Here comes the Austin J Forty! This is just one example of the incredible pedal cars made in England by the Austin Motor Company Limited. Their available models included the Junior Forty (J40) and the Pathfinder. Their pedal car factory opened on July 5th, 1949, and was called the Austin Junior Car Factory. The production was actually paid for by Government funds, because it provided jobs for so many disabled coal miners! The J40 was a well-equipped toy of excellent quality, featuring real working headlights and horn, detachable wheels with Dunlop pneumatic tires, and leather cloth seating. The pedal cars were made from scrap off cuttings of metal from the Longbridge Austin Motor Car Factory, and built and painted the same way as the motorcars themselves! The Austin pedal cars were used for many purposes, such as teaching road safety to school children, coin-operated rides, or just a toy to play with at home! This piece of history has been beautifully restored, showcasing why every child in town yearned for these pedal cars.
