Austin 12 Doctors Coupe

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Austin’s post-WW1 business plan was not an immediate success, based as it was on a one model policy. Although their 20hp was beautifully made, it was expensive to build and was rather pricey as a consequence.

Their response was to produce a smaller version: the 12/4. This model was much more successful (remaining in production until 1940) and kept the company afloat until the arrival of the cheap and cheerful Austin 7 in 1924 which really did save the day.

Dating from 1928, this 12/4 started life as a Mulliner four-door saloon. It must have had an eventful life, as it served duty as a pick-up truck for many years, a body-style it carried until the 1980s. Bills from 1980 onwards, mainly from Arthur Archers of Dunmow, show regular maintenance and a full engine rebuild including white metal.

Some time after, it was treated to its third body, this time in the form of a nicely executed fabric-bodied two-door Doctor's Coupe. A service sheet from 2008 onwards, when it came into the hands of its previous owner, details the maintenance and mileage accumulation until it was purchased by the vendor in 2014.

Much work has been carried out since 2008, including replacement fabric, the addition of dumb-irons to the roof, tidying of the upholstery, a rewire, rehanging the doors and a further engine overhaul in 2011, which included replumbing the oil feeds to the five main bearings.

There are 12 old MOTs on file, some invoices and notes and we are advised that it has proved extremely reliable and has frequently covered between 200 and 300 miles in a day with typical Austin dependability.

Although it had not run for some time when it arrived on site, it started easily and drove around the Brightwells site very nicely indeed, with notably light steering. 'Invest in an Austin' today!