1931 AUSTIN SEVEN SINGLE SEATER
“RUBBER DUCK”
Car No. 1012, Engine No. XA 158
Early in 1931 the Austin Motor Company built a streamlined single-seater car for record breaking eventually becoming the first 750 cc car to reach 100 mph in the UK. Late in 1931 a further three cars were built for track and hillclimb competitions. Due to their unusual appearance they were affectionately known as “Rubber Ducks” or “Dutch Clogs”.
Although they had many smaller parts the same as the road cars the major components are different. These include the crankcase, block, 25 stud aluminium cylinder head, a vertical roots supercharger boosted at 16lbs/Sq”, front axle, rear axle, offset to the left side, Luvax shock absorbers, the brake cross shafts/compensator and a larger radiator. Steering components are all much heavier than standard as are the front hubs.
The cars were raced by the Austin factory at Brooklands, Shelsley Walsh and Avus from 1931 to 1934.Drivers included Freddie March, Alec Issigonis, Driscoll, Benjafield, Barnes, Turner and Thompson.in the UK and Europe until the end of 1934. One of the cars eventually lapped Brooklands at 106.9 mph.
In 1935 my car (No.1012) was sent to Seabrook Fowlds, an Austin agent in Auckland, New Zealand, for publicity purposes. Pre-War George Smith competed at Murawia Beach and Gloucester Park winning and placing in many events. He also took it to Australia for the 1936 Grand Prix at Victor Harbour in South Australia.
Post-war it was sold to Ron Roycroft who used it as his main race car competing in many events in 1949 and 1950. He competed in the Lady Wigram Trophy Race twice in the Rubber Duck. In 1949 he pitted with tyre trouble when contesting the lead with Hec Green, eventually finishing in sixth place and first on handicap. In 1950 he qualified second fastest but retired in the race.
The car then had a succession of owners progressively becoming less competitive and unreliable. The block finally broke away from the crankcase for the last time in 1957 when driven by Don Hennesey. It was then bought by Lester and Roy Johnstone who fitted a Ford 8 engine and supercharged it using the original blower. It was finally retired in 1964.
In 1986 I purchased a very battered but complete Rubber Duck from Lester and Roy. As the crankcase was not repairable I had a set of patterns made and a crankcase cast in Christchurch. I moved to Australia in 1987 intending to return in a couple of years but did not and the car followed in 1990. I rebuilt it spasmodically over the next twelve years using as much of the original car as possible. The car finally ran in May 2002 after being silent for forty-five years.
Since 2002 I have competed in a variety of events in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. One of my highlights was racing at the Goodwood Revival Meeting in 2005.
During this time the Duck has been very reliable. The engine was rebuilt early in 2008 and this included the fitting of a new crank and flywheel. The car is “on the button” and prepared for its next event.
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The car is currently for sale.
Price: AU$200,000
Grant Cowie