 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| Basic Info | Pick-up | Panel Van | Countryman | Commercials | Pedal Cars |
What year is my Austin?
If it is a Dorset (two-door sedan) it was made in 1947 or 1948 or possibly early 1949.
If it is a Devon (four-door sedan) it was made from 1947-1951.
If it is a pick-up, countryman, or panel delivery it was made from 1947-1956.
Where was it made?
Austins were made in England and exported world-wide.
What is it called?
It is called an Austin of England (this script is on the side of the bonnet) or a British Austin.
It would also be known as an A40 model.
What does A40 stand for?
A for Austin.
40 for 40 horsepower.
There are also A30-A35-A50-A55-A60-A70-A90-A95-A99-A105-A110-A125 and A135 Austins.
Where did the names Dorset and Devon come from?
Dorset and Devon are counties in England (physical areas).
Other Austin models were named after other counties: Somerset, Hampshire, Hereford, etc.
How many were made?
There were 15,939 Dorsets (two-door sedans) made.
There were 273,958 Devons (four-door sedans) made.
There were 61,818 pick-up trucks made.
There were 26,587 Countymans made.
There were 78,242 Panel Vans made.
How can I identify my Austin?
There is a chassis tag riveted on the chassis near the passenger side shock mount. This will be a six-digit number generally starting with a "3" (for example: 312465). If the stock motor still exists it will have a number plate near the top of the motor. It will read 1G and six digits, generally starting with a "3" (for example 1G 356789). These numbers will also be found in an identification tag. On 1947-48 cars the tag is metal and mounted with four screws to the back of the glove box door. On 1949 and later cars the tag is plastic and is riveted to the back of the passenger visor.
What are the letters and numbers on the identification tag?
The numbers are something like GS.2L, G2.S2L. The "S" stands for Saloon (or what Americans call a sedan). The "L" stands for left-hand drive or what would be called an export model. Vans are GV.2; pickups are GQU.2; and the Countryman is GP.2. The saloons changed to GS.3 in August of 1951. Vans became GV.3 in May 1951. Pickups became GQU.3 in May of 1951. The Countryman became GP.3 in May of 1951. There were body and mechanical changes associated with the model change.
If I have the numbers can I determine when it was made?
Yes. You can contact the Austin Works and inquire to the registers on other cars to see approximately what month your Austin was made. To get an exact birth-date you can, for a fee, get a certificate of manufacture from the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust in England.
Where is the body number?
It can be found on a metal tag on the side of the driver's side hood hinge support plate. It is held on by two screws. It will be on top of a thin metal tag with patent and copyright information. The body number is six-digits. It should read something like "007516". If this were on a Dorset it would be #7,516 of 15,939 total production.
What is the wheelbase of an Austin A40?
92-1/2 inches for all body types (2-door, 4-door, pickup, Countryman, and Panel Van).
How much does a stock Austin A40 weigh?
The Dorset weighs 946 kgs (2,081 lbs).
The Devon weighs 965 kgs (2,123 lbs).
The Pickup weighs 922 kgs (2,028 lbs).
The Countryman weighs 965 kgs (2,123 lbs.).
The Panel Van weighs 874 kgs (1,923 lbs).
Is there a book on the Austin A40?
The factory Austin A40 Service Manual is a very comprehensive and informative book. It is a hard-back book with a green cover (Publication No. 441). It has 23 sections covering all aspects of the Austin. It can be found at swap meets or by contacting auto literature vendors.
What years were the A40 Dorset made?
1947/48 - 8033
1948/49 - 7736
1949/50 -- 170
Total --- 15939
What years were the A40 Devon made?
1947/48 - 22817
1948/49 - 61275
1949/50 - 81046
1950/51 - 79383
1951/52 - 29437
Total --- 273958
What years were the A40 Countryman made?
1948/49 - 2007
1949/50 - 4792
1950/51 - 6104
1951/52 - 3221
1952/53 - 3061
1953/54 - 2933
1954/55 - 2914
1955/56 - 1466
1956/57 --- 89
Total --- 26587
What years were the A40 Van made?
1947/48 -- 1920
1948/49 -- 7945
1949/50 -- 7774
1950/51 -- 6144
1951/52 -- 7520
1952/53 -- 9052
1953/54 - 14650
1954/55 - 11454
1955/56 - 11369
1956/57 --- 414
Total ---- 78242
What years were the A40 Pick-up made?
