Free Austin J40 drives at Goodwood Revival

By Charlie Calderwood

| 28 Jul 2022

Classic & Sports Car – Free Austin J40 drives at Goodwood Revival

The J40 Motor Company has announced a demonstration track at this year’s Goodwood Revival where junior visitors will be able to sample Austin J40 pedal cars for free.

Celebrating 10 years of the Settrington Cup – Goodwood’s pedal-car race for children – guests will be able to book free time slots for children of 5-10 years to have a go on a new circuit in the Woodcote Paddock, piloting the company’s restored J40s.

A display of J40s will accompany this demonstration track, including an example from the last day of production at Bagoed, South Wales.

The Settrington Cup has been a Goodwood Revival fixture for a decade

“The J40 Motor Company is dedicated to encouraging the next generation of classic car enthusiasts,” said J40 Motor Company Managing Director, Mark Burnett, “and whilst J40 pedal cars are not cheap toys, we are committed to ensuring all children get a chance to see, drive, experience and love the Austin J40.”

The J40 Motor Company is also revealing its new continuation model concept to the public for the first time at September’s Revival.

Though based on the original Austin-built car, the new J40 concept is a clean-sheet design incorporating numerous engineering upgrades and improvements, and these will be the first J40s built since 1971.

The continuation cars will join the J40s restored by the J40 Motor Company in a new sales offering from the classic pedal-car specialist.

The soon-to-be-revealed continuation cars will be the first J40s built since 1971

Parts, accessories and merchandise will also be on sale at the J40 Motor Company’s area at the Goodwood Revival, as will a preview of a new J40 history book, available for pre-order.

Founded in 2020, the J40 Motor Company began by manufacturing and supplying parts for the 32,098 Austin J40 pedal cars built by Austin from 1949-’71.

More recently, the company has begun to offer in-house restoration services for J40s, and is also launching a sales division that will sell restored J40s and projects.

The J40 Motor Company restores classic models, as well as offering parts and support – and new-car sales are coming

The pedal cars are miniaturised versions of the Austin A40 Devon and Dorset, and feature working headlights, detachable wheels with Dunlop rubber tyres, upholstered interiors and an opening boot.

Today the pedal cars are collectibles with values beyond many full-size cars, very good examples fetching £5000 or more.

The Goodwood Revival returns to the Sussex circuit on 16-18 September 2022.

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