of (factory quoted). In its road test The Motor magazine achieved a top speed of and a 0–60 mph time of 42.3 seconds. Braking was effected by a hybrid system, with Lockheed fully hydraulic drum brakes at the front and a body-mounted single cylinder operating rods to the rear wheels, which despite being heavily criticised as archaic and old-fashioned, were reported to be quite acceptable. The rod system provided good handbrake efficiency and was applied by a lever in an unorthodox position to the right of the driver's seat (Right hand drive vehicles). Bumps were handled by independent coil springs at the front end and beam axle/semi-elliptic leaf springs at the back. A car tested by The Motor magazine in 1952 had a top speed of and could accelerate from 0– in 29 seconds. A fuel consumption of was recorded. The test car cost £553 including taxes. The optional radio was an extra £43 and the heater £9. Performance data need to be seen in the context of fuel availability. Early in the Second World War "branded fuel" disappeared from sale in the UK, and the nationally available fuel available at the beginning of 1952 had an octane rating of just 70, which enforced relatively low compression ratios: this reduced the performance available from all cars, especially small ones. In 1952 branded fuels returned to the forecourts, available octane ratings began to increase, and compression ratios were progressively improved along with the performance figures of cars such as the Austin A30 and its A35 successor. Australian production The A30 was produced in Australia by the Austin Motor Company (Australia) Pty Ltd from 1952 to 1954 and by its successor, the British Motor Corporation (Australia) Pty Ltd from 1954 to 1956. Engine 803 cc BMC A-Series engine inline 4. 58 mm bore x 76 mm stroke pushrod-operated overhead valves compression ratio 7.2:1 single Zenith 26JS or 26VME carburettor 28 bhp (21 kW) at 4400 rpm 40 lbf·ft (54 Nm) at 2200 rpm New Austin Seven and Austin A30 Seven Early sales literature used the names New Austin Seven and Austin A30 Seven. References Further reading Post War Baby Austins (1988) Sharratt, Barney Austin A30 & A35 Super Profile (1985), Henson, Kim, Haynes Publishing Group Austin A30 & A35 1951 - 1962, Brooklands Books, External links Austin A30/A35 Owners' Club The Austin A30 Site. A30 photographs, free screensaver, parts noticeboard+ Austin Memories—History