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BACK | | From Outback engineer to motorcar mogul
Seven Lucky for Austin |
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DESCRIPTION Austin Seven Tourer car, Reg. No XO 4133
MANUFACTURER Austin Motor Co Ltd, Longbridge, Britain
INVENTOR/DESIGNER Stanley Howard Edge (1903-1989), British
DATE 1923
MATERIAL Aluminium, steel, nickel, copper, brass, bronze, glass, paint, leather, textile, rubber,
DIMENSIONS 1620x2660x1360
PROVENANCE 1923-1944: in factory ownership; 1944-1975: private ownership, Mr Donald A Doughty; Private gift in 1975
LOCATION Thinktank
CAT. NO 1955.S.00463 | |
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Austin Seven Tourer | © Thinktank Trust | Come and see it in the City Stories gallery at Thinktank
Austin made little profit from its wartime efforts. Demand for new cars was low and many Longbridge workers were made redundant. Herbert and Austin Motors were on the brink of bankruptcy.
Austin’s fellow directors did not like his idea of designing a ‘baby’ car to revive the company’s fortunes. Undeterred he designed the Austin Seven in the Billiard Room of his home. Stanley Edge, a young draughtsman, assisted him. The Seven took the country by storm in 1922. This small, reliable and affordable car encouraged people to take up motoring and make Austin the country’s second largest car manufacturer. MORE |
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