Jonathan Wood is a motoring writer of great experience. He has twice won both the Guild of Motoring Writers' Montagu Trophy and the Society of Automotive Historians' Cugnot Award. Among his other books for Shire are The Model T Ford, MG, and Coachbuilding.

One of the most famous of British cars, the diminutive but robust 750 cc Austin Seven, introduced in 1922, changed the course of automobile design and proved the viability of the small-capacity four-cylinder car. The salvation of the Austin company, it was aimed at families who might otherwise have travelled by motorcycle and sidecar, and it remained in production until 1939. The Seven performed as well on the race track as it did on the road and inspired a team of magnificent twin overhead camshaft single-seaters. It survives in respectable numbers to provide new generations of enthusiasts with a practical, economical car to run, race and restore.