This car is the oldest known surviving Austin car. The 25/30hp model is the first Herbert Austin produced at his newly acquired factory site at Longbridge, a village at that time just outside of Birmingham.

After leaving Wolseley in 1905, Austin moved quickly to set up his new motor manufacturing business in June of 1905. He acquired suitable premises in early November and showcased plans for a new car in mid-November at the Olympia Motor Show.

After orders were placed, Austin and his team of about fifty employees prepared the factory. By 1906 work began to build the 25/30hp (this model) and the site was expanded as well as the workforce. In April 1906, Herbert Austin drove the first completed car out of Longbridge towards the Lickey Hills for testing.

Austin's previous car designs during his time working for Wolseley, had transverse engines with horizontal cylinders. His Longbridge cars, however, had in-line engines and shaft drive to a live rear axle. The 25/30hp model had many features that were used on Austin cars until 1914, for example, separately cast cylinders and side valves, with inlet and exhaust valves on opposite cylinder sides.

It is thought that this car was originally the station bus for Birmingham Parks and was converted to an ambulance (possibly during the First World War) and for many years served at the Longbridge Works for employees needed medical attention. It then languished in storage for a long time before being finally rebuilt with this Edwardian-style touring body.