744:
732:
768:
720:
785:
634:"The gears were easily changed, the brakes worked well, yet were smooth in application, and the steering is steady and light. Ample lock enables the car to turn in a small space. Of the springing I have no complaint; much of its efficiency is probably due to proper lubrication of the leaves. The various controls are to hand, and in addition to a horn button on the instrument board there is a large circular switch on the steering wheel so that warning can be given without having to take off a hand." from the report on the Austin Twelve
697:
756:
688:
706:
222:
38:
801:
551:, 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. The number twelve refers to its
833:
Biro wrote the stories from the late 1960s to the 1980s. The main series of books, all fully illustrated in colour by Biro, ran to at least seventeen titles, with a further twelve (at least) "Gumdrop Little Books" also published in the 1980s.
825:
The stories revolve around the car and his owner, initially the younger Bill McArran, but for most of the series, the more senior Mr
Oldcastle (later joined by a dog, Horace). The plots often involve the search for replacement parts for
121:
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
581:
While the mechanical specification changed little (the engine increased from 1661 cc to 1861 cc in 1926), many body styles were offered with saloons becoming more popular as the twenties drew to a close.
659:
This "very marked improvement" was announced for the Motor Show
October 1924. The pedal now applied all four brakes on the wheels. Application was by cable, the sets were compensated and wear could be taken up
650:
type of transmission brake which is anchored to the gear box. Hand adjusters are provided. Compensation is given by rubber washers. The rear-wheel brakes can also be taken up by hand on the primary rod.
334:
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
626:
Today, the Austin Twelve is remembered as being virtually unburstable and is well catered for by the
Vintage Austin Register in the UK and various other clubs in other parts of the world.
559:(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.
678:
Suspension is by half-elliptical springs, those at the rear are underslung. Gaiters allowing leaf lubrication by oil are fitted, and such parts as shackle pins are greased by gun.
743:
837:
Whilst
Gumdrop's adventures are fictional, the car is not. Mr Biro and Gumdrop were frequent visitors to car shows and other events in Sussex and surrounding area (2008)
845:
In 2022 the Heavy 12/4 celebrates 100 years, with the
Vintage Austin Register hosting a commemorative event in Leicestershire featuring a gathering of one hundred cars.
767:
731:
719:
1148:
1079:
784:
1141:
612:
between its top two ratios in 1934. The factory catalogued body range was steadily updated with the last of the no longer fashionable
1105:
1095:
1037:
1006:
965:
1605:
116:
604:
etc. and received some updating. The artillery style wheels were replaced by wire wheels in 1933 and coil ignition replaced the
567:
Initially available as a tourer, by 1922 three body styles were offered: the four-seat tourer, the two/four-seater (both at 550
1117:
592:
After the early thirties the car was referred to by the public as the Heavy Twelve to distinguish it from the other, newer, 12
619:
After the war the Austin Twelve name resumed in the Austin catalogue for a couple of years until the arrival in 1947 of the
1134:
755:
1600:
1053:
585:
The car continued in the Austin catalogue and as a taxi option until 1939. The last cars were produced for the
1573:
1564:
810:
696:
613:
1157:
540:
456:
436:
251:
239:
56:
1126:
1610:
586:
466:
431:
339:
261:
234:
1523:
1361:
662:
The carburettor was now given a strangler. The handbrake worked on the transmission for parking.
1101:
1091:
1073:
1033:
1002:
961:
646:
A pedal operates shoes in enclosed drums at the rear and a centrally set hand lever applies a
687:
605:
556:
17:
501:
486:
382:
372:
Radiator, fan, cooling water is circulated by a pump forward of the timing on the nearside
281:
568:
552:
544:
389:
367:
90:
78:
705:
1594:
1461:
1456:
1419:
548:
476:
302:
271:
297:
Cast iron, alloy crankcase. The inlet manifold is cast in one with the cylinder head
1538:
1508:
1503:
1490:
1473:
1468:
1451:
1426:
1336:
318:
Side-by-side valves, tappet covers may be easily removed, timing is driven by chain
291:
187:
1100:
A-Z of Cars of the 1930s. Michael
Sedgwick and Mark Gillies. Bay View Books 1989.
1407:
1379:
1301:
1294:
800:
609:
601:
597:
575:
197:
165:
221:
1121:
1120:– Includes how the 12/4 became the first of the line that spawned the classic
620:
593:
313:
109:
37:
547:'s post World War I models and was in many ways a scaled-down version of his
1440:
1435:
1412:
1347:
357:
132:
1325:
1310:
1025:
994:
815:
942:
The Times (London, England), Tuesday, 18 June 1929; pg. 9; Issue 45232
103:
799:
1553:
1057:
328:
1130:
1090:
A-Z of Cars of the 1920s. Nick
Baldwin. Bay View Books 1994.
804:
The real-life
Gumdrop as driven by the author on 27 July 2008
616:
fabric-covered cars in 1931 and no open tourers after 1934.