1948/49 -- 4787
1949/50 -- 8267
1950/51 - 11580
1951/52 - 13351
1952/53 -- 5959
1953/54 -- 5675
1954/55 -- 6959
1955/56 -- 4698
1956/57 --- 542
Total ---- 61818
What years were the A40 Sport made?
1950/51 -- 552
1951/52 - 2610
1952/53 -- 849
Total ---- 4011
What years did the A40 have small headlamps?
The first A40 models had a small 5-inch headlamp that had two bulbs in the headlamp unit. One bulb was the headlamp and one was the park lamp. The glass had an oval pattern which looked like a "cat's eye". Due to a requirement in America that headlamps be a sealed-beam unit with a standard size of 7-inch, the 5-inch headlamp was replaced by a 7-inch unit in December of 1948. The parking lamp (sidelamp) became external and was mounted beneath the headlamp.
Is the fender a different shape?
The change to a 7-inch headlamp required that the shape of the fender change to accept the larger headlamp. The fender was shortened (pushed in) to allow for the larger headlamp bucket.
Is there a non sealed-beam big headlamp?
Some non-American models have 7-inch headlamps that use the two removable bulbs.
Is there a "cat's eye" big headlamp?
Yes.
Did the Dorset ever have big headlamps?
Yes. Dorsets were made until October of 1949. Only 170 were made and they would be wearing big headlamps.
Is the park lamp a directional signal?
No. The park lamp (side lamp) has a single filament bulb. The directional signals are the trafficators in the side of the body behind the door.
What is an early A40?
The early A40 is the first model before any changes were made. This would generally be 1947,1948, and January-September 1949.
Did the early cars have a different bumper?
The bumpers on the early cars had a double profile or more of a "B" shape. The later bumpers were "C" shaped. The "C" shape bumper was introduced in September of 1949. The two styles used different over-riders.
Did the early cars have a different steering wheel?
The steering wheel on the early models had a smaller diameter steering wheel (16-inch) and was white in color. The later models had a 17-inch diameter wheel and came in several different colors.
When were vent windows fitted?
Vent windows (quarter vents) were introduced in September of 1949. These would be on the Devon and commercial models.
Is the windscreen frame different on the early models?
The early models used 14 bolts to secure the frame to the car. The later model had a narrower frame (3/4-inch wide) that had 2 bolts on each end and metal tabs in the center of the frame on the top and bottom that fit into slots in the cowl and body. The later frame used a wider weather-strip to cover the window opening.
Did the early cars have sunshine roofs?
The early Devon came in "fixed-head" and "sliding-head" (sunshine roof) models. The early Dorset was offered only as a fixed head.
Did the Dorset ever have a sunshine roof?
I'm guessing there might have been a few made in the last year of production. I have seen a photo of a right-hand drive, big headlamp Dorset with a sunroof in England. There may be a left-hand drive example in New York.
Can the sunshine roof from a Devon be installed in a Dorset?
Yes, some examples of this transplant are on the road.
What colors were the early models?
Burgundy with Beige upholstery and Fawn carpets; Portland Grey with Beige upholstery and Fawn carpets; Royal Blue with Brown upholstery and Brown carpets; Mist Green with Beige upholstery and Fawn carpets; Black with Brown upholstery and Brown carpets.
When was the A40 pick-up truck first made?
The A40 pick-up truck was first offered as a production vehicle in March of 1948.
When were the different models of the pick-up introduced?
GQU2 was introduced in March of 1948.
GQU3 was introduced in May of 1951.
GQU4 was introduced in August of 1951.
GQU5 was introduced in September of 1954 and discontinued in March of 1957.
What are the height, width and overall length of the pick-up?
The height is 5' 6-3/4", the width is 5' 4-1/2", and the overall length is 13' 4".
What is the wheelbase of the pick-up?
The wheelbase of the pick-up is 92-1/2".
How much does the pick-up weigh?
The curb weight of the pick-up is 2,050 pounds.
What is the general construction of the pick-up?
All steel cab with open truck bed (tray) having tongue and groove wood floor. The tailboard, sides and front end of the bed (tray) are of aluminum alloy with steel and wood framing.
What sheet metal is the same as on the passenger cars?
The doors are the same as the Devon. The bonnet and inner wing is the same as the Devon or Dorset.
What sheet metal is different on the pick-up?
