Austin 12/6 Shooting Brake

Introduced in 1931, the Austin 12/6 was a development of the earlier four-cylinder 12 and continued in production until 1937. It followed a vogue among British car makers in the early 1930s for small capacity six-cylinder engines, initially having a displacement of 1.5-litres, though this was soon increased to a 30bhp 1.7-litre unit. At first 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 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 starting with a fabric-bodied saloon and a pressed steel six-light saloon called the Harley. For 1932 the short-lived fabric saloon 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. Also in 1935 the chromium plated radiator shell was replaced by one painted in body colour.

 

First registered in November 1933, this unique Austin 12/6 Shooting Brake is believed to have started out in life as a Harley saloon but was rebodied in the 1950s. Little is known of the early history of the car but at some point it has been converted to negative earth with an alternator. It also comes with body-coloured blanking plates for the windows so it can easily be converted into a van.

 

In the 1990s the vehicle was carving out quite a lucrative career for itself in TV series, appearing in Poirot, Foyle’s War and Miss Marple. Recently unearthed from a period in storage it is said to remain in running order but is without an MOT and will now need some recommissioning. Still on its original Northampton number plates, it would make an intriguing addition to any collection.