Austin Sheerline

The Austin Sheerline was a large luxury saloon built by Austin in the United Kingdom from 1947 until 1954. Shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1947, it grew out of a wartime decision by Austin chairman Sir Leonard Lord to build a large, traditionally styled car that could compete with Rolls-Royce and Bentley at around two thirds of the price. Ricardo Burzi styled it from Lord's sketches, and it was the first Austin to carry the Flying A bonnet mascot. It used a pressed steel chassis with independent front suspension, a four-speed gearbox with a steering column change, hydraulic brakes and an overhead valve straight-six engine that grew from 3,460 cc to 3,995 cc. About 8,000 saloons were built, along with 475 long wheelbase limousines and around 300 bare chassis that coachbuilders turned into ambulances, hearses and shooting brakes.