The outer wing has a larger wheel opening (1" less sheet metal) to accommodate the 17" road wheel used on the pick-up.
Is the rear window the same as the Devon/Dorset?
Yes.
Are the rear wings (guards, fenders, or spats) aluminum?
Most pick-ups have aluminum rear wings; some were steel.
Did different models use different rear wings?
Yes - the newer the model the larger the wheel opening.
How are the rear guards attached to the truck bed?
The rear guards are attached to the bed with large (1/4" thick, 3/4" round) slotted Dzus-type fasteners.
How many tail lamps does the pick-up have?
The pick-up uses one D-lamp mounted on the spare wheel cover (brake, tail-light and license plate light all-in-one).
What type of seat does the pick-up have?
The pick-up has a full width bench seat covered in leather cloth.
What size tire does the pick-up use?
5.00 x 17.
Are the hubcaps the same as the Devon and Dorset?
Yes.
Does the pick-up have an external rear view mirror?
Yes (the cars do not).
What does the rear bumper look like?
The rear bumper looks like a simple piece of angle iron with some rounding at the ends.
When were vent windows fitted?
Vent windows were introduced in September of 1949.
Is the windscreen frame chromed on the pick-up?
The windscreen frame is painted black on the pick-up.
When did the pick-up's front sheet metal change to the pressed-steel radiator grille?
The first change to the pressed-steel grille was in May 1951 (3 long vertical stainless trim bars in the center section and 5 short horizontal trim bars on each side). This model featured no opening in the bonnet (hood) and was found to be inadequate in warm climates. The front metal was changed in August of 1951 to have openings in the front of the bonnet (hood) with a short trim bar on each side of the bonnet emblem.
When did the gear change from floor-shift to column-shift and when did the instrument panel change?
In August of 1951 the A40 models were changed to use a column gear change, a centrally-located instrument panel, a different steering wheel and full hydraulic brakes.
When did production of the Devon stop and how long did the production of Devon-based pick-up continue?
Devon production ceased in February of 1952. Production of the pick-up continued until late in 1956.
23,833 pick-ups were made from 1952 to 1956 (total production was 61,818).
When was the A40 panel van first made?
The A40 panel van was first offered as a production vehicle in March of 1948.
It was first advertised as a 10-Cwt Van (Cwt is the abbreviation for hundredweight, indicating the load capacity was 1,000 pounds). It was later called a half-ton Panel Delivery.
When were the different models of the panel van introduced?
GV2 was introduced in March of 1948.
GV3 was introduced in May of 1951.
GV4 was introduced in August of 1951.
GV5 was introduced in September of 1954 and discontinued in March of 1957.
What colors was the panel van?
The GV2 was grey primer, cream, green, or blue.
How much did a panel van cost?
In 1950 the panel van sold for 432 pounds in color and 10 pounds less in primer.
What are the height, width, and length of the panel van?
The GV2 Van height is 6', the width is 5' 4-1/2", and the overall length is 13' 1-1/2".
What is the wheelbase of the panel van?
The wheelbase of the panel van is 92-1/2".
How much does the panel van weigh?
The curb weight of the GV2 van is 1,678 pounds.
What is the general construction of the panel van?
The GV2 has cab and body sides of metal construction (aluminum) with steel floor framing. Floor boards of hardwood, tongued and grooved; roof of fabric. Rear opening cab doors (steel) with concealed hinges, and built-in concealed running boards. Wide rear doors with opening restricted to prevent projection beyond with of van.
What sheet metal is the same as on the passenger cars?
The doors are the same as the Devon. The bonnet and inner wing is the same as the Devon or Dorset.
What sheet metal is different on the panel van?
The outer wing has a larger wheel opening (1" less sheet metal) to accommodate the 17" road wheel used on the panel van.
Are the rear spats aluminum?
Most panel vans have aluminum rear spats.
When were the rear spats eliminated?
The spats over the rear wheels of the van gave way to a shaped wheel arch as part of the van body with the release of the GV4. These bodies were made of steel.
How are the rear spats attached to the van body?
On the GV2 the spats are attached with a domed nut (same size as a wheel nut). On the later models the spats are attached to the van body with large (1/4" thick, 3/4" round) slotted Dzus-type fasteners.
How many tail lamps does the panel van have?
The panel van uses one D-lamp mounted on the spare wheel cover (brake, tail-light and license plate light all-in-one).
