J40 & Pathfinder Brief History

Austin pedal cars were made in the specially constructed Austin Junior Car Factory at Bargoed in South Wales, which opened on 5 July 1949. It was paid for by Government funds and was run on a not-for-profit basis and purely for the employment of disabled coal miners suffering from the lung disease, pneumoconiosis. They were re-trained and benefited from in-house medical care.

The cars, the Pathfinder Special and J40, were made from scrap off-cuts of metal from the Longbridge Austin Motor Car Factory in Birmingham and were built and painted the same way and with the same expertise as the motor cars themselves.

The J40 Roadster was based on the 1948 A40 Devon and Dorset. The Pathfinder Special was based on the Jameison OHV 750 Austin Seven racing car of the late 1930's

The J40 was primarily intended for the American market but it also established its own export markets in Canada and Denmark. Austin Pedal Cars eventually were to be found in homes around the world.

A total of 32,098 Austin J40s were made until production ceased in September 1971.

The factory was later used to make parts for the 'A' series engines. The Bargoed Plant closed on 30 April 1999. 'A' series rocker covers were still being produced alongside other small pressings for Rover Group products.