‘If you come across a new Austin with foreign license plates, it is actually no coincidence at all. Because since the war, tens of thousands of Austins have moved abroad. Why?
“Firstly, because Austins are very well known as reliable cars. Secondly, because there is something young and very lively about them.”
Those words are from May 1957, but not words written by Autocar, rather Austin himself, in an advertisement featuring the Swiss scene pictured above. Were they truthful?
For the answer, flip through the same magazine and find a ‘neutral analysis’ of the overseas prospects of British cars by Swiss journalist Robert Braunschweig.
He wrote: “For a number of post-war years the export figures of British industry were much higher, both in absolute figures and in relation to their total output, than those of their competitors.
“The spectacular rise of German industry and, recently, the sharp increase in export activity by French and Italian companies have changed the situation in many markets where British companies have enjoyed freedom of trade. In addition, many economic and political barriers have been removed. established in countries that previously absorbed unlimited British cars.
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“The successes of the post-war years created problems for British businesses. While the general scarcity of cars made sales very easy, their quality and durability were not always entirely satisfactory. Non-British cars, with which these were replaced in the early 1950s, did not suffer from these defects. Even today, the aftereffects of this period have not been completely overcome.
“The British industry alone offers almost as many different models as all its competitors combined. However, not all categories seem equally well represented, and there is a notable absence of vehicles that can hold their own in the (burgeoning) new class of minicars.
“There is still a lack of choice in the light-medium category, where only two British models have to carry the weight of competing against seven Continental models. But in all other classes, British industry is numerically well represented.
“It seems that the various national industries tend to improve on features in which they have always excelled (and) find it much more difficult to make progress in (other areas). The power, performance and reliability of British engines have therefore improved even further in recent times.
“The interior dimensions and equipment of the mid-sized British car are as unsurpassed today as they were in the past. (But) another situation prevails (regarding) the handling and driving. Without any doubt the behavior of (British cars) is) much better in their native soil than anywhere else.