Astra (1954 automobile)

The Astra, Little Horse, was an English car built by a subsidiary of British Anzani of Hampton Hill, Middlesex from 1954 to 1959.[2] At GBP348 it claimed to be the smallest and cheapest four-wheeler on the British market. The car had originally been built by JARC motors and sold as the Little Horse.

Astra
Overview
ManufacturerAstra Car Company
Production1954–59
Body and chassis
ClassMicrocar
Body style2-door saloon or estate
Powertrain
Engine322 cc (19.6 cu in) Anzani two-cylinder[1]
Transmission3-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase74 in (1,880 mm)[1]
Length114 in (2,896 mm)[1]
Width53 in (1,346 mm)[1]

Car

It featured a rear-mounted 322 cc (19.6 cu in) air-cooled, twin-cylinder engine mounted under the floor driving the rear wheels through a three-speed motorcycle-type gearbox.[3] The steel channel section chassis had all-round independent suspension with swing axles at the rear.[3] Most cars had two seater estate car bodies, but some four-seat saloons were also made. The bodies were made of aluminium. The car could also be bought in kit form. It was claimed to be able to reach 55 mph (89 km/h) and return 60 mpg‑imp (4.7 L/100 km; 50 mpg‑US).

After production ceased, some coupés were made by Gill cars and sold as the Getabout.[2] The rights were also bought by Harold Lightburn of Camden, Adelaide, Australia who fitted a new glass-fibre estate body and sold the car as the Zeta between 1963 and 1966.

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gollark: My school is planning to try online learning or something, which I am sure will go badly.
gollark: ```What will happen about exams?In England and Wales, all exams in May and June have been cancelled, including GCSEs, A-levels and primary school national curriculum tests known as Sats.Mr Williamson told the Commons on Wednesday: "I can confirm we will not go ahead with assessments or exams and that we will not be publishing performance tables for this academic year."We will work with the sector and [the exams watchdog] Ofqual to ensure children get the qualifications that they need."```- from the BBC
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See also

References
  1. Culshaw; Horrobin (1974). Complete Catalogue of British Cars. London: Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-16689-2.
  2. Georgano, N. (2000). Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. London: HMSO. ISBN 1-57958-293-1.
  3. Robson, Graham (2006). A to Z British Cars 1945-1980. England: Herridge & Sons. pp. 46. ISBN 0954106393.
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