A new Blue Plaque has been unveiled to honour the legacy of the beloved Austin pedal cars, marking the site where the iconic J40 and Pathfinder models were once made.
From 1949 to 1971, these miniature classics brought joy to thousands of children and helped define a golden era of British motoring craftsmanship.
The J40 wasn’t just a toy.
Made with the same attention to detail as the full-size Austin A40 Devon and Dorset, it featured metal bodywork, working headlights, a real horn, detachable wheels with Dunlop tyres and even an opening bonnet and boot.
It was a car built by hand, to be driven with pride by children with big dreams and small legs.
At its peak, more than 32,000 J40 and Pathfinder pedal cars were produced.
One was gifted to Prince Charles for his fourth birthday in 1952, a custom-built J40 Junior Roadster Special that remains in the Royal Collection to this day.
The very first Pathfinder and the very last J40 were both displayed during the unveiling ceremony, offering a rare glimpse of British motoring history on a small but mighty scale.
The celebration also recognised the passionate community of people who built the cars and those who now keep their spirit alive.
The plaque was funded by Austin Pedal Cars, a company relaunched in 2020 by Jamie and Mark Burnett.
They now offer a full restoration service, sell classic J40s, and build bespoke J40 Continuation models using modern engineering and traditional craftsmanship.
What began as a ‘little idea’ by Austin Chairman Leonard Lord turned into one of the most enduring motoring icons of the post-war period.
Designer Jim Blaikie secretly built the first prototype at Austin’s Longbridge plant, setting the wheels in motion for what would become a cultural classic.
Today, the J40 continues to inspire.
Since 2012, the Goodwood Revival has hosted the Settrington Cup, a Le Mans-style pedal car race featuring nothing but J40s.
It’s become one of the event’s most beloved highlights and the most-watched race of the weekend.
The unveiling of the Blue Plaque is a celebration of design, nostalgia and ingenuity.
A tribute not just to the cars themselves, but to the generations of families who remember them with joy and to the new enthusiasts keeping the wheels turning.
