The tiny British Austin 7 might seem an unusual basis for custom coachwork, but several survivors from the late 1920s are known to carry attractive coupe bodies built by Maythorn & Son, a famous old British firm most noted for its work on Rolls-Royce chassis. These bodies were originally trimmed in wicker-look “canework,” giving them a look reminiscent of Cinderella’s carriage. The majority of the handful of Maythorn-bodied Austin 7s were delivered in England, but this car, chassis number 36828, was sold in the U.S. to the Pulitzer Family, of New York publishing fame, for their home in West Palm Beach, Florida, according to subsequent owner J.C. “Jim” Ohmer.

Mr. Ohmer, also of West Palm Beach, bought the car from the Pulitzers on March 1, 1935. A minor engine fire laid up the car in 1947, and it was stored until 1969, when it was acquired by Marjorie Greene, its third West Palm Beach owner, to whom he also conveyed the story of its original ownership.

Mrs. Greene was an unusual and, to be sure, fascinating lady. A genuine enthusiast, she and her son, Dick, began working at restoring the little car, a process that would continue through three relocations and nearly 20 years. Work was finally completed in 1987, with the body refinished in a rich blue with a black top, fenders, hood, and wire wheels. The car was refitted with its original custom bumpers, made for the car by the Elephant Motor Company, and features a small “dickey” seat that, like the interior, is upholstered in Bedford Cord.

Following completion of the restoration, the Austin 7 was painstakingly maintained and shown by Mrs. Greene at shows all over Florida, including at the first Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance in 1996. At the age of 82, she was featured with her car in an article, “Granny’s Baby Austin,” in the October-November 1999 issue of British Driver magazine, in which she took the car out for a test drive dressed, as usual, with an Austin emblem on her necklace and spark plug earrings. The extensive file on the car includes numerous photos of Mrs. Greene with her pride and joy.

Now offered by its fourth proud owner, the Austin is offered with receipts from his ownership, covering the service of the car to return it to running order, including repair work to the wiring and the rebuilding of the starter, which is now operated by a floor pedal. It is also complete with original tools and a logbook documenting maintenance work performed by J.C. Ohmer from 1935–1938, his 1950 Florida registration, and a handwritten 1969 bill of sale to Mrs. Green.

Marjorie Greene was understandably proud of her ex-Pulitzer, coachbuilt Austin 7—as, indeed, will be a new owner.