The Austin 7 Collection features 3 different versions of the classic Austin 7 - the 1928 Austin 7 itself, the 1928 French licensed version "The Rosengart" and the German version made by BMW under licence "The Dixie".

In 1992 the (Y65-1) 1928 Austin 7, BMW and Rosengart Special Edition set was introduced which contained three models of the Austin 7.

Total production was 35,000 sets.

1928 Austin 7
After the First Worls War, Herbert Austin set out to produce a proper small car that could be affordable and made available to a wider ausience than had ever had the chance to purchase before. The 1928 Austin 7 had a 750cc engine of 4 cylinders and could develop 10.5 bhp. The car had a top speed of about 72kph. A variety of bodies were built onto the chassis. The van in this set represents a vehicle used be maby small businesses of the era.

Livery: (Tampo)
'CASTROL' in black on white panel with black edging on orange circle with 'WAKEFIELD MOTOR OIL' in black and 'C. C. WAKEFIELD & CO LTD' in white on both sides of van body.
'WAKEFIELD HOUSE, CHEAPSIDE, LONDON' in white on both cab doors. 'ESTD. 1899' in white on both sides of bonnet.

1928 BMW Dixie
In order to enter the small car business quickly, BMW first took up the Austin 7 licence in 1927. This Dixie version was little changed from the English version, however the engine could develop 15 bhp and a top speed of 75kph.

1928 Rosengart
When Lucien Rosengart resigned from Peugeot in May 1928, he set up in business producing the Austin 7 under licence in France. The Rosengart engine developed 10hp and the chassis was virtually identical to the Austin 7. It cost the equivalent of only 120.000 pounds.

Variations/Rarities: Although there are no variations in the Y65-1 set the Austin 7 van has been released as a Y65-2 but I assume these have all been classed as code 2 models.

This was the first time that multiple models had been released as a single Y- number (not including the various fathers day sets or giftsets). The models themselves were very small but they were of 1/43rd scale so could be displayed along with the other car models in the range without looking out of scale.

Also: For Christmas of 1994 they have produced a set of 4 yesteryear models in a very limited quantity called "Christmas Treasures 1994". The casting used for these models are Austin 7 from the original YS-65 Austin 7 collection. All four models are in holiday season colors with four different holiday greetings imprinted. A same sort of set was released for Christmas 1995 called "Christmas Treasures 1995".

Scale: 1:43

Austin 7 Van

BMW Dixie

Rosengart

The Austin 7 Collection features 3 different versions of the classic Austin 7