While the Austin 7 is one of the most easily recognised and well-known of pre-war cars it is a less well known fact that it played a military role in World War Two – on both the British and German sides!
In Britain the dimunitive car was extensively used for driver training and liason duties. Several examples were used by the British Expeditionary Force in the early days of the war in France and were later abandoned on the beaches of Dunkirk. Its American cousin, the Bantam, was a prototype for the Jeep and in Germany another A7 cousin, the Dixi, was used as a mobile machine gun unit.
At the National Austin 7 rally to be held on Sunday 5th July at Beaulieu in Hampshire, the theme will be ‘Austin 7s and their Cousins’ and many examples of Dixi, Bantam and the French version of the A7, the Rosengart, are likely to join the hundreds of civilian Austin 7s on show. Alongside, it is expected that there will be at least a dozen of the, now very rare, military versions in a special display that is guaranteed to be of huge interest to enthusiasts and the general public.
The rally is organised by the 750 Motor Club and is open to all Austin 7 owners, club members or not. Austins form the core of the event, but pre-1975 vehicles of all makes are invited to attend and will have a designated parking area on the rally field.
The National Austin 7 Rally is an ideal day out for enthusiasts and families alike. Beaulieu is home to a wide variety of attractions and the rally entry ticket also gives access to historic Palace House and Gardens and National Motor Museum.
The event is sponsored by Warranty Direct Limited and RH Specialist Insurance. From February, full details and entry forms can be found on the website: http://www.750mc.co.uk/austin7. Gates will open at 9am.
