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The Best of Vintage Austin (DVD)
MHMFDVD5003
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85 minutes    front cover

A compilation of classic original promotional films from the Austin archives remastered for DVD

Austin was one of the first British motor manufacturers to use moving film as a promotional tool. A complete programme of these short set-pieces would be shown to an invited audience at special Dealers’ evenings.

This Progress (1933) (59 minutes)
An ambitious and expensive production using some of the best technicians from the feature film world. This was one of the first industrial films to adopt the pioneering technique of ‘talkies’ (synchronised sound). It is a good example of a typical Dealers’ evening offering. First the history of Austin motoring is brought to life with re-creations using actors and historic vehicles. This is followed by a beautifully photographed documentary covering all aspects of production and assembly at Longbridge, from the foundry through to final assembly and dispatch. We are then taken, in the finished product, for an evocative period drive through deserted roads and villages to the South Coast. The final flourish is an address by Sir Herbert Austin himself, extolling us to buy British. To conclude, we leaf through the pages of the 1933 sales catalogue, from which the entire product range is brought to life on screen.

The Mighty Atom (1933) (10 minutes)
The versatility of the Austin Seven engine is comprehensively demonstrated, from competition cars on track and hill to miniature tractors on the farm, from yachts on lake and sea to motorbikes on the road.

Here’s to Beauty (1933) (10 minutes)
A detailed look behind the scenes at the design and construction of an Austin car body in the days before computer aided design.

Sam’s Investment (1937) (6 minutes)
An amusingly illustrated monologue by comedian Stanley Holloway. His famous character Sam has inherited a fortune of £100 from a relative, causing friends at his local club speculate on how he is going to invest his windfall.

The Best of Austin in the 50s
MHMFDVD5009
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88 minutes      front cover
A compilation of classic original promotional films from the Austin archives remastered for DVD

Austin Jubilee 1905-55 (10 minutes)
Celebrations for the Austin Jubilee at Longbridge. The elegance of a Vintage Car Club rally contrasts with the excitement of a J40 pedal car race, all culminating in a cavalcade of Austin products and personalities of the period.

Round the World in 21 Days (1951) (21 minutes)
Alan Hess, head of publicity, organised a series of daring publicity stunts to promote Austin Cars in the all important post-war export market. In this case a Jenson bodied A40 sports car achieved its round-the-world feat in 21 days rather than the planned 30 thanks to the assistance of a KLM cargo plane.

I am a Car (1954) (17 minutes)
A charming period film made for the launch of the Austin A40 and the A50 Cambridge. Rigorous testing of prototypes precedes a detailed look at the new Longbridge production lines while the potential joys of ownership were extolled.

Making the Most of it (1956) (12 minutes)
The new Austin A35 takes part in an economy run round southern England and the Midlands under the keen eye of RAC observers. In a time of oil crises, fuel efficiency was seen as a valuable selling-point.

Tests Such As These (1956) (10 minutes)
The capabilities of the new range of BMC engines and cars are demonstrated as we travel 25,000 miles on continental highways at an average speed of 60 miles per hour.

They Work Again (1957) (16 minutes)
A rare glimpse into the Bargoed factory in South Wales which was established to provide work for disabled miners. The highlight is undoubtedly the sequence showing the assembly and painting of J40 pedal cars.

The DVD also includes period cinema commercials.