A huge success from the moment deliveries commenced in January 1923, the Seven remained in production until 1939.

Its success led to a host of special-bodied variants from independent coachbuilders, none more famous than those produced by Swallow.

Founded in 1922 in Blackpool by William Walmsley, the Swallow Sidecar & Coachbuilding Company branched out into motor body manufacture in 1926.

Its first effort clothed a Talbot chassis but the firm's first major success was an attractive, two-tone, aluminium-bodied sports saloon on the Austin Seven chassis.

Designed by Walmsley's partner, William Lyons, the car brought the Swallow name to the attention of the motoring public and paved the way for the stylish SS models of the 1930s.

The Austin Seven Swallow became deservedly popular, with an estimated 2,500 cars being made from 1927 to 1932.

Indeed, in its lifetime, there was no comparable car in its size or at its price that offered a similar amount of style and luxury.

This example w...