Austin 40 hp

1907 York landaulette at Gaydon
car 62, engine 61
1912 Vitesse (Speedily)

Their 4-cylinder Austin 40 hp motor car was launched at the Olympia Motor Show in November 1907. Manufactured by Austin at Longbridge, Northfield, Birmingham, it was the first variant from Austin's initial plans for a two model range of a 15 hp (RAC 27hp)—which they had dropped—and a 25 hp (RAC 33 hp) car.

Tax rating was still new and manufacturers preferred their own output estimates.

Austin 40

The 4-cylinder engine had a slightly larger cylinder bore than the superseded 25-30, giving an RAC rating of 36.3 hp from 5842 cc (32.8 hp, 5278 cc), and took 25-30's place in the catalogue.[1] On sale between 1907 and 1911[1] only 152 cars were produced.[2]

The engine capacity was increased for 1912 to 6236 cc (38.75 hp RAC rating).[1]

Black Maria

At Olympia's 1909 Motor Show "the most striking object on the stand of the Austin Motor Company" was a 40-hp motor caravan inviting an immediate comparison with "the woeful vehicle vulgarly known as a Black Maria". However it was fitted up with a telephone installation, lavatory, linen lockers, etc and on show with a dinner table laid for six. A kitchen was in a separate compartment at the back. Internal sleeping accommodation was provided for two and attendants could camp out under canvas in bunks over the roof of the driver's seat. The 7-hp, 15 and 18/24 models were also displayed.[3]

Defiance

Defiance, a fast touring car on the 40 hp chassis was exhibited at Olympia's 1912 Motor Show. It is delivered ready for the road with hood, screen, Austin-Sankey detachable wheels, dynamo and lamps. The CAV dynamo projects through the aluminium dashboard from its mounting on an aluminium bridge over the flywheel. It is driven by a counter shaft taking its drive from the camshaft.[4] The Automotor Journal described Defiance as having a Torpedo body.[5]

Defiance had been developed from the 40 hp for the 2,000 mile trial held by the Automobile Club of Russia and run from St Petersburg to Riga and Moscow. It was given a streamlined body, a tapered bonnet and a radiator with rounded edges. It performed well. At St Petersburg over the flying kilometre carrying three people, two spare wheels, spare parts and luggage it was timed at 28 seconds, more than 80 miles an hour.[6]

Austin 60

The 6-cylinder Austin 60 hp was displayed at the Olympia Motor Show in November 1907. The display chassis was fitted with a Longbridge limousine body.[7] The 8.762-litre six-cylinder 54.5 hp (RAC rating) engine shared the design and cylinder dimensions of the 4-cylinder car above.[1] Around 14 were made.[8]

Austin 50

1911 50 Pullman limousine

The 60 hp was replaced for 1910 by a 6.6-litre 41 hp RAC rating Austin 50 hp.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 David Culshaw, Peter Horrobin, The Complete Catalogue of British Cars 1895-1975, Veloce Publishing, Dorchester UK, 1974 ISBN 9781874105930
  2. ↑ "Austin: 40 h.p.". Grace's Guide. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  3. ↑ The Olympia Motor Show. The Times, Friday, Nov 19, 1909; pg. 8; Issue 39121
  4. ↑ The Olympia Motor Show. The Times, Tuesday, Nov 12, 1912; pg. 5; Issue 40054
  5. ↑ Austin Cars, Page 1377, Issue No 619, (No 46 Vol XVII) 16 November 1912. The Automotor Journal, King & Co, Charing Cross, London.
  6. ↑ R J Wyatt, The Austin 1905-1952, David & Charles, Newton Abbott, 1981 ISBN 0715379488
  7. ↑ The Motor Exhibition. Daily Mail [London, England] 16 Nov. 1907
  8. ↑ "Austin: 60 h.p". Grace's Guide. Retrieved 7 August 2012.

External link

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Austin Motor Company road car timeline
Type 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s
6789 0123456789 0123456789 0123456789
Small family car 7 hp Seven
Eight
10 hp Ten
Family car
12-14 Twelve Light Twelve
Heavy Twