The DFW Car & Toy Museum has added a remarkable piece of automotive history to its collection: a 1930 Austin 7 Wood Boat Tail Race Car. This vintage racing machine, part of the Ron Sturgeon Collection, represents a significant era in motorsport design and engineering.
The Austin 7, featuring a custom wood and aluminum boattail speedster bodywork, is powered by a compact 750cc inline-four engine producing approximately 15 horsepower. Its lightweight design and innovative engineering made it a notable competitor during its racing days at Bridgehampton Raceway in Sag Harbor, New York.
Technical details highlight the car's sophisticated engineering for its time. With a 75-inch wheelbase, transverse and quarter-elliptic leaf spring suspension, and mechanical drum brakes, the vehicle showcased advanced handling characteristics. Period-correct features like yellow-painted disc wheels, an eight-volt electrical system, and a plexiglass windscreen further emphasize its historical significance.
This acquisition provides automotive enthusiasts and historians a rare opportunity to examine an authentic early 20th-century racing automobile. The museum's extensive collection of over 200 cars offers visitors a comprehensive journey through automotive evolution, making it a must-visit destination for those interested in technological and design history.
