Calling all Austin 7 Special owners

Published: 23/06/2026

Austin 7 Specials Wanted for Unique Showcase at Haynes Motor Museum

Few cars inspired Britain’s special-building movement quite like the Austin 7, with generations of enthusiasts transforming Austin 7s into lighter, faster and more individual creations in garages and workshops across the country.

The John Haynes Classic Motor Show is bringing that story to life with a major curated display dedicated to Austin 7 Specials, and the stories of their owners.

Held at Haynes Motor Museum on Sunday 6 September 2026, the feature aims to gather around 75 vehicles spanning the full spectrum of Austin 7 special-building.

The showcase, titled 'Austin 7 Specials: When Ingenuity Took the Wheel', will include:
•    Period home-built specials
•    Racing specials
•    ‘Special specials’ and one-offs
•    Newly built specials
•    Touring specials
•    Trials specials
•    Low-volume production specials

More than a vehicle display, the feature will tell the stories behind the cars and the people who built and developed them. Each exhibit will include interpretive content, alongside expert talks and discussion sessions on the main stage celebrating the enduring appeal of the Austin 7 Special movement.

The connection is especially fitting, as the Austin 7 was the car that inspired John Haynes’ earliest mechanical experiments and helped shape the hands-on ethos behind the Haynes Workshop Manuals.

Organisers of the John Haynes Classic are now calling on Austin 7 Special owners from across the country to help create what promises to be one of the most significant gatherings of these cars in recent years.

Whether your car is a well-known competition special, a period special, a recent build or a completely unique one-off, its story deserves to be part of the display.

For more information, or to apply to exhibit your Austin 7 Special, visit johnhaynesclassic.co.uk