Chassis Number: 127739
Engine Number: M132400
Austin Seven Ulster - registered NV 316 - known as the "Monza Ulster" - when owned by Pierre de Villiers in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Factory build number B-3814 with chassis 127739 factory listed as "Supercharged Sports" - supercharged engine was originally 107998, now fitted with long term unblown pressure fed Ulster engine number M132400 from 1931
The early life of this car is shown in these two rather hazy 1936/7 photos when recently sent to the present owner in January 2025 this year by a Graham King whose father owned this car before the war, complete with full wings and full width windscreen.
Fame for this car when later owned by Pierre de Villiers who took this car to Monza. Autodromo Nationale Monza, founded in 1922, is best known today along with Imola as one of Italy's two premier Formula 1 Grand Prix circuits, with Monza alone having hosted over 100 World Championship events. In 1960 Monza hosted a very different event. On May 28th 1960 the C.M.A.E. (Club Milanese Automotorvehicle d'Epoca) organised a meeting for "automobiles of the past" - up to 1940. Timed runs were held for the Coppa di Monza and with an accompanying concours event, 60 competitors took part - including this car NV 316 - Pierre de Villiers's Austin 7 Ulster.
Against the very real odds, Pierre de Villiers, with his much smaller car than the others, won the day's event, and came away with an armful of trophies - as shown here.
At the end of the 1950s Pierre de Villiers was enjoying plenty of success with the 750 Motor Club, racing his narrow radiator methanol burning Ulster. At September 1959 Wiscombe Pierre de Villiers won the Historic Racing Car Class against a field of Frazer Nashes, Bentleys and a Bugatti. His other successes included being part of the Austin 7 Ulster Team in the National 6-hour Relay endurance event at Silverstone - originally organised by Holland Birkett - who coincidentally owned the sister Supercharged Ulster to this car which was laid down in a batch of two cars on the same day as this car NV 316 chassis 127739, Birkett's Supercharged Ulster being chassis no 127740, also existing today, and also without its original supercharged engine .
Pierre de Villiers moved on to bigger cars, taking his Connaught in 1962 to Indianapolis - but sadly failing to qualify
NV 316 was then owned and raced by Patrick Marsh (later owner of ERA R1B & former VSCC President), P N Scott, long term owner John Meeks, well known VSCC competitor & Yorkshireman Geoff Winder, and latterly Geoff Harrison, with son Greg Harrison recently having success at Harewood, before passing to the present owner.
ENGINE TODAY
The previous owner Geoff Harrison says he originally ran the car for about 3 seasons with the factory steel Ulster crank, connecting rods and Ulster high lift cam, in the Ulster crankcase.
He says that "During that time he slowly built up another pressure fed engine with Phoenix crank and rods and re-profiled standard cam for use when he eventually rebuilt the Ulster engine as he did not want to have the misfortune of breaking the Ulster crank and possibly ruining the original Ulster crankcase.
The Ulster engine M132400 re-installed in the car was rebuilt with Phoenix crank and rods, +080" Honda pistons oversize oil pump etc.,
The Ulster camshaft was re-profiled for lower and less fierce lift.
The Austin DK4 distributor replaced with a VW Bosch unit.
Performance of the rebuilt Ulster engine was much better than the modified standard engine. The re-profiled Ulster cam profiles giving much improved torque low down.
Once he had re-fitted the original Ulster engine all he did was to maintain it with no further mods."
Please see the photos of the original pressure-fed crankshaft and Ulster conrods with the car.
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Please enquire - this is understandably not a replica Austin Ulster but one with a degree of importance today, taking into account that no competition car is totally original, one that has been used for competition and therefore developed and developed over the decades.
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Although we attempt to ensure accuracy of any statement or detail, the customer must make his or her own judgement in purchasing this car. The purchaser of the above car understands that he or she is purchasing a historic motor car with components that are up to 95 years old and sold as a collector item. There is no warranty given or implied due to the age of the car
Call 07973 731508