What type of seat does the panel van have?
The panel van has one bucket seat covered in leather-cloth.
What size tire does the panel van use?
5.00 x 17.
Are the hubcaps the same as the Devon and Dorset?
Yes.
Does the panel van have an external rear view mirror?
Yes (the cars do not).
What does the rear bumper look like?
The rear bumper looks like a simple piece of angle iron with some rounding at the ends.
When were vent windows fitted?
Vent windows were introduced in September of 1949.
Is the windscreen frame chromed on the panel van?
The windscreen frame is painted black on the panel van.
When did the panel van's front sheet metal change to the pressed-steel radiator grille?
The first change to the pressed-steel grille was in May 1951 (3 long vertical stainless trim bars in the center section and 5 short horizontal trim bars on each side). This model featured no opening in the bonnet (hood) and was found to be inadequate in warm climates. The front metal was changed in August of 1951 to have openings in the front of the bonnet (hood) with a short trim bar on each side of the bonnet emblem.
When did the gear change from floor-shift to column-shift and when did the instrument panel change?
In August of 1951 the A40 models were changed to use a column gear change, a centrally-located instrument panel, a different steering wheel and full hydraulic brakes.
When did production of the Devon stop and how long did the production of Devon-based panel van continue?
Devon production ceased in February of 1952. Production of the panel van continued until March of 1957.
46,939 panel vans were made from 1952 to 1956 (total production was 78,242).
When was the A40 Countryman first made?
The A40 Countryman was first offered as a production vehicle in September of 1948. The Countryman was essentially the Panel Van body with windows added to make a metal-bodied estate car.
When were the different models of the Countryman introduced?
GP2 was introduced in September of 1948. GP3 was introduced in May of 1951. GP4 was introduced in August of 1951. GP5 was introduced in September of 1954 and discontinued in March of 1957.
What colors was the Countryman?
Mist Green seems to have been the color of choice.
How much did a Countryman cost?
In 1950 the Countryman sold for 569 pounds in color which was about 147 pounds more than the Panel Van.
What are the height, width, and length of the Countryman?
The GV2 Countryman height is 6' 1", the width is 5' 4-1/2", and the overall length is 13' 1-1/2".
What is the wheelbase of the Countryman?
The wheelbase of the Countryman is 92-1/2".
How much does the Countryman weigh?
The curb weight of the GP2 Countryman is 1,900 pounds. The GP2 had a fabric roof insert and an aluminum rear body section. The later models weighted 2,259 pounds.
What is the general construction of the Countryman?
The later model Countryman is a passenger-carrying vehicle with body and cab of all metal, unit construction. Steel floor framing with tongue and grooved wood floor at the rear. The body interior is lined with grained mill-board up to the waist. Vertical rear doors with restricted openings to prevent projection beyond the width of the vehicle. Front seat tips forward to afford passage to and from the rear seat. There is a single-piece rear seat with two occasional corner seats mounted on the wheel-arches. The rear seat cushion can be hinged forward vertically, and the squab can be lowered in the horizontal position to form an extension to the body floor and increase the load space.
What is a "Gator-Door" Countryman?
The early model Countryman had horizontal aluminum doors. The upper door with two windows is held open by two sliding stays, and the lower, being supported by two chains, worked like a tailgate.
What is a "UTILECON"?
UTILECON was a company in England that offered custom variations of the Countryman. All models came in grey cellulose, with wings and wheels in black. The Model "B" had no side windows. The Model "C" was "without seats to rear of driver".
What sheet metal is the same as on the passenger cars?
The doors are the same as the Devon. The bonnet and inner wing is the same as the Devon or Dorset.
What sheet metal is different on the Countryman?
The outer wing has a larger wheel opening (1" less sheet metal) to accommodate the 17" road wheel used on the Countryman.
Are the rear spats aluminum?
Most Countrymans have aluminum rear spats.
When were the rear spats eliminated?
The spats over the rear wheels of the Countryman gave way to a shaped wheel arch as part of the Countryman body with the release of the GV4. These bodies were made of steel.
How are the rear spats attached to the Countryman body?
On the GV2 the spats are attached with a domed nut (same size as a wheel nut). On the later models the spats are attached to the Countryman body with large (1/4" thick, 3/4" round) slotted Dzus-type fasteners.
How many tail lamps does the Countryman have?
