One of the oldest surviving Sevens; effectively two owners from new, the current for 71 years; on display in the Beaulieu Motor Museum 'Hall of Fame' since 1972; multiple show-winner; wonderful history file; always in regular use; not just a car, a national icon Designed in secret late at night over the billiard table at Herbert Austin’s Lickey Grange home, the Austin Seven caused a sensation when it was unveiled in October 1922.

An ingenious answer to the horsepower tax that was stifling UK car ownership, the 7.9hp ‘Baby Austin’ not only cost £10 less to buy than Britain’s cheapest car, the £175 Ford Model T, it also cost only £8 per year in tax compared to over £22 for the 22.5hp Ford (road tax being levied at £1 per fiscal horsepower).

Given that the average annual wage for a skilled worker was £180 at the time, this made a huge difference, allowing the tens of thousands who could hitherto only afford to get about on a motorcycle or a flimsy, three-wheeled cyclecar (both taxed at ...