It ’s a curiosity there ever was such a matter as a 1932 Austin - Swallow . Sir Herbert Austin launched the cheap and unproblematic Seven model in 1922 to wrest sales event from the light-headed cycle - cars and sidecar - equipped motorcycles then wooing budget - minded British motorist . That same class , William Lyons and William Walmsley began get stylish sidecars in the shop of their Swallow Sidecar Company .
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Rather than cancel one another out , each firm lift up benefiting from the efforts of the other – even if the association was somewhat at arms ' distance . deglutition coachwork lent a fashionable tune to the Seven that was n’t usable in the standard factory physical structure ; the chance to build car body opened new doors for Swallow and chair , ultimately , to the brass of the Jaguar brand name .
The Seven debuted as a " touring car " with room for two adult and two children . It featured four - wheel brake ( with separate front- and rearward - steering wheel activating ) and a transverse spring in front with one-quarter - elliptics in back . The L - read/write head four - cylinder locomotive displaced 696cc , but after the first 100 cars were built the locomotive engine was enlarged to 747cc .
In meter , other body style were added and styling was updated . Starting in 1930 , all four brakes were activated by the same treadle . Wheelbase develop to 81 inch during 1931 . Approximately 375,000 Sevens were built through 1939 .
The first swoopy , handwriting - form aluminum - over - woodwind instrument Swallow roadster eubstance appeared on Austin Seven chassis ( procured from item-by-item dealer ) in 1927 . The following class , a two - door saloon body was add . Aside from typical line and splashy rouge schemes , Swallow also added a bolder , bbl - like grille shell . It ’s estimated that Swallow give rise about 800 buggy and 1,700 " saloon " body for the Seven through 1932 .
Peter Fino , Jr. , of Itasca , Illinois , owns the restored 1932 Austin - Swallow demo here . It acquit such Swallow touches as a Houbigant " ladies companion hardening , " chrome cowl breathing apparatus , rear - window shade , and smoking compartment ’s vent in the ceiling .
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