Austin 12/6

1931 to 1937
Overview
Manufacturer	Austin Motor Company Limited
Production	1931–1937 30,316 produced
Body and chassis
Body style	two seater Eton, tourer Open Road, saloons: steel—Harley, Ascot fabric—Clifton sports saloons: Kempton, Greyhound; sports tourer Newberry
Powertrain
Engine	1496 or 1711 cc Straight-6
Transmission	single-plate dry clutch, 3-speed centrally controlled gearbox taking the drive through an open propellor shaft to the spiral bevel driven three-quarter floating rear axle.
Dimensions
Wheelbase	8' 10" 106 in (2,700 mm) Track 4' 2", 50 in (1,300 mm)
Length	12' 2" 146 in (3,700 mm) (1931)
Width	5' 2" 62 in (1,600 mm)
Kerb weight	Saloon 19½ cwt, 2,184 lb (991 kg)
Chronology
Predecessor	variant of Austin Twelve
Successor	Austin Fourteen Light-Six

The Austin Light Twelve-Six was introduced by the Austin Motor Company in January 1931 continuing in production until 1937. It was named by Austin Light Twelve to separate it from the well-established Austin Twelve. The general public then dubbed the original Twelve Heavy Twelve but Austin never used that name.

There was among British car makers in the early 1930s a vogue for small capacity six-cylinder engines and the 12/6 was Austin's example. The side-valve engine was new and initially of 1496 cc capacity. It was supplemented by an increased 65.5 mm bore, larger capacity 1711 cc option from 1934. Initially there was a three-speed transmission but a four-speed was an option from 1932 and became standard in 1933. This gained synchromesh on third and top speed in 1934 and on second in 1935.

The chassis was very conventional with semi-elliptic leaf springs on all wheels and rigid axles front and rear. There was a range of bodies on offer with initially a fabric bodied saloon and a pressed steel six-light (three windows on each side) saloon called the Harley. For 1932 the short lived fabric saloon (now well out of fashion) was dropped but open two and four-seat tourers were added. A further saloon with a boot, the Ascot, was added in 1934 and the Harley was dropped in 1935. At first the Ascot had the chromium plated radiator shell and front wings like the Harley but these were quickly succeeded by a radiator cowl painted in body colour and slightly different wings.

A Sports variant was added in 1933 with a lowered chassis and higher compression engine named Greyhound. There was also another body named Kempton on the same chassis. There were open two-seater Eton and four-seater Open Road tourer options of the Harley and later of the Ascot models.

The chassis was shared from 1933 with the four-cylinder Austin Light Twelve-Four as well as the original Austin Twelve.