Austin 7 around the Americas – Guy Butcher G’67

Austin 7 Around the Americas

Guy & Eunice in Vegreville, Canada

Ibought my first Austin 7 in 1966, a 1932 saloon. It was in a bit of a state and required rebuilding to use as my every day car. It won a highly commended award at the 750 Clubs Beaulieu Rally 1967. And so, ownerships of Austin 7s developed; a Nippy, and a 1928 Chummy, bought from the original lady owner were two notables.

As retirement loomed there were questions as to what to do. Eunice, my beloved partner, knew I needed some kind of project, otherwise I’d be a pain in the bum. Influenced by Tschiffely’s Ride, Coleman’s Drive and Austins over the Andes, a long-distance adventure began its gestation. How about attempting to drive the equivalent of the circumference of the world; 24,860 miles (40,007 km)? Good idea, let’s go for it!

So, 1936/28 was sourced, dismantled, rebuilt and containerised to me in Baltimore. On 27th July 2012, we’re on the road heading for Alaska before turning left and keeping the sea on our right almost until we arrived in Punta Arenas; 18,300 miles down the road. We visited Butler, Pennsylvania; the home of the American Austin, the American Bantam, the Bantam and the Jeep (which became the basis of the first Land Rover). Whilst staying with friends in Edmonton, Canada we learnt that my idea of going via Ketchikan would never work (there are no roads to the town). Hence we’d need to go to Skagway, an additional 500 miles north up the Alaska Highway. On our way to the Inner Passage Ferry we had our first really serious problem; a failed wheel bearing. But we chugged our way to Skagway, caught the ferry and spent 5 days trying to seek an answer without the internet. The bearing was finally replaced in Bellingham and off we set, stopping in Seattle to visit America’s Car Museum.

Our arrival in Los Angeles was enhanced by a visit to Autobooks Aerobooks and some friends arranged the sourcing of maps and a visit to Jay Leno’s workshop.

Eventually we raced across the border into Mexico (don’t stop at the frontier, it’s a very dangerous place). As we motored down Baja California the changes to life in North

“When I saw them pull up to my gate I assumed a golf cart had gotten lost and wandered off” Jay Leno

America were very dramatic; the isolated settlements, flowering cacti after a tropical storm, and a Model T Ford that pulled up behind us in Loreto. There followed drinks, a meal and we stayed for a week! The rest of Central America was a bit of a blur as we raced through the border crossings - very challenging, not user friendly and requiring an excess of quantitative easing from ‘friendly locals’ willing to help the gringos. Indeed, at the border into El Salvador we were offered; turn around and go another way, pay someone to transport the car, or you have 24 hours to transit the country. Why? A right-hand drive vehicle is illegal! So, we did our best; the maps we had were worse than useless, so we got lost multiple times, broke some spokes (fortunately) and arrived 20 minutes over the 24 hours. We were due a $1,200 fine. The interview with the head honcho did not go well. Meanwhile a lorry pulled into customs and was found to have a large stash of cocaine, so our importance in the day’s entertainment diminished. We were eventually allowed to leave after 8 hours.

Our arrival in Panama just before New Year provided us with the opportunity to catch our breath, play the role of tourist; visiting the Old City, the Panama Canal, servicing the car and arranging for shipping to Ecuador. IIHSA CAT very generously offered to transport the car free of charge to Guayaquil; we had to pay all the custom duties in Ecuador. Whilst the car was at sea we made our way to the Galapagos Islands for an amazing break from the road.

Our arrival in Guayaquil was enhanced by the enthusiastic help in the recovery of the car from the docks, resolving all the paperwork and unloading the car in the street from its container with the aid of two fork lift trucks. Nerve wracking!

Initially the route out of Guayaquil was flat before climbing without a break to 12,500 ft (3,800m), until about 500ft from the summit. Eunice had to help by pushing - not easy at altitude - before we literally rolled down the road to Cuenca. One of the ongoing problems we experienced were broken spokes - eventually 30 - and we had to wait for spares to arrive from the UK. We waited impatiently in Arequipa for the Peruvian Customs to release the items, but discovered that there are three structures designed by Gustave Eiffel in the city; a bridge, a market and an opera house. A guest at the hotel put us in touch with the local Nissan agent whose General Manager had an interest in pre-war cars. Whilst he was unable to help with the spokes we had the very good fortune to meet his boss, Signor Roberto, who had opened the Austin Agency in the City.

In Copiapo we met three Austin 7s on their way to New York from Buenos Aires as John Coleman had done in his 1925 Austin 7 during 1959-60. Fascinating tales of derring do! Two days later, as we headed to Los Andes for the final service for the car, we became aware of a very nasty engine noise. Feeling very forlorn that this might be the end of the road, I paced around wondering what to do. A local man pulled off and enquired as to our problem. In a form of spanglish with drawings we understood each other. “I’ll tow you to my village, we’ll have some lunch before making a ramp with wood in the back of my Mazda Fourcab. Then we’ll push the car onto the ‘car transporter’’. And so it was that we were transported to our destination Los Andes.

Up early on Monday morning; engine out and partially dismantled, no obvious cause for the ‘noise’. Tuesday; removed the timing chest cover; two teeth broken off the crankshaft timing gear with damage to the camshaft gear. My host, “ring Danial Elton Heavey in Valparaiso”. His father

Austin 7 Around the Americas continued

had been the Austin Agent in Chile. Wednesday, a visit to Valparaiso; in Danial’s workshop, an Austin 7 and two spare Austin 7 engines! “Help yourself to what you need”, Danial says. I reply, “What do I owe you?’‘, “Nothing, right now. Send me replacements when you get home”. The kindness of strangers! Thursday, we spent the morning preparing the engine for the new gears and prepping the car for our ongoing journey. Friday, refit the gears, replace the engine, make all the necessary connections, and fire it up. Saturday morning, we are on the road with fond farewells to meet up with my sister and husband to enjoy a few days together in Pucon. They are bringing some more spares including spokes and a tyre. Really good to see them, not too long to the ‘Finish’.

Our last day, as we head to Tierra del Fuego, Eunice has a very serious chest infection/bronchitis, indeed should we be travelling? We miss the turning to Tierra del Fuego and choose to go to Punta Arenas so that Eunice can get well. Eventually we are able to go out for dinner. Whilst reading the menu a man observes us keenly before making his way to our table. “You’re Eunice Kratky!” he declares. It transpires that he’s a friend and colleague who has worked with both of us, based in the Child Development Centre in Plymouth. Being Chilean they have been walking in Torres del Paine, seeing his elderly mother before attending a medical conference. The notion that ‘Saint Serendipity’ is the patron saint of travellers/road trips is confirmed.

Having written the book Austin 7 around the Americas all proceeds from sales are being donated to the Dame Hannah Rogers Trust in Devon www.discoverhannahs.org and can be purchased at www.bespk.com

Chance meeting with a contemporary in Loreto, Baja California

Our saviour, Mauricio, with our broken car tied on the back

Guy Butcher G’67