Austin Twenty
Encyclopedia
The Austin Twenty was introduced by the Austin Motor Company
in 1919 continuing in production until 1930. After the 20/6 model was introduced in 1927, the car was known as the Austin 20/4.
Before World War I Austin had produced a range of cars but, influenced by the manufacturing philosophy of Henry Ford, Herbert Austin
decided that the future was in mass producing a single model. The Longbridge factory
had been considerably enlarged to meet war production and it was here that the company had a base to put the theory into practice. During the war Austin had owned a Hudson Super Six a car he clearly admired as its overall layout would form a basis for the design of the new one model policy car. The car would however prove to be too large for the home market and the one model policy was rapidly dropped with the launch in 1922 of the Austin 12 hp
in many ways a scaled down Twenty.
The engine with its 95 mm bore and 127 mm stroke had a cast iron cylinder block with detachable cylinder head mounted on top of an aluminium crankcase. It developed 45 bhp at 2000 rpm. As an advance on pre war practice the engine was directly bolted to the four speed centre change gearbox which drove the rear wheels through an open propeller shaft.
The chassis, based on that of the Hudson, was conventional with semi-elliptic leaf springs on all wheels and rigid axles front and rear. Wooden spoked artillery style wheels were fitted. Initially brakes were on the rear wheels only but front wheel brakes were fitted as standard from 1925 and a the same time the wheels became steel spoked.
A 75 mph Sports variant was added in 1921 with a modified higher compression engine and wire wheels but it was very expensive and only around 23 were sold.
As well as the cars, a range of commercial vehicles was also built on the chassis.
Austin Motor Company
The Austin Motor Company was a British manufacturer of automobiles. The company was founded in 1905 and merged in 1952 into the British Motor Corporation Ltd. The marque Austin was used until 1987...
in 1919 continuing in production until 1930. After the 20/6 model was introduced in 1927, the car was known as the Austin 20/4.
Before World War I Austin had produced a range of cars but, influenced by the manufacturing philosophy of Henry Ford, Herbert Austin
Herbert Austin
Herbert 'Pa' Austin, 1st Baron Austin KBE was an English automobile designer and builder who founded the Austin Motor Company.-Background and early life:...
decided that the future was in mass producing a single model. The Longbridge factory
Longbridge plant
The Longbridge plant is an industrial complex situated in the Longbridge area of Birmingham, United Kingdom. It is currently owned by SAIC Group and is a manufacturing and research and development facility for its MG Motor subsidiary....
had been considerably enlarged to meet war production and it was here that the company had a base to put the theory into practice. During the war Austin had owned a Hudson Super Six a car he clearly admired as its overall layout would form a basis for the design of the new one model policy car. The car would however prove to be too large for the home market and the one model policy was rapidly dropped with the launch in 1922 of the Austin 12 hp
Austin 12 hp
The Austin 12/4 was introduced by the Austin Motor Company in 1921. It was the second of Herbert Austin's post World War I models and was in many ways a scaled-down version of the 20/4, introduced in 1919...
in many ways a scaled down Twenty.
The engine with its 95 mm bore and 127 mm stroke had a cast iron cylinder block with detachable cylinder head mounted on top of an aluminium crankcase. It developed 45 bhp at 2000 rpm. As an advance on pre war practice the engine was directly bolted to the four speed centre change gearbox which drove the rear wheels through an open propeller shaft.
The chassis, based on that of the Hudson, was conventional with semi-elliptic leaf springs on all wheels and rigid axles front and rear. Wooden spoked artillery style wheels were fitted. Initially brakes were on the rear wheels only but front wheel brakes were fitted as standard from 1925 and a the same time the wheels became steel spoked.
Body types
At its 1919 introduction three body types were listed, a tourer, coupé and landaulette. These were joined in 1921 by the Ranelagh fixed head, two door, coupé. For 1922 the Grosvenor limousine and landaulette, a Ranelagh four door, fixed head, coupé and Westminster drop head coupé were added.A 75 mph Sports variant was added in 1921 with a modified higher compression engine and wire wheels but it was very expensive and only around 23 were sold.
As well as the cars, a range of commercial vehicles was also built on the chassis.