“Motor models and...”
The "Baby Austin" owned by Behramji Damania
The Austin 7 was an economy car produced after World War I from 1922 until 1939 in the United Kingdom by the Austin Motor Company. It was nicknamed the "Baby Austin” because of its small size. One of the most popular cars ever produced for the British market, it sold well abroad as well throughout the Empire and beyond. Its effect on the British market was similar to that of the Model T Ford in the USA. The Austin was also licensed and copied by companies all over the world. The very first BMW car was a licensed Austin 7, as were the original Austins made in USA. In France they were made and sold as "Rosengarts,” while in Japan Nissan copied the Austin 7 design as the basis for their first model. The baby Austin 7 was lovingly called the "chummy” by the British, because the seats were so close to each other that one could not help but become "chummy” with the person seated alongside. On the whole the cars were reliable and if the battery went dead one could easily start the car by cranking the handle manually from the front!
At Parsiana’s request, Karl Bhote responds:
I was hoping that readers would share such priceless photographs. The car in the photograph I shared is registered as MCP 4594. The photo was shot in Madras and one of the gentlemen is my great-grand uncle Jehangirjee Bhote.
The picture sent by Dr Ardeshir Damania shows a tourer (convertible), whereas the earlier picture is that of a hardtop (sedan). The registration X 4094 would be correct for Bombay in the 1930s, and would have changed after 1939-40 with the amended Motor Vehicles Act. The car would probably have then sported a BMW xxxx registration.
Many such cars were sold in India, and very many survived as well, thanks to low running costs, simple technology and good supply of spares. Regrettably, it would be very difficult to trace the car with the old number now.