The Countryman uses one D-lamp mounted on the spare wheel cover (brake, tail-light and license plate light all-in-one).
What size tire does the Countryman use?
5.00 x 17.
Are the hubcaps the same as the Devon and Dorset?
Yes.
Does the Countryman have an external rear view mirror?
Yes (the cars do not).
What does the rear bumper look like?
The rear bumper looks like a simple piece of angle iron with some rounding at the ends.
When were vent windows fitted?
Vent windows were introduced in September of 1949.
Is the windscreen frame chromed on the Countryman?
The windscreen frame is painted black on the Countryman.
When did the Countryman's front sheet metal change to the pressed-steel radiator grille?
The first change to the pressed-steel grille was in May 1951 - 3 long vertical stainless trim bars in the center section and 5 short horizontal trim bars on each side.
When did the gear change from floor-shift to column-shift and when did the instrument panel change?
In August of 1951 the A40 models were changed to use a column gear change, a centrally-located instrument panel, a different steering wheel and full hydraulic brakes.
When did production of the Devon stop and how long did the production of Devon-based Countryman continue?
Devon production ceased in February of 1952. Production of the Countryman continued until March of 1957. 13,396 Countrymans were made from 1952 to 1956 (total production was 26,587).
What are some commercial derivatives of the A40 Austin?
The Austin A40 was used by specialist builders to provide vehicles for commercial usage. Variations of these commercials include: gown vans, ice cream vans, milk floats, fire tenders, wood-bodied estate cars, ambulances and delivery vans.
What was the basis of A40 commercial derivatives?
These vehicles were usually built from a donor vehicle (usually a pick-up truck or panel van). Some of these custom-bodied Austins may have come from the factory as a chassis/cab, a chassis with bonnet, front wings, and pick-up cab only or a "scuttle" which was a running chassis with only the front clip, cowl, and doors.
What were the model designations for the derivatives?
A40 chassis/cab models were GQ4 (built from August 1951 to August 1954) and GQ5 (built from September 1954 to March 1957). A40 chassis/scuttles model were GVR5 (built from September 1954 to March 1957.
What front sheet metal did the commercials use?
Most of the commercial derivatives were based on the later model A40, which used the pressed-steel grille and the large (7") headlamp fenders. This "commercial" grille was introduced in May 1951 - 3 long vertical stainless trim bars in the center section and 5 short horizontal trim bars on each side.
What is a gown van?
Gown vans were very tall vans with interior wood panels and hanging rails to transport ladies evening gowns. Access was from a single rear door.
What is an ice cream van?
Ice cream vans were tall enough to allow a vendor to stand inside to sell ice cream on the street. Some had sides that opened up and others had large sliding glass windows. Access was from a single rear door and possibly through the cab as well.
What is a milk float?
A milk float is a vehicle for the door-to-door of dairy products. This was built on a chassis/cab with a flat open tray and roof on the back (no sides or rear - to allow access to the boxes of bottled dairy products). The rear fenders were trailer-style and were fitted below the tray to allow maximum width of the tray.
What is a fire tender?
The only known A40 fire tender was supplied from the Austin factory in the form of a chassis with bonnet, front wings and cab only. The rear section was built from wood and used pick-up rear fenders. It was outfitted with a ladder and hose rack and pulled a utility trailer with a pump unit. The truck did service in the Cheddar Gorge area of England.
What is a wood-bodied estate car?
The wood bodied-estate cars were custom-built wood station wagons. As with most British wood-bodied cars the doors were steel. The body framework was made from a hardwood such as ash or maple. The body and door panels were aluminum (painted), masonite or wood. Side doors could be front-hinged or rear-hinged (suicide). The rear of the body had a tailboard and tailgate or may have had upright doors. The rear fenders could have been from a panel van or from the Devon car.
Were any wood-bodied Austin A40s built in Australia?
Australian distributors received the Austins CKD, completely knocked down, and assembled them on factory production lines. Some of these distributors built custom wood bodied variations based on the Austin A40. Larke Hoskins built a canvas-top pick-up that had a bed trimmed with wood. Another distributor built a "timber-back" utility coupe (Ute) that featured a wood tray sitting over and above the rear fenders.
What where some of the delivery van/truck variations?
Some of the delivery vehicles used the pick-up cab with a cab-high van body behind the cab. Some of the van bodies were taller than the cab and some extended out over the cab.
What's the A40 Countryman ever used for commercial purposes?
