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Austin 12/4

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Light Twelve-Four
Twelve-Four
Twelve
Austin Twelve New Ascot
shape announced 11 August 1936
Overview
ManufacturerAustin
Production1933–1939
71,654 produced[1]
Body and chassis
Body stylesaloon, tourer, estate car, van
Powertrain
Engine1535 cc Straight-4[2]
Transmissionin one unit with the engine: single-plate clutch, 4-speed centrally controlled gearbox with synchromesh on 2, 3 & top.Three quarter floating rear axle
Dimensions
Wheelbase106 in (2,700 mm)
track 4' 2", 50 in (1,300 mm)[2]
Length154 in (3,900 mm)[2]
Width60 in (1,500 mm)[2]
Chronology
PredecessorAustin 12 hp ("Heavy" 12)
SuccessorAustin 12 (1939 model)
Light Twelve-Four
1535 cc
Eleven.Nine
Overview
ManufacturerAustin
Layout
ConfigurationStraight 4-cylinder
Displacement1,535 cc (94 cu in)[2]
Cylinder bore69.3 mm (2.73 in)[2]
Piston stroke101.6 mm (4.00 in)[2]
Cylinder block materialcast iron
Cylinder head materialdetachable, pistons are aluminium
Valvetrainside-by-side valves
Combustion
Fuel systemdowndraught carburettor supplied by pump from tank at rear of the car. Contents gauge on instrument panel
Fuel typepetrol
Oil systemforced lubrication by gear wheel pump to all crankshaft bearings, camshaft and big end bearings
Output
Power output24 bhp (18 kW; 24 PS) @2,400 rpm[2]
28 bhp (21 kW; 28 PS) @3,000 rpm
Tax horsepower 11.9[2]
Chronology
SuccessorAustin Twelve 1535 cc

The Austin Light Twelve-Four is a car that was produced by Austin from 1933 until 1939. It was replaced in 1939 by a completely new car also called the Austin 12 which kept the same engine. The "12" in the name referred to the taxation horsepower, a British rating which controlled the annual taxation payable to use the car on the road.

Austin Twelve-Four Ascot

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Austin introduced this new car in September 1932. It was made by fitting a 1535 cc side-valve, four-cylinder engine with 24 bhp output into the same chassis as they had been making since late 1930 for their six-cylinder 12/6 which was also in the same 12 hp class. This new four cylinder engine was coupled to a four-speed "crash" gearbox at first, but a new transmission with synchromesh on third and top speed appeared in 1934 and then also on second in 1935.

The chassis was very conventional, with semi-elliptic leaf springs on all wheels and rigid axles front and rear. Wire wheels were fitted until 1937 when they were replaced with pressed steel ones. At launch there was a choice of a pressed steel six-light (three windows on each side) saloon called the Harley and a two-seat tourer. A second saloon style with a boot, the Ascot, was added in 1934 and the Harley was dropped in 1935. In the same year the chromium-plated radiator shell was replaced by one painted in body colour. The very early cars had their side lights mounted on the scuttle, but these soon moved to the tops of the wings.


1936 Ascot
saloon
Open Road
tourer
Eton
two-seater
tourer
length 158 in (4,000 mm) 158 in (4,000 mm) 158 in (4,000 mm)
width 61.5 in (1,560 mm) 61.5 in (1,560 mm) 61.5 in (1,560 mm)
height 66 in (1,700 mm) 67.5 in (1,710 mm) 67.5 in (1,710 mm)

Austin Twelve New Ascot

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On 11 August 1936 Austin announced a major update for 1937 with the engine being moved forward on the chassis to improve passenger space. Other improvements included an adjustable steering column and the windscreen wipers moving to the scuttle from the top of the screen. The bodies became much more rounded and in 1938 an estate car was added to the model line-up and the tourer, which was still being built in the old style, was replaced by a four-door cabriolet.

for 1939

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Higher and wider doors were introduced for both Twelve and Fourteen in midsummer 1938.

References

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  1. ^ Sedgwick, Michael (1989). A-Z of Cars of the 1930s. Devon, UK: Bay View Books. ISBN 1-870979-38-9.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Cheaper Motoring.The Times, Tuesday, 6 Sep 1932; pg. 10; Issue 46231