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Image of Austin Logo[D]
Photograph of 1950 Austin A70 Hampshire Saloon
1950 Austin A70 Hampshire Saloon [D]
Photograph of 1953 Austin A70 Hereford 'Woody'
1953 Austin A70 Hereford 'Woody' [D]
Photograph of 1955 Austin A90/6
1955 Austin A90/6 [D]
Photograph of 1937 Austin Cheltenham Six
1937 Austin Cheltenham Six [D]
Photograph of 1939 Austin Eight Tourer
1939 Austin Eight Tourer [D]
Photograph of 1938 Austin Ruby
1938 Austin Ruby [D]
Photograph of 1929 Austin Seven Chummy
1929 Austin Seven Chummy [D]
Photograph of Austin
Austin [D]
Photograph of 1929 Austin 16/6 Iver
1929 Austin 16/6 Iver [D]
Photograph of 1950-1953 Austin A40 Sports
1950-1953 Austin A40 Sports [D]
Photograph of 1958 Austin A40 MkI Farina De Luxe
1958 Austin A40 MkI Farina De Luxe [D]
Photograph of 1953 Austin A40 Somerset Coupé
1953 Austin A40 Somerset Coupé [D]
Photograph of 1929 Austin 7 Swallow Sports
1929 Austin 7 Swallow Sports [D]
Photograph of 1947 Austin 10
1947 Austin 10 [D]
Photograph of 1935 Austin 10/4 Colwyn Cabriolet
1935 Austin 10/4 Colwyn Cabriolet [D]
Photograph of 1938 Austin Cambridge
1938 Austin Cambridge [D]
Photograph of 1958 Austin A35
1958 Austin A35 [D]
Photograph of Austin 20
Austin 20 [D]
Photograph of 1952 Austin A90 Atlantic
1952 Austin A90 Atlantic [D]
Photograph of 1928 Austin Clifton Open Tourer
1928 Austin Clifton Open Tourer [D]
Photograph of 1928 Austin 7 Ulster Special
1928 Austin 7 Ulster Special [D]
Photograph of 1960 Austin A40 Mk I
1960 Austin A40 Mk I [D]
Photograph of Austin Sheerline
Austin Sheerline [D]
Photograph of 1959 Austin Cambridge A55 MkI
1959 Austin Cambridge A55 MkI [D]
Photograph of 1950 Austin A70 Hampshire Countryman
1950 Austin A70 Hampshire Countryman [D]
Photograph of Austin A70 Hampshire Saloon
Austin A70 Hampshire Saloon [D]
Photograph of Austin
Austin [D]
Photograph of 1959 Austin A35 Four Door DeLuxe
1959 Austin A35 Four Door DeLuxe [D]
Photograph of Austin
Austin [D]
Photograph of 1954 Austin A40
1954 Austin A40 [D]
Photograph of 1927 Austin Heavy 12 with Windsor Body
1927 Austin Heavy 12 with Windsor Body [D]
Photograph of 1933 Austin 10 Martin Walters Doctors' Coupé
1933 Austin 10 Martin Walters Doctors' Coupé [D]
Photograph of Austin
Austin [D]
Photograph of Austin
Austin [D]
Photograph of 1931 Austin 7 Ulster TT
1931 Austin 7 Ulster TT [D]
Photograph of 1929 Austin 12hp
1929 Austin 12hp [D]
Photograph of 1932 Austin 7 'Box' Saloon
1932 Austin 7 'Box' Saloon [D]
Photograph of 1929 Austin 7 RK Saloon
1929 Austin 7 RK Saloon [D]
Photograph of 1907 Austin 40hp York
1907 Austin 40hp York [D]
Photograph of 1936 Austin 10
1936 Austin 10 [D]
Photograph of 1948 Austin 16
1948 Austin 16 [D]
Photograph of 1931 Austin Seven Swallow
1931 Austin Seven Swallow [D]
Photograph of 1930 Austin 7 Cambridge
1930 Austin 7 Cambridge [D]
Photograph of 1930 Austin 7 Blackburn Special
1930 Austin 7 Blackburn Special [D]
Photograph of 1934 Austin 7 Nippy
1934 Austin 7 Nippy [D]
Photograph of Austin 7 Taxi
Austin 7 Taxi [D]
Photograph of 1928 Austin 7 Swallow Special
1928 Austin 7 Swallow Special [D]
Photograph of 1934 Austin 7 Special
1934 Austin 7 Special [D]
Photograph of 1934 Austin 7 Type 65 'EB'
1934 Austin 7 Type 65 'EB' [D]
Photograph of 1932 Sustin 7 RN Saloon
1932 Sustin 7 RN Saloon [D]
Photograph of 1933 Austin 7 RP Saloon
1933 Austin 7 RP Saloon [D]
Austin
Austin Motor Company Ltd.
Longbridge
Birmingham
1906-1960+