814:, the title character of a series of books authored by
808:
The Twelve-Four is familiar to children in the form of
525:
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62:
52:
47:
42:
Twelve (wide track) with fabric saloon body c. 1928
30:
578:era with annual sales peaking at 14,000 in 1927.
362:lubrication by forced feed, filler on the offside
921:, Saturday, 18 October 1924; pg. 17; Issue 43786
903:, Tuesday, 12 February 1924; pg. 7; Issue 43573.
822:is an Austin Clifton Heavy Twelve-Four of 1926.
1032:. Hodder and Stoughton. pp. (back cover).
506:27 bhp (20 kW; 27 PS) @2,000 rpm
387:20 bhp (15 kW; 20 PS) @2,000 rpm
1001:. Hodder and Stoughton. pp. (endpapers).
984:, Friday, 4 November 1921; pg. 17; Issue 42869
1142:
951:
949:
8:
638:all-weather tourer published February 1924.
174:saloon 24 cwt, 2,688 lb (1,219 kg)
172:tourer 22 cwt, 2,464 lb (1,118 kg)
170:Chassis 16¼ cwt, 1,820 lb (830 kg)
89:special chassis for various—hire car, taxi,
1149:
1135:
1127:
895:
893:
891:
889:
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413:
220:
207:
83:catalogued: tourer, saloon, sports coupé,
36:
27:
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913:
911:
909:
875:
873:
871:
869:
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857:
670:Steering gear is by worm and worm wheel.
1167:
411:Reciprocating internal combustion engine
205:Reciprocating internal combustion engine
853:
777:
712:
680:
608:in 1935. The gearbox was provided with
574:The car enjoyed success throughout the
16:For the Austin 12 of 1939 to 1947, see
1184:
1181:
1178:
1078:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
1071:
1020:
1018:
1175:
7:
1170:
899:The Twelve h.p. Austin (Road Test),
471:1,861 cc (114 cu in)
266:1,660 cc (101 cu in)
152:13' 6", 162 in (4,100 mm)
31:Austin Twelve 1660 cc & 1861 cc
958:Complete Catalogue of British Cars
137:9' 4", 112 in (2,800 mm)
14:
308:Detachable, pistons are aluminium
160:5' 3", 63 in (1,600 mm)
144:4' 8", 56 in (1,400 mm)
142:4' 4", 52 in (1,300 mm)
87:all-weather tourer, fabric saloon
1118:Austin Taxi (at Austin Memories)
783:
766:
754:
742:
730:
718:
704:
695:
686:
682:1926 Heavy Twelve Clifton tourer
999:Gumdrop and the Farmer's Friend
543:in 1921. It was the second of
1:
596:cars in the Austin catalogue
539:is a motor car introduced by
1160:road car timeline, 1906-1939
571:) and the coupé at 675 GBP.
491:114.5 mm (4.51 in)
529:Austin Twelve 1535 cc, 1946
93:, van and other commercials
1627:
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1516:
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1402:
1400:
1391:
1387:
1342:
1320:
1318:
1309:
956:Culshaw; Horrobin (1974).
623:Dorset and Devon saloons.
15:
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286:102 mm (4.0 in)
219:
35:
1288:
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1219:
1216:
1213:
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1207:
1204:
1201:
1198:
1195:
1192:
1189:
818:, who owned an example.
714:1930s Twelve-Four Ascots
481:72 mm (2.8 in)
276:72 mm (2.8 in)
1606:Cars introduced in 1921
555:(12.8) rather than its
1030:Gumdrop finds a Friend
805:
790:Higher and wider doors
960:. London: Macmillan.
803:
521:Austin Twelve 1660 cc
405:Austin Twelve 1861 cc
1158:Austin Motor Company
779:1938–39 Twelve Ascot
417:Austin Twelve engine
211:Austin Twelve engine
1436:Sixteen or Eighteen
508:Tax horsepower 12.8
461:Straight 4-cylinder
256:Straight 4-cylinder
806:
553:fiscal horse power
1588:
1587:
1583:
1582:
655:Four-wheel brakes
598:Light Twelve-Four
533:
532:
409:
408:
203:
202:
188:Austin Ten-Twelve
1618:
1295:Small family car
1168:
1151:
1144:
1137:
1128:
1084:
1083:
1077:
1069:
1067:
1065:
1056:. Archived from
1050:
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1043:
1022:
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991:
985:
978:
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971:
953:
944:
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904:
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758:
746:
734:
722:
708:
699:
690:
602:Light Twelve-Six
557:brake horsepower
414:
224:
208:
166:Kerb weight
108:1660 or 1861 cc
73:Body and chassis
40:
28:
18:Austin 12 (1939)
1626:
1625:
1621:
1620:
1619:
1617:
1616:
1615:
1601:Austin vehicles
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1589:
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1155:
1114:
1087:
1070:
1063:
1061:
1054:"Archived copy"
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1009:
993:
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917:Austin Twelve.
