The Austin Pathfinder racing car model was produced during 1949 at the governmentfunded Junior Austin factory which the carmaker established at Bargoed to employ disabled Welsh miners.
These high-quality toys appear from time to time – specialist auto auctioneers H&H Classics (12.5% buyer’s premium) sold one in excellent condition for £4400 at Burghley House, Lincolnshire, in June 2015.
At £25 new (about £650 today), the cars were never cheap, but have more than held their value. The Scarborough racer was rated at £2000-2500 and sold at £2800.