Austin Longbridge Federation.
At the Federation Annual General Meeting held on 15 October 2011, the Federation was re-named, becoming the Austin and Longbridge Federation (ALF).
ALF is a federation of clubs and individuals which aims to Preserve the Heritage of Austin and Longbridge by,
Promoting all clubs associated with the various marques - Austin, Wolseley, Riley, MG, Rover, Vanden Plas.
Co-organise the Pride of Longbridge Rally annually in April
Promote the heritage element of the Longbridge Redevelopment.
To go along with these changes, we also have a new logo.
In recent years the name 'Austin' has been noticeably absent in the arena of British car making. In fact, no Austin's have been manufactured at Longbridge or anywhere else since 1986, although car production at Longbridge was continuous until 8th April 2005.
The name of 'Austin', surely one of the greatest in British and International motoring that gave the world a complete range of automobiles from 'motoring for the millions' to 'carriages for the gentry' is in danger of sinking into obscurity. The time is right to bring together all interested parties into the Austin Federation to ensure that the great name lives on.
The above words were written in the spring of 2001, and were circulated to all likely interested parties, resulting in an inaugural meeting being held later that year at the MG-Rover Visitors Centre to discuss the formation of an Austin Federation, and how the 1955 Golden Jubilee Celebrations could be recreated in July 2005 to mark the Centenary of 'Austin. Attending the meeting were representatives from many Austin Car Clubs, the Austin Ex-Apprentices Association, and the Austin Village Trust. At a later meeting in 2002, the Federation of Austin Clubs, Registers, and Associations was voted into existence.
The primary Objectives of the Federation are to Preserve and Promote the Name and former Products of the 'Austin Motor Company'. One way in which this was achieved was by re-creating the 1955 golden Jubilee Celebrations by staging the largest gathering of Austin products at Cofton Park (opposite the main gate of the Longbridge works) for the Centenary Celebration in July 2005. Other aims are the sharing of technical information amongst members, and the publication of a Federation newsletter to be circulated to all members.
Responsibility for the day to day management of the Federation is in the hands of it's elected committee. An annual general meeting is held in October each year. In addition, there are generally three other meetings to discuss progress with the Centenary Event, and other matters.
In early October 2004 the Federation became a limited company. More information on this will be published here as it becomes available.
Principal Committee Members are:
Chairman, John Baker.
Vice Chairman, Rev Colin Corke.
Secretary, Chris Tallents.
Treasurer, Mike Lashford.
Membership of the Federation is open to all clubs, Registers, and Associations whose purposes include the perpetration of the 'Austin' marque and the preservation of the products and history of the 'Austin Motor Company'. The cost of annual membership is now £10 for clubs, or £5 per individual - payable/renewable on April 1st. If you or your club would like to become a member, then please get in contact by email, or click the link to view and print a form
Membership Application Form.
Austin 1800. Photo thanks to Ken Green.
Landcrab Owners Club.
Metro 1.3L. Owner Harry Parker.
Austin A35 Owner Roy Chamberlain,
A30 / A35 Owners Club.
Maxi 1750 HL. Photo thanks to Denise
Holloway. Maxi Owners Club.
Princess HLS, owned by Keith Wilson.
Princess and Ambassador Owners Club.
Mini. Photo supplied by Tamworth
Mini Centre.
Ambassador VDP. Photo thanks to Alex
Sebbinger. Princess and Ambassador
Owners Club.
Montego. Photo thanks to Jonathan Sellars,
Maestro and Montego Owners Club.