Lot details

Year: 1962
Make: Austin
Model: J40 Pedal Car

The Austin J40 pedal car is a miniature replica of the Austin A40 motor car produced by the Austin Motor Company in the 1950s. The J40 was designed for children aged between three and six years old, and it quickly became a popular toy car in post-war Britain. The car was made from heavy-gauge steel. The J40 was available in a range of colours, including red, green, blue and yellow.

This example is presented in black with a red interior, white steering wheel and headlights. These examples are highly sought-after and can be seen particularly at the Goodwood Revival. The only silent racing cars at the Goodwood Revival aren't Formula E cars that have snuck in unnoticed. They're the Austin J40 pedal cars of the one-make start-finish thrash that is the Settrington Cup, powered by the kids of the great and the good at the Revival. Without anything close to a single horsepower, a licence to race or even drive they may be, but it's no less competitive. It's a fight down to the wire at the end, too. Slow and steady wins the race with energy reserved at the start fully deployed towards the end to overtake the leader and take the win. With that kind of tactical racing mindset, Mercedes-Benz AMG Petronas F1 may one day come knocking! Today, the J40 pedal car is highly sought-after by collectors and enthusiasts, and original examples can fetch high prices at auction. Consigned by James Good