This joint project between Austin and the Coventry-based Swift Motor Company unfortunately saw little success due to its outmoded single-cylinder engine.

Designed in 1909 at a time when Austin’s Longbridge factory was fully occupied with the manufacture of large cars, a deal was struck with Swift to help produce the new 7hp.

The original intention was for both companies to make and badge identical cars in their respective factories, but only one prototype was made at Longbridge before production was entirely transferred to Swift.

Only 162 Austin versions were sold between 1909 and 1911, with just over 1,000 of the equivalent Swift models being produced up to the start of the First World War. This car is probably the only Austin-badged survivor.

The 7hp was not a particularly popular model despite its reasonable price; time had run out for rough-running single-cylinder engines and Austin later introduced a hugely popular small, four-cylinder model instead, the first Austin Ten.