Around the 1920s the company produced the Austin 7, an inexpensive, small and simple car and one of the earliest to be directed at a mass market. At one point it was built under licence by the fledgeling BMW.
In 1982, the by now greatly shrunk British Leyland company was renamed Austin Rover Group, with Austin acting as the "budget" brand. However, the continuing bad publicity associated with build and rust problems on the Metro, Maestro and Montego meant that the badge was dropped, and the last Austin-badged car was built in 1987.
The rights to the Austin badge are owned by MG Rover, the current heirs to the empire that was once BMC and BL. There are no plans to resurrect it. Austin's historic assembly plant in Longbridge survives today as MG Rover's sole production facility.
Austin, officially known as the "Live Music Capital of the World," is a high tech town with a laid-back feel.
Austin's Sixth Street Entertainment District, located between Congress and IH 35, is the nucleus for live entertainment, arts, cultural events, dining and more.
Austin is home to the oldest state office building in Texas - the Capital Visitors Center - which is rich with exhibits, photos and more that tell the story of the Lone Star State and its capital city, an honor Austin captured from Houston back in 1839.
The first car to use the famous Austin 7 name was a single-cylinder light car of Swift origin.
Austin was in severe difficulties by 1921 and the situation was not helped by the introduction of the Horsepower Tax in that year.
Austin was so keen to continue with the small car that he threatened to sell the concept to the Wolseley Sheep Shearing Machine Company, where he was still chairman.
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