AUSTIN SEVEN, 1932 The little one that doesn't... Lot 42

AUSTIN SEVEN, 1932 The little one that doesn't go unnoticed Chassis: 148007 Mileage reading: 5808 Restored in England Italian papers English license plates preserved. Fun to drive The Austin 7 was a car produced from 1922 to 1939 in the United Kingdom by the Austin Motor Company. Nicknamed the 'Baby Austin,' it was one of the most popular cars ever produced and sold equally well abroad. It blew away most other British hatchbacks and motocars of the early 1920s, and its effect on the British market was similar to that of the Ford Model T in the United States. Before the Austin 7, however, larger cars were the order of the day, but the far-sighted Sir Herbert Austin thought that a smaller car would be more popular. Despite protests from the company's board of directors concerned about the company's financial situation, Austin convinced them by threatening to take the idea to their competitor Wolseley and thus obtained permission to undertake his project. He was assisted by a young draftsman named Stanley Edge who worked from 1921 to 1922 at Austin's home, Lickey Grange. Austin invested a large amount of money in design and patented many of his innovations. In return for the investment he was paid a royalty of two guineas on each car sold. In the first year of production (1923) nearly 2,500 cars were produced, not as many as hoped for, but within a few years the 'big miniature car,' had transformed the fortunes of the Austin Motor Co. and by 1939, when production finally ended, over 290,000 cars and vans had been produced AUSTIN SEVEN, 1932 Restored in England Italian documents Fun to drive No reserve The Austin 7 was a car produced from 1922 through to 1939 in the United Kingdom by the Austin Motor Company. Nicknamed the 'Baby Austin, it was one of the most popular cars ever produced and sold equally well abroad. It wiped out most other British small cars and cyclecars of the early 1920's and its effect on the British market was like that of the Model T Ford in the USA. Prior to the Austin 7 though, larger cars were the order of the day, but the forward thinking of Sir Herbert Austin felt a smaller car would be more popular. Despite protestations from the company's board of directors who were concerned about the financial status of the company, Austin won them over by threatening to take the idea to their competitor Wolseley and so got permission to embark upon his design. He was assisted by a young draughtsman called Stanley Edge who worked from 1921 into 1922 at Austin's home, Lickey Grange. Austin put a large amount of his own money into the design and patented many of its innovations. In return for the investment, he was paid a royalty of two guineas on every car sold. Nearly 2,500 cars were made in the first year of production (1923), not as many as hoped, but within a few years the 'big car in miniature' had transformed the fortunes of the Austin Motor Co. and by 1939, when production finally ended, over 290,000 cars and vans had been made