Is the Austin 7 responsible for the McLaren F1?

This week James takes a trip back to the 1920’s to discover what motoring was like almost a hundred years ago and finds out the little Austin’s link to the beginnings of BMW, Lotus and McLaren.
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[@orbion2]

Bonnet temp gauges need to make a comeback

[@Mpayne1472]

Tenuous link to the Max

[@imageandfilm2394]

Clueless presenter, cool car

[@5thgearouttahere]

Super cool car 👍🏼

[@eurekajazz]

I've got one the same. Totally clueless presenter gets everything wrong!

[@henryhol8538]

Apart from being the basis of Bruce McLarens first racer, this car's other claim to fame is that it promoted what became the standard driving layout (first used by Cadillac) around the world, as it was built everywhere under licence.

[@wheelieblind]

Did they not have the Ford Model T in the UK? To not have a trunk in the later half of the 1920's would of sucked.

[@theoknowscars5418]

That car is almost from the 1930's

[@KLUTCHdot58]

Hood? You an American now James?😕

[@user-yw8zx5bg1e]

この形の新車作るってほしいな！

[@d4nn7r]

Did I miss the reference to the McLaren F1?

[@elcasho]

I guess it wasn't explained but first BMW's were Austin 7's and F1 had a BMW motor. Tenious agreed

[@alunchisholm481]

Also, Bruce McLaren learned to drive, then raced an Austin 7, which is even more tenuous.

[@d4nn7r]

Maybe there was explicit mention in the script and when they filmed it but that part got lost in the edit? Otherwise it seems odd.

[@henryhol8538]

@@alunchisholm481 That Austin 7 special is in the lobby of McLarens center in Woking. I filmed it when it was displayed at last years London Classic Car Show.