Herbert Austin (1866-1941) produced the first car under his own name in 1906 with a 5 litre 25/30 hp engine. The first car to use the famous Austin 7 name was a single-cylinder light car of Swift origin. Many large 30, 40, 50 and 6 hp models were built up to the Great War, but the smaller cars were much more successful.

Austin was in severe difficulties by 1921 and the situation was not helped by the introduction of the Horsepower Tax in that year. Their founder, now Sir Herbert Austin had misjudged the market with his single model policy. (Similar to Henry Ford with the Model T). He now planned to introduce a 6hp cyclecar but his fellow directors were not keen due the financial condition of the company. In April 1921 a receiver had been called in to oversee affairs.

Austin was so keen to continue with the small car that he threatened to sell the concept to the Wolseley Sheep Shearing Machine Company, where he was still chairman. (He had designed Wolseley's first car in 1895). Austin worked on the car at his home near Bromsgrove and paid for a draughtsman himself. This was the then 18-year-old Stanley Edge who had joined Longbridge in 1917. In the period between August 1921 and April 1922 they both designed what was to become the Austin Seven.

Originally intended to be a two-cylinder car similar to the Rover 8hp. Edge argued for a four-cylinder design, and Austin agreed. Edge became responsible for the engine design, while the chassis, running gear & body were Austin's.

Times were better by April 1922 and the board allowed the construction of three prototypes and production was started in July with sales starting the next year. This "The Motor for the Million" was a proper four-seater (Two adults plus three children) and was initially only offered as an open car. 2409 Seven's were built in 1923 and by 1926 production was exceeding the 12 with 13174 being built. 27225 Seven's were built in its best year of 1935.

Between the wars a large and varied range of models was produced from 7 to 28 hp. In 1923 Austin took over Sizaire-Berwick. By the years of 1933/34 Austin had pulled ahead of Morris to become Britain's top car manufacturer.

During the Second World War some of the pre-war cars were built for the military with a few being made available to private buyers as the end of the war approached.

After the war ended, the pre-war models were reintroduced until 1947 brought the launch of the A40 Dorset and Devon models. 1951 brought the new Austin Seven, which was marketed as the A30, A35 from 1956. The A30 engine went on to power many other Austin's including the Allegro of the 1970's.

In 1952 an agreement was reached with Metropolitan and the American styled Austin Metropolitan (sometimes known as a Nash or a Rambler) was produced using the A40 engine and A30 suspension in either an open or closed body shell. Production continued until 1961.

The fifth Austin Seven was announced in 1959 with a transverse engine, gearbox in the sump and rubber suspension. Thus the Mini, as it was to become known, had arrived. The Mini was produced with many body styles including Countryman, Van, Pick-up, Mini-Moke and sporting Cooper models.

By the 1960's Austin had become part of the giant British Motor Corporation (BMC) and a period of "badge engineering" followed where the purchaser could choose between an Austin or Morris version of essentially the same model. (The Mini was also available as the Riley Elf, or a Wolseley, each with a larger boot and an appropriate radiator grille.).

1969 brought out the Austin Maxi, a five-door five-speed hatchback using the first new engine from Austin for a long time. The Maxi styling was restricted by the need to use as many existing parts as possible, and the passenger doors were from the earlier 1800.

BMC became part of British Leyland during the 1970's and later Austin-Rover, then Rover before becoming part of the German BMW Company in more recent years.

The Mini, introduced in 1959, is still in production until recently and BMW have launched a new version. This represents a production period of nearly 40 years, and the Mini has even outlasted its replacement, the Metro (1981-1998) by several years.