1936 Austin 7 Ruby | Brightwells | Auction Ends: Wed 24th Jun

Highly original with a wonderful history file; only 64,537 miles from new with history to prove; ex-Scottish car museum; new wiring loom; a proper time capsule

This wonderfully original Ruby has covered only 64,537 miles from new, most of them clocked up by the car’s first owner, Mr Edwin Isom of Bury St Edmunds, who kept the car for at least 30 years. Clearly a very fastidious chap, he kept meticulous records of his time with the car which he bought new from his local Austin dealership, Mann Egerton, in May 1936, the original purchase invoice showing that it cost £125.

He also kept the original Data Card for the car and various letters and invoices that he received from Mann Egerton, plus a photo of himself and his wife with the car taken in 1937. In addition, he also kept a detailed log of every journey made in the car and every bit of maintenance carried out until January 1963 by which time the Ruby had covered 63,194 miles.

Presumably Mr Isom then either passed away or gave up driving, a subsequent owner briefly resuming the usage log in July 1991 when the odometer was still only showing 63,718 miles. There are also five old MOTs from 1990 – 2006 which show the mileage creeping up to 64,537 over this 16-year period.

Old registration documents show that it has had six owners since Mr Isom, moving from the East of England up to Edinburgh in 1992 and remaining in Scotland for the next 24 years. An internet search shows photos of the car on display at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum in Fife in the early 2000s and it was subsequently sold at an auction in Perth which is where our vendor acquired the car in 2016.

Invoices show that he has spent a fair amount on the car since, including a new wiring loom, refurbished starter motor and refurbished ammeter. There is also an invoice from November 1988 when the car received a thorough overhaul of the brakes, steering, suspension and propshaft, this work being carried out by PM Balls of Saxmundham at a cost of £795 (equivalent to £3,000 today).

We are told that the car is in good running order but as there is no battery currently fitted we have not had it running on site. The original tool kit and wheel-changing kit are present along with sundry other bits and bobs (see photos).

A proper little time capsule, this highly original, low-mileage and well-historied Ruby looks mighty tempting at the modest guide price suggested.

Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907 – james.dennison@brightwells.com