MEET THE OWNER – JOHN LANGFORD AND HIS AUSTIN J40
By Andrew Roberts |
1st December, 2020
John Langford has recently taken delivery of an Austin convertible, one that is resplendent in Speedwell Blue. Here is a car that offered virtually everything to the discerning motorist, from the Art Deco fascia to the well-upholstered bench seat. The fuel bills amount to precisely nil, and the sole drawbacks of the J40 are the limited top speed - and the fact that anyone over the age of nine will not be able to fit in it.
The Austin Junior 40, to give its full name, is not just one of the world’s finest pedal cars; it is also an essential part of British motoring history. In 1943 HM Government set out plans to establish factories to provide employment for coal miners suffering from pneumoconiosis, offering businesses attractive rates and rents. Austin’s Chairman Leonard Lord responded to the initiative and decided to produce a toy car in the South Wales town of Bargoed.
Work on the future J40 commenced in 1946, with the criteria that the pedal car had to be suitable for children in the age range four to nine – plus have enough room for a smaller sibling. Furthermore, it needed to feature opening boot and bonnet, working lights and a dummy engine. The prototype was displayed at the Austin Progress Convention in June of that year, with Lord suggesting the “Joy 1” number plate.
The Bargoed plant opened on 5th July and was to produce two types of pedal car – the J40 and the Pathfinder, which was inspired by pre-war Austin racers. The former was incredibly expensive by the standards of the day at £34 8s – or five weeks’ worth of the average wage. However, George Harriman, then the company’s works manager, informed the press the J40 was ‘not really competitive in the narrow price sense. It is of a quality and character beyond anything previously attempted in this field, and the price is correspondingly higher’.
For the J40 was indeed a magnificent machine - from its Dunlop pneumatic tyres and chrome-plated bumpers to its horn and Champion spark-plugs on the “motor”. The pedals were adjustable for leg reach, and there was a choice of three positions for the handbrake. The Austin was also extremely well-built, and Longbridge gained further publicity from its employment by police forces as a tool for road safety instruction. There was even a “Junior Grand Prix” at Silverstone -
Austin soon discontinued the Pathfinder, and by the mid-1950s the J40 represented the ultimate Christmas present. One guest-starred in the 1954 Norman Wisdom vehicle One Good Turn –
- while HRH Prince Charles favoured an aquamarine blue model that boasted non-standard windscreen, wing mirrors, side and spot lamps. Meanwhile, non-royal customers could specify any BMC paint finish, so long as they were prepared to wait for a few weeks.
The last of 32,098 J40s departed the factory in 1971, although the Bargoed works continued to build car parts until 1999. The final batch was destined for a holiday camp, and today the Junior 40 is one of the most sought-after pedal cars of its generation. John’s example dates from 1970; ‘I’ve always liked them plus I’ve just got a new grandson’. And that young gentleman will soon be able to appreciate the ‘fascinating model car that will give enthusiastic pleasure to both boys and girls’.
With Thanks To: John Langford and The Austin J40 Pedal Car Club - https://www.austinj40pedalcarclub.co.uk/index.html
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