Austin Pedal Cars to celebrate 75 Years of the J40 with historic display in the Royal Automobile Club Rotunda in London
2024 marks 75 years of the beloved Austin J40 pedal car, which launched in 1949. Over 32,000 cars were made at the Austin J40 factory in Bargoed, South Wales and, in 2023, Austin Pedal Cars reignited the brand with the launch of its J40 Continuation.
To celebrate this milestone, the company has loaned eight special Austin pedal cars to be displayed in the spectacular Rotunda at the Royal Automobile Club situated on Pall Mall, London. Here, the timeline of these endearing creations will be laid out, starting with an early Pathfinder, running through to the very latest J40 Continuation, enabling Royal Automobile Club members and their guests to take in 75 years of pedal car history in one place.
Cars on display include:
- 1949 Austin Pathfinder, prepared for the opening of the Austin pedal cars factory in Bargoed, South Wales that same year. This car was restored by the Bargoed factory in 1975 and starts the Austin pedal cars story, making it a piece of motoring history.
- The Austin Pedal Cars Police Car. With working lights, siren, and Police livery this unique J40 leads out the Settrington Cup race at Goodwood Revival and is the only one in the world. Inside the boot is the Police officers lunchbox, truncheon, and handcuffs!
- Austin J40 Pickup built by original owner. It was used in the very first Goodwood Revival Settrington Cup race in 2012 as a support vehicle and continued to participate until 2018. Acquired by Austin Pedal Cars in 2023 and recommissioned for 2023 Revival.
- 2022 prototype chassis for the Austin J40 Continuation. This rolling chassis shows the intricate engineering, and extensive use of aluminium used in the latest J40 Continuation. After 3 years in development, it provides a lightweight, balanced pedaling experience.
- 2023 Austin J40 Continuation. Only 49 produced, the stunning J40 Continuation is packed with the latest technology, whilst retaining its classic good looks, note hand formed aluminium body, leather seat, Smiths gauges and Mota-Lita steering wheel.
- 1970 Settrington Cup racer shows just how good a J40 looks in racing livery. A veteran of the annual Goodwood Revival pedal car race, this pedal racing car wears its battle scars and entrant stickers with pride. What an introduction to motorsport.
- 2022 hand-formed, bare aluminium body atop a classic J40 chassis. This was used as the prototype body for the J40 Continuation and shows the fingerprints of the hundreds of admirers who have seen it at shows and events across the UK.
- 2024 J40 Continuation Holland & Sherry collaboration. This unique J40 Continuation comes complete with a Savile Row tailored interior using the finest Holland & Sherry Cloth. This very special car, finished in a rare Austin colour, brings the lineage up to date.
The Royal Automobile Club was founded in 1897 and its distinguished history mirrors that of motoring itself. In 1907 the Club was awarded its Royal title by King Edward VII, sealing its status as Britain’s oldest and most influential motoring organisation.
The Club’s early years were focused on promoting the motor car and its place in society, which developed into motoring events such as the 1000 Mile Trial and the Tourist Trophy; the latter remains the oldest continuously competed-for motorsport trophy. The Club promoted the first pre-war and post-war Grands Prix at Brooklands in 1926 and Silverstone in 1948 respectively, while continuing to campaign for the rights of the motorist, including introducing the first driving licences.
Today, the Club continues to develop and support automobilism while promoting its own motoring events including the RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. Austin Pedal Cars is proud to have a collection of their classic and contemporary pedal cars on display for members to enjoy.
This wonderfully evocative display will be available to view, by Royal Automobile Club members and their guests, until 3rd September.
Mark Burnett, Managing Director of Austin Pedal Cars, said. “What a way to celebrate 75 years of these wonderful pedal cars! The beautiful surroundings of the Rotunda, within the Royal Automobile Club in London, is the perfect place to honour a British motor manufacturing legacy that is often forgotten. Not only are these cars every inch a proper Austin, but they also provided employment to hundreds of people and brought joy to children around the world. “
The Austin J40
Now famous for the children’s Settrington Cup at Goodwood Revival, the Austin J40 pedal car was originally made in England by the Austin Motor Company Limited, based on the 1948 A40 Devon and Dorset.
Each car was manufactured in South Wales at a specially constructed factory, opened in 1949 under the name of the Austin Junior Car Factory. The business operated on a not-for-profit basis, existing purely for the employment of disabled coal miners who sought a new vocation after injury.
Pedal cars were made from scrap metal taken from the Longbridge Austin factory, each built and painted in the same way as the actual cars would have been. Standard features included working headlights and horn, detachable wheels with Dunlop tyres, a realistic facia panel and leather or cloth seating. In addition, each car had an opening bonnet and boot, chrome bumpers, hub caps, grille, and boot handle.
A total of 32,098 Austin J40 pedal cars were made before production ceased in September 1971, with cars being shipped around the world. Many featured in films for road safety or were used as fairground rides, but most were sold to families to be enjoyed by children, despite the purchase price equating to two weeks of the average salary at the time.
Austin Pedal Cars started to reproduce J40 spares in 2020 and launched the Austin J40 Continuation in 2023.
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