Sir William

William Lyons was a great stylist, and is possibly the only CEO of a major manufacturer to have personally penned the majority of his company’s products. The exceptions were the C, D. and E-Types, which were the work of Malcolm Sayer, an aerodynamist from aviation. Sayer was the godfather of automotive aerodynamics, as opposed to streamlining, and Lyons had the sense to employ a specialist.

William Lyons bought into a small outfit, Swallow Sidecars, and expanded the business. Before long, Swallow was making car bodies, the most notable of which was on the Austin Seven. For a small premium, your Baby Austin could have curbside credibility.