100 years ago Austin unveiled the "Baby" Austin 7, a diminutive vehicle that plays a large part in automotive history. The Austin 7 may have only been 6 ft 3 inches long, but the legacy lives on. BMW's first car was a remodelled Austin 7, Bruce McLaren's first race car was an Austin 7, the first Lotus was an Austin 7, and without the Austin it's possible that William Lyons wouldn't have laid the foundations of Jaguar.
So, here's to a great little car.
At the same time as the Austin 7 made its appearance, Lancia introduced the Lambda, a car that pioneered the use of independent front suspension.
