Sir Herbert Austin founded Austin in 1905 in Longbridge England.  The first production car was a 5-liter four-cylinder model and only 200 were made. Like many automotive manufactures of the time, Austin grew considerably by manufacturing military equipment during WW I and II. The small car company struggled between the two wars but managed to stay afloat with a new finance director, Ernest Payton. It was around this time the Austin Seven was created. A small, inexpensive subcompact was one of the first aimed at a mass market. This tiny car helped keep Austin profitable through the great depression. Austin was absorbed into the British Leyland Motor Company in 1952, this coupled with other problems led to their decline.