Austin 12

Austin Twelve 1660 cc & 1861 cc
Twelve (wide track) with fabric saloon body c. 1928
Overview
Manufacturer	Austin
Production	1921–1939 88,000
Body and chassis
Body style	catalogued: tourer, saloon, sports coupé, Harley all-weather tourer,[1] fabric saloon special chassis for various—hire car, taxi, London taxi, van and other commercials
Powertrain
Engine	1660[1] or 1861 cc Straight-4
Transmission	single-plate clutch, 4-speed centrally controlled gearbox, linked by disc coupling to the open propellor shaft, by metal universal joint to a helical bevel-driven live rear axle. The clutch housing is cast in one with the gearbox.[1]
Dimensions
Wheelbase	9' 4", 112 in (2,800 mm)[2] Track 4' 4", 52 in (1,300 mm)[2] 4' 8", 56 in (1,400 mm)[3]
Length	13' 6", 162 in (4,100 mm)[4]
Width	5' 3", 63 in (1,600 mm)[4]
Kerb weight	Chassis 16¼ cwt, 1,820 lb (830 kg)[1] tourer 22 cwt, 2,464 lb (1,118 kg) saloon 24 cwt, 2,688 lb (1,219 kg)
Chronology
Predecessor	Austin Ten-Twelve
Successor	Austin 12/4

Austin Twelve engine 1660
Overview
Manufacturer	Austin
Layout
Configuration	Straight 4-cylinder[1]
Displacement	1,660 cc (101 cu in)[1]
Cylinder bore	72 mm (2.8 in)[1]
Piston stroke	102 mm (4.0 in)[1]
Cylinder block material	Cast iron, alloy crankcase. The inlet manifold is cast in one with the cylinder head[1]
Cylinder head material	Detachable, pistons are aluminium[1]
Valvetrain	Side-by-side valves, tappet covers may be easily removed, timing is driven by chain[1]
Combustion
Fuel system	Single carburettor supplied by a vacuum tank which draws from a reservoir beneath the driver's seat, ignition by magneto driven by chain placed behind the timing, dynamo driven by same chain[1]
Management	Back seat
Fuel type	Petrol[1]
Oil system	lubrication by forced feed, filler on the offside[1]
Cooling system	Radiator, fan, cooling water is circulated by a pump forward of the timing on the nearside[1]
Output
Power output	20 bhp (15 kW; 20 PS) @2,000 rpm Tax horsepower 12.8[1]
Chronology
Successor	Austin Twelve 1861 cc

The Austin Twelve is a motor car introduced by Austin 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 his Austin Twenty, introduced in 1919. The slower-than-expected sales of the Twenty brought about this divergence from his intended one-model policy. The Twelve was announced at the beginning of November 1921 after Austin's company had been in receivership for six months.^[5] The number twelve refers to its fiscal horse power (12.8) rather than its brake horsepower (bhp) which was 20 and later 27. The long-stroke engines encouraged by the tax regime, 72 × 102 mm later 72 × 114.5 mm, had much greater low-speed torque than the bhp rating suggests.