British Pathe

Promotional film made for Austin cars during the year of the Festival of Britain. "Car-Mart" logo is seen on the main title.

We see the South Bank site of the Festival. We see the Skylon, the "pretty interpreters", radar equipment, various buildings under construction, displays, etc. In the...

Promotional film made for Austin cars during the year of the Festival of Britain. "Car-Mart" logo is seen on the main title.

We see the South Bank site of the Festival. We see the Skylon, the "pretty interpreters", radar equipment, various buildings under construction, displays, etc. In the transport pavilion we see a variety of exhibits including jet engines, outside we see a locomotive, Emett's railway in Battersea Park and a model of Great Exhibition of 1851.

There begins a historical recreation telling the history of travel from horse drawn vehicles to the modern motor car. Horse drawn coaches, archive footage of the horse omnibus, steam locomotives, old fashioned bicycle, penny farthing, primitive cars, etc. People dressed in historical costume ride in old fashioned cars. Most of this footage was shot in the 1950s but some of it is older. We see various Austin cars including racing cars, the "Baby Austin", car rallies, the "Big 7", "Austin 8", etc.

Narrator states that Austin has come to mean quality and value. He talks of how the Longbridge Plants were used to produce military vehicles during the war including Lancaster aircraft, ambulances, gliders, motorbikes and Churchill tanks. Various shots of the military vehicles mentioned.

Various shots of people at work at modern Austin factory. The A40 Devon Saloon is seen being produced. Austin's chairman Mr Lord announces a new scheme to encourage greater production. Seems to be a kind of tombola draw for employees. A large drum is spun and a ticket picked out. The more cars are turned out, the bigger the prize money is. More shots of the assembly line and cars being prepared for export all over the world. Gorgeous Austins are seen on display at motor shows. We see Prince Philip getting out of an Austin car. Film ends with an end title which reads: "For 43 years Car Mart has been the expression of fundamental values in Sales and Service which means that if you are an Austin owner, your car and Car Mart will serve you well."