Austin 12/4

The Austin Light Twelve-Four was made by Austin from 1933 to 1939, replaced in 1939 by an all-new car also called the Austin 12 that kept the same engine. The 12 in the name is the taxation horsepower. Introduced in September 1932, it put a 1,535 cc side-valve four-cylinder engine of 24 bhp into the chassis Austin had made since late 1930 for its six-cylinder 12/6, with a four-speed gearbox that gained synchromesh on third and top in 1934 and second in 1935. The chassis was conventional, with semi-elliptic springs and rigid axles. At launch there was a pressed steel saloon called the Harley and a two-seat tourer, and the Ascot saloon with a boot followed in 1934.