| Astra | |
| Manufacturer: | Astra Car Company |
| Production: | 1954–59 |
| Class: | Microcar |
| Body Style: | 2-door saloon or estate |
| Engine: | Anzani two-cylinder[1] |
| Transmission: | 3-speed manual |
| Length: | 1140NaN0 |
| Width: | 530NaN0 |
| Wheelbase: | 740NaN0 |
The Astra, Little Horse, was an English car built by a subsidiary of British Anzani of Hampton Hill, Middlesex from 1954 until 1959.[2] At GBP348 it claimed to be the smallest and cheapest four-wheeler on the British market. The car had originally been built by JARC motors and sold as the Little Horse.
It featured a rear-mounted air-cooled, twin-cylinder engine mounted under the floor driving the rear wheels through a three-speed motorcycle-type gearbox.[3] The steel channel section chassis had all-round independent suspension with swing axles at the rear. Most cars had two seater estate car bodies, but some four-seat saloons were also made. The bodies were made of aluminium. The car could also be bought in kit form. It was claimed to be able to reach 55mi/h and return 60mpgimp.
After production ceased, some coupés were made by Gill cars and sold as the Getabout.[2] The rights were also bought by Harold Lightburn of Camden, Adelaide, Australia who fitted a new glass-fibre estate body and sold the car as the Zeta between 1963 and 1966.
. G.N. Georgano . Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile . 2000 . HMSO . London . 1-57958-293-1.