Move that weight!

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Why would you need a long chassis for an Austin Seven Special? Bill Williams, the proprietor of Cambridge Engineering who built this Special in 1937, had to use a long chassis to get the extra room in the cockpit because his client, R.R. Willis, was a large chap weighing around 17 stone (108 kg)! Bill Williams also drove the 'Willis Special' and -being a bit lighter- proved more successful. Bill states in a letter that they used to set the car up at Brooklands but only ever used it for sprints and hill climbs. However, it is said that after Kay Petre’s side valve works car was smashed, Austin were unable to rebuild it in time for the Shelsley meeting of 28th May 1938. Austin were therefore short of a car to complete their team entry and asked Williams to bring along the offset Monoposto and run as a works entry (check the seat belt!). Unfortunately, the gear lever broke off during the first run, with R.R. Willis driving. The Willis Special survived and can be seen at the showroom of Tom Hardman.

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