100 Cars That Changed History

“Austin Big 7 Cabriolet 6058741236” by Autoviva – Flickr: Austin Big 7 Cabriolet. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

12. Austin 7 1922–1939 United Kingdom

The Austin 7, nicknamed the “Baby Austin,” was an early British economy car produced by the Austin Motor Company. One of the most popular cars produced for British markets, the Austin 7 is comparable in historic significance and its effect to the market to the Ford Model T in America. The car was so popular, it was licensed and copied by other manufactures the world over. The first BMW, the Dixi, was a licensed Austin 7. They sold as American Austins in the United States, and Rosengarts in France. Nissan also based their first cars on the Austin 7, though without license. The first race car, built by Bruce McLaren, was an Austin 7.
*Car of the Century Finalist