw7192]

Love the high tech clothes pin!

[@robertngreen6]

Well this is a surprising choice for you to review! Very interesting though and looks like a hoot to drive!

[@scrapyardwarriorvlogging]

Such a bonny little car! Love the little details on it 🚗🚗🚗

[@idriveaclassic]

She was exceptional. Not a budget car to me in the slightest ❤️

[@rickythe2]

That’s lovely, I’m sure it wouldn’t take much getting used to, just master double declutching and the reverse H pattern box, oh and I bet getting in and out was fun too lol. I’m glad you mentioned the camera man, I though damn she’s a hairy one! 😂

[@hlk5887]

Like stepping into a different time. Lovely little car perfect for those country roads. Back then it was probably a bit of a luxury to have a car at all.

[@AllThingsAlex]

Love the reg! That's the initials of my production company!

[@saxon-mt5by]

Ha Ha! That car was built up by a young local enthusiast in the mid-1970s from collection of parts that I sold to him, including that registration number.

[@manthony1956]

Never seen one in the flesh, but they were in many of the vintage B&W British movies that I love. The electric starter threw me, but not the shift pattern. Nissan's relationship with BMC, British Leyland must have been very strong. The Nissan A motors of the 1970s were basically Austin A motors. We accomplished some interesting swaps. Suddenly the Austin-Healy Sprite had a free flowing 1500 cc motor and full synchromesh five speed from a Nissan. Very transformative. I think you need an Austin 7, Steph. With a few, modern, resto-mod touches, of course. It seems to suit you.

[@barryphillips7327]

I did not know of the Austin Cambridge model until the 60s

[@jeremytravis360]

I went to a car display in Rickmansworth and saw a beautifully restored 1937 MG TF for sale £30.000. It was in concourse condition and even had a valve conversion to run unleaded petrol. If I had a garage I would have been tempted.

[@bentaxelrod]

Loved the video. The Australian Austin 7 club did a run from South Australia to Queensland and back, something like 7000 kms or so. Austin 7 was the first to circumnavigate Australia by road. The first to reach the tip of cape York and won the first Australian Grand Prix, which is the second oldest GP. What more do we need to say about this great little car.

[@danieleregoli812]

Well done Steph dear! Vintage cars are really hard to drive - I consider myself a good driver, but the one time I tried to drive a Morris Cowley the whole experience turned out to be a spectacular fiasco!!! And more recently an unrestored Triumph GT6 with bad brakes, bad gearbox and bad steering turned out to be a totally frightful experience, so there you go!!! ;-)

[@drwho534]

That was fun! 😁👍

[@Shane_Marsh]

Cool , love cars with character.

[@cme2cau]

My late father in law would wax lyrical about his Austin 7. Wonderful little cars.

[@HiroNguy]

Steph I'd love to see you starting and driving a Model T - with the original controls!

[@johannesburing2417]

Young Lady styled like in 1950ies presents a 1930ies car : An eyesight worth to look at !

[@ggeo1364]

the thing you have on your left hand with red colour on it,what is it,may i know please?

[@alanroche6559]

Well done girl for your explanation on veteran cars and the years all the way up to the classics goodonya

[@robertdavies7698]

like the cartoon/animation at the end how did you do make that?

[@crashbox7130]

I have the rarer Morris Minor Two-Seater Open-Tourer (the first £100 car) from 1932. This was well before Austin and Morris merged to form BMC in 1952, so completely different cars. The Morris has an 847cc engine. The very first MG Midget, the M-Type that was launched in 1929 was a sporty version of the 1928-1934 Morris Minor Series M.

[@williamhumberhawk8187]

Very nice

[@shauntvr4312]

Love it

[@YUMAToff]

Nice, can you make a video about lada riva?

[@dcarbs2979]

The nearest I've driven to this is the big brother: 1927 Austin 12 at Beulieu. One of my best drives ever, as it has cruise control! (well, hand throttle override that does the same thing), and really light steering considering. Try to get a Model T for the sheer wierdness of the controls if nothing else.

[@paulbennell3313]

Not the sort of thing you'd want to drive to work and back every day (especially in the dead of winter) but great for a laugh at weekends. I suspect that particular car drives and handles rather better than a standard 7. Looks huge fun!

[@petemoring67]

Great little video ..... the two chaps in the background??? ........... "They Can RUN - But They Can't HIDE" ;-)

[@idriveaclassic]

Hahaha. Whoops!

[@mr-wx3lv]

That looked absolute fun. Such a cute little car. But I expect no synchromesh on the gears, that's why you struggled a bit with them.

[@billybobblogs8553]

Lovely little motor PAP PAP!!!

[@rocketsock4297]

OMG that is so cute 😊

[@idriveaclassic]

Isn’t she just!

[@TheUphillracer]

Wonderful little car. Come to a VSCC event. You’ll see a dozen or more Seven specials

[@idriveaclassic]

I may well do!

[@TheUphillracer]

idriveaclassic Secretary of the VSCC is a Midland Automobiile Club colleague, Tania Brown, and she has a Seven Special daily driver and is a classic trialist. There are bound to be classic trials around Yorkshire for you to have a look at as we come out of restrictions