THE SMALL “BUS”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 81, 5 April 1930, Page 12

THE SMALL “BUS”

Of recent years the American motor car industry has probably never received such a surprise as the unprecedented success that attended the debut of the American-made Austin baby car, which is mechanically quite similar to the British 7 h.p. Austin with a few minor alterations.

During the first week of its display in New York the U.S.A. Austin Company received signed orders for 52,025 of these cars aggregating the sum of £1,600,000. In addition to the signed orders obtained, applications were also filed for a further total of 34,520 Austins, which distributors were anxious to book up. The original schedule of the U.S.A. Austin Company for the first year of production was 100,000 cars, which, it is stated, could have been sold in two days had the makers been prepared to accept the bookings. In view of this remarkable trade interest displayed in the first bab; car made in U.S.A., it will be interesting to watch how the big American motor car corporations will react to this sales demonstration of the fact that there is apparently a vast untouched market in U.S.A, for baby cars of the 7 h.p. Austin type.

It is interesting to note that Sir Herbert Austin, father of the little car and president of the British company, journeyed to New York to christen the first of the American edition of the British baby car.