The Austin J40 pedal car is turning 75, and it's doing it in style, with a display that takes visitors on a nostalgic ride through decades of pint-sized motoring history. The iconic toy car, which first rolled out in 1949, is getting a well-deserved birthday bash at the prestigious Royal Automobile Club on Pall Mall, London. And yes, it's as British as a cup of tea with a side of biscuits.
“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,“ Mark Burnett, Managing Director of Austin Pedal Cars, commented. Gallery: Austin Pedal Cars 75th anniversary The Austin J40, originally built in Bargoed, South Wales, might be small, but its legacy is anything but.
Over 32,000 of these charming pedal-powered vehicles were produced back in the day, and now, after a bit of a snooze, the brand has revved back to life with the launch of the J40 Continuation . To celebrate the pedal car's diamond jubilee, eight specially chosen examples are taking centre stage in the Rotunda, offering a bumper-to-bumper timeline of this beloved childhood classic. Leading the pack is the 1949 Austin Pathfinder, a pedal car with quite the pedigree.
This little beauty.