SEVEN SUB-£7k RAGTOPS
Summer is near and top-down fun beckons. Here’s how to get your open air fix without breaking the bank
The clocks have gone forward after what has felt like a very long winter and with it come lighter nights and the promise of sunshine. So we tasked the CCW team with picking a drop- top classic that can be purchased in roadworthy condition with an upper budget of £7k.
It’s a challenge that the whole team relished and there are plenty of options to choose from, as you can see from the eclectic mix of cars everyone has picked.
Do let us know what you think of our choices and if you reckon there’s a convertible that’s been overlooked email us at: editorial@classiccarweekly.co.uk
AUSTIN SEVEN 1923-39
The Seven is a wonderful gateway into the intoxicating world of pre-war motoring. I’m almost ashamed to admit that I’d never driven Longbridge’s plucky pioneer until I got behind the wheel of Richard Usher’s example at The Great British Car Journey two years ago, but after that I was hooked.
There are plenty of decent examples out there, parts supply and specialist support is a lot better than some other pre-war cars and you can do just about anything with a Seven, from polishing it up for your village show to scrabbling up the scree on the Vintage Sports Car Club’s Lakeland Trial.
Most of the examples that we’ve found for this sort of money tend to be the saloons or projects, but if it’s the latter, there’s plenty of expert help out there and you can do many of the jobs yourself. Be patient, though, and you should be able to bag an al fresco variant for well within our budget – in fact, South Western Vehicle Auctions sold a charming 1935 Opal for just £4700 back in November.
ONE DAVID HAS FOUND 1933 AUSTIN SEVEN, £7500
I’ve used a bit of man maths on the selling price, here, but I reckon that a little bit of polite haggling and offering to pay cash would likely have bagged this Seven within our £7k budget. The fresh tyres are a plus point and it sounds like it’s been looked after. In fact, it’s so tempting that it had already been sold before this week’s issue went to press!
■ Private seller, classiccarsforsale.co.uk
