Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and
manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 167,647 pages of
information and 247,064 images on early companies, their products and the
people who designed and built them.
Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and
manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 147,919 pages of
information and 233,587 images on early companies, their products and the
people who designed and built them.
The Austin 7 was a car produced from 1922 to 1939.
Herbert Austin felt a smaller car would be popular, in spite of 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 got permission to start on the design which was by him (chassis, suspension etc) and Stanley Edge (engine) working together 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 his own name. In return for the investment he was paid a royalty of two guineas (£2, 2s), (£2.10) on every car sold.
The first prototype was registered with the number OK 2950 and was later joined by OK 3537.
1922 July the car was launched, initially with a 696cc engine
Two thousand cars were made in the first year of production, not as many as hoped, but within a few years the "big car in miniature" had wiped out the cyclecar industry and transformed the fortunes of Austin.
1923 The engine size was increased to 747cc
1924 Added an electric starter
1933 Added a four-speed gearbox
By 1939 when production finally ended, 290,000 cars and vans had been made. (Some accounts say 375,000 produced)
