Austin 12/6 Ascot

About the Austin 12/6 Ascot

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.