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AMERICAN AUSTIN 1930-1935
"Go refreshed" in a 1932 American Austin roadster.
1932 Am. Austin coupe with aftermarket
trunk.
Rare 1930 American Austin panel truck.
American Austin found few buyers for
pickups like this 1934 model.
American Austin began with the Great Depression
The American Austin Car Company was established in 1929 to
build a licensed version of the Austin Seven. The firm would
occupy the vacant Standard Steel Car Company factory in Butler,
Pennsylvania. Design proposals by Amos Northup and Count
Alexis deSahknoffsky were considered. Austin contracted with
Hayes Body Works to build deSahknoffsky's designs in Grand
Rapids, Michigan. The bodies were to be shipped to Butler for
assembly onto completed chassis.
During the January 1930 New York Auto Show, American Austin held a private exhibition in a nearby hotel lobby. Two hand-built prototypes were on display--a coupe and a "special delivery" car (business coupe). By August, the sales department reported advance orders of 184,000 vehicles. However, the crippling effects of the Great Depression caused 95% of those orders to be cancelled.
American Austin production limped along disappointingly through 1934. Fewer than 20,000 cars and trucks hit the highway. Only a skeleton crew remained on staff into 1935.
In 1936, a new organization was formed to build an updated, more powerful version of the American Austin. (Continue)
During the January 1930 New York Auto Show, American Austin held a private exhibition in a nearby hotel lobby. Two hand-built prototypes were on display--a coupe and a "special delivery" car (business coupe). By August, the sales department reported advance orders of 184,000 vehicles. However, the crippling effects of the Great Depression caused 95% of those orders to be cancelled.
American Austin production limped along disappointingly through 1934. Fewer than 20,000 cars and trucks hit the highway. Only a skeleton crew remained on staff into 1935.
In 1936, a new organization was formed to build an updated, more powerful version of the American Austin. (Continue)
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