Austin

Automaker Austin, which later became the largest in the country and is extremely well-known throughout the world, was founded in 1906 by Herbert Austin. This car designer had already been known as the CEO of Wolseley and, concurrently, as a creator rather promising models of machines.

Manufacture of motor vehicles under its own brand of Herbert Austin began in Longbridge in the shops, where once was located typography. Back in 1905 the designer presented a draft of the new machine, and in April 1906 - and the car Austin 25/30 HP. Classic, a representative model was equipped with a 4-cylinder engine. The cylinders were made by individual blocks with lateral camshafts. Machine Austin 25/30 HP gained a good reputation and popularity they enjoyed before the war and subsequent model Austin.

Over time, the company offers a range of Austin vehicles equipped with four-cylinder engines with a capacity of 10-40 horsepower range. Then came a car with a 6-cylinder engine of 50 hp In 1908 two cars Austin took part in the competitions of Grand Prix of France.

In 1909 he was made an inexpensive car Austin 7 HP, which marked the emergence of a series of light vehicles from this company. This model was equipped with a 1-cylinder engine of 1 liter. In the same year he released the car Austin 15 HP. This model is often used as a taxi as the driver's seat, which is located above the engine was properly separated from the passenger.

Postwar models do not differ particularly diverse. The first car manufactured after World War I, became the Austin Twenty, equipped with an engine capacity of 3.6 liters. A little later came the Austin Twelve 12 HP - light motor vehicle with a working volume of 1.6 liters, which was made until 1936 in various completions and with an engine capacity of 1.9 liters.

But the most popular, well-known until now and really became a legendary car Austin Seven, which was called "Seven." This is a small model of an open four-seater bodywork by Herbert Austin and Stanley Edge engineer, was released in 1922, based on the model of Peugeot Quadrilett. The car was equipped with four-cylinder engine with side valves, volume of almost 0.7 liters. Motor power does not exceed 11 hp and a top speed of car reaches 65 km / h In addition, the model was different to the spokes of the wheels. The car was in demand because of low prices, which were important in the postwar period. In 1927, the Austin-7 came with a sports body manufactured by Swallow, who later became known as Jaguar. Austin Seven in different bodies produced until 1939, is constantly being improved at the same time. In addition, the model became the basis for the sports car Ulster and Nippy, as well as a series of machines Mini.