| Light Twelve-Four Twelve-Four Twelve | |
| Manufacturer: | Austin |
| Production: | 1933 - 1939 71,654 produced[1] |
| Predecessor: | Austin 12 hp ("Heavy" 12) |
| Successor: | Austin 12 (1939 model) |
| Body Style: | saloon, tourer, estate car, van |
| Engine: | 1535 cc Straight-4[2] |
| Transmission: | in one unit with the engine: single-plate clutch, 4-speed centrally controlled gearbox with synchromesh on 2, 3 & top.Three quarter floating rear axle |
| Wheelbase: | 106inches track 4' 2", 50inches |
| Length: | 154inches |
| Width: | 60inches |
| Sp: | uk |
| Light Twelve-Four 1535 cc Eleven.Nine | |
| Manufacturer: | Austin |
| Successor: | Austin Twelve 1535 cc |
| Configuration: | Straight 4-cylinder |
| Displacement: | 15350NaN0 |
| Bore: | 69.3mm |
| Stroke: | 101.6mm |
| Block: | cast iron |
| Head: | detachable, pistons are aluminium |
| Valvetrain: | side-by-side valves |
| Fuelsystem: | downdraught carburettor supplied by pump from tank at rear of the car. Contents gauge on instrument panel |
| Fueltype: | petrol |
| Oilsystem: | forced lubrication by gear wheel pump to all crankshaft bearings, camshaft and big end bearings |
| Power: | 24bhp @2,400 rpm 28bhp @3,000 rpm Tax horsepower 11.9 |
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 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 | Ascotsaloon | Open Roadtourer | Etontwo-seatertourer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| length | 158inches | 158inches | 158inches | |
| width | 61.5inches | 61.5inches | 61.5inches | |
| height | 66inches | 67.5inches | 67.5inches | |
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.
Higher and wider doors were introduced for both Twelve and Fourteen in midsummer 1938.