UTILECON was a company in England that offered custom variations of the Countryman. The Model "B" had no side windows. The Model "C" was "without seats to rear of driver".
Was there ever a three-door A40 Countryman?
There are two examples of this variation in New Zealand - both were custom-built as grocery deliveries. They are a Countryman (windowed panel van) with a windowed side door on the passenger side.
Where any of the A40 commercials extended?
There were some longer A40 commercials based on a "stretched" Countryman - more side doors and more seats - usually built to transport groups of people.
Was there ever an A40 ambulance?
UTILECON by Martin Waller Ltd. offered an Austin ambulance during the war years. It may have been based on the Austin 10 or 12 with suicide doors. The body looked very much like the A40 Countryman. It was a single strecher model and offered various seating configurations.
When were Austin pedal cars made?
Austin pedal cars were made from 1949 to 1971.
Where were Austin pedal cars made?
Austin pedal cars were made in a specially constructed Austin Junior Car Factory at Bargoed in South Wales.
The factory was paid for by Government funds and it was run on a non-profit basis and purely for the employment of disabled Welsh coal miners.
How were the pedal cars made?
The pedal cars were made from scrap off-cuttings of metal from the Longbridge Austin motor car factory and were built and painted the same way as the motor cars themselves.
Was there more than one model?
Production started of with the Pathfinder. After a year the Pathfinder was dropped and was replaced in 1950 by the J40.
What were some of the features of the J40?
The J40 was a very well equipped toy of excellent quality and was probably the best pedal car on the market at the time. It featured real working headlights and horn, detachable wheels with Dunlop pneumatic tires, real like facia panel and leather cloth seating. It had an opening bonnet and boot and also a lot of good quality chrome, namely both bumpers, hub caps, grille, boot handle, and center bonnet moulding with the Flying A ornament.
How were Austin pedal cars sold?
Austin pedal cars were sold through the Austin dealers around the world. The J40 was primarily intended for the American market but eventually they were to be found around the world.
How much did an Austin pedal car cost?
The J40 sold for 33 pounds, while the Pathfinder cost 25 pounds. At the time the average working man would have to save 2 or 3 weeks full wages to buy a J40.
How many Austin pedal cars were made?
It is estimated that about 3000 Pathfinders were produced from 1949 to 1950.
There were 32,098 J40s made from 1950 to 1971.
Where did the name "J40" come from?
The J40 Roadster was based on the 1948 A40 Dorset and Devon saloons. Prototype Austin pedals cars were called JOY cars. The J later was used as "Junior" - the 40 was from the horsepower of the A40 car. Sales brochures were titled "Just Like Father's Car": "What a thrill for "Junior" to drive a car just like father's, to polish it even better than he does, to take the wheels off or pump up the tyres, to lift up the bonnet and examine the 'engine', and best of all to show it off to admiring friends and relatives."
Where did the name "Pathfinder" come from?
The Pathfinder Special was based on the Jameison OHV 750 Austin Seven racing car of the late 1930's. The name was suggested by Sir George Harrison, who was works manager at Longbridge at the time.
What are the specifications of the J40?
Length: 5 ft 3 in (1.60m); Width: 2 ft 3-1/2 in (.69m); Height: 1 ft 10 in (.56m); Weight: 95 lbs (43 kgs).
What are the specifications of the Pathfinder?
Length: 5 ft 3 in (1.60m); Width: 2 ft 3 in (.689m); Height: 2 ft 2-1/2 in (.67m); Weight: 74-1/2 lbs (34 kgs).
How can I identify my Austin?
The serial number on a J40 is found stamped on the boot floor near to the boot catch.
Pathfinder serial numbers are under the cloth seat stamped into the seat base.
If I have the number can I determine when it was made?
Records of chassis numbers exist from 1955 onwards - that is chassis 16,001 and beyond. Members of the pedal car club in England can apply to have their chassis number traced.
Is there a book about the Austin pedal cars?
Austin Pedal Cars by David Whyley has just been published. It is 80 pages with lots of rare photos and a complete history of the Austin pedal car (available from the AUSTIN WORKS).
Is there a club for the Austin pedal cars?
The Austin J40 Pedal Car Club (The Club For J40 & Pathfinder Cars) is based in England and has members from around the world. The club publishes a newsletter and recently launched a club web-site:
http://www.j40club.freeserve.co.uk/