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79:Body style
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1112:External links
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1085:
1060:on 2 July 2022
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587:War Department
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545:Herbert Austin
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398:
394:
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390:Tax horsepower
385:
379:
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368:Cooling system
364:
363:
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1574:Austin Twelve
1570:
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1565:Austin Twelve
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1420:Full-size car
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1106:1-870979-38-9
1103:
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1096:1-870979-53-2
1093:
1089:
1088:
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1059:
1055:
1049:
1046:
1041:
1039:0-340-16451-4
1035:
1031:
1027:
1021:
1019:
1015:
1010:
1008:0-340-03418-1
1004:
1000:
996:
990:
987:
983:
977:
974:
969:
967:0-333-16689-2
963:
959:
952:
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749:1935 wireless
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660:individually.
654:
652:
649:
641:
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615:
614:Weymann style
611:
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583:
579:
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558:
554:
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549:Austin Twenty
546:
542:
538:
537:Austin Twelve
528:
524:
520:
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511:
505:
503:
499:
494:
490:
488:
487:Piston stroke
484:
480:
478:
477:Cylinder bore
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468:
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460:
458:
457:Configuration
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304:
303:Cylinder head
300:
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285:
283:
282:Piston stroke
279:
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273:
272:Cylinder bore
269:
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253:
252:Configuration
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39:
34:
29:
25:Motor vehicle
23:
19:
1576:
1567:
1462:Twenty-Eight
1393:Heavy Twelve
1392:
1380:Light Twelve
1370:
1171:
1062:. Retrieved
1058:the original
1048:
1029:
998:
989:
981:
976:
957:
941:
918:
900:
844:
836:
832:
827:
824:
819:
809:
807:
677:
669:
658:
647:
645:
635:
633:
625:
618:
591:
584:
580:
573:
566:
536:
534:
502:Power output
467:Displacement
432:Manufacturer
383:Power output
262:Displacement
235:Manufacturer
139:
117:Transmission
84:
53:Manufacturer
22:
1354:Family car
1122:London Taxi
610:synchromesh
518:Predecessor
198:Austin 12/4
184:Predecessor
91:London taxi
1611:1930s cars
1595:Categories
1577:Low Loader
1408:Twelve-six
849:References
796:In fiction
674:Suspension
648:locomotive
621:Austin A40
513:Chronology
443:Production
397:Chronology
358:Oil system
340:Management
323:Combustion
314:Valvetrain
179:Chronology
127:Dimensions
110:Straight-4
98:Powertrain
63:Production
1028:(1988) .
1026:Biro, Val
995:Biro, Val
982:The Times
919:The Times
901:The Times
841:Centenary
589:in 1940.
526:Successor
402:Successor
349:Fuel type
344:Back seat
194:Successor
133:Wheelbase
66:1921–1939
1441:Eighteen
1413:Fourteen
1074:cite web
997:(1967).
980:Austin.
816:Val Biro
666:Steering
563:Overview
426:Overview
305:material
294:material
229:Overview
122:gearbox.
48:Overview
1568:Top Hat
828:Gumdrop
820:Gumdrop
811:Gumdrop
630:Chassis
606:magneto
576:vintage
446:Unknown
1457:Twenty
1371:Twelve
1185:1930s
1182:1920s
1179:1910s
1176:1900s
1104:
1094:
1064:1 June
1036:
1005:
964:
642:Brakes
636:Harley
541:Austin
496:Output
451:Layout
437:Austin
377:Output
352:Petrol
331:system
246:Layout
240:Austin
149:Length
104:Engine
85:Harley
68:88,000
57:Austin
1539:60 hp
1524:50 hp
1509:40 hp
1504:25-30
1491:30 hp
1474:18-24
1469:15-20
1452:20 hp
1427:15 hp
1362:12-14
1337:10 hp
1326:Eight
1311:Seven
157:Width
140:Track
1554:Taxi
1302:7 hp
1172:Type
1102:ISBN
1092:ISBN
1080:link
1066:2022
1034:ISBN
1003:ISBN
962:ISBN
773:1937
761:1936
737:1935
725:1933
535:The
420:1861
392:12.8
329:Fuel
214:1660
1348:Ten
569:GBP
1597::
1289:9
1259:9
1229:9
1199:9
1076:}}
1072:{{
1017:^
948:^
926:^
908:^
856:^
830:.
600:,
594:HP
1286:8
1283:7
1280:6
1277:5
1274:4
1271:3
1268:2
1265:1
1262:0
1256:8
1253:7
1250:6
1247:5
1244:4
1241:3
1238:2
1235:1
1232:0
1226:8
1223:7
1220:6
1217:5
1214:4
1211:3
1208:2
1205:1
1202:0
1196:8
1193:7
1190:6
1150:e
1143:t
1136:v
1082:)
1068:.
1042:.
1011:.
970:.
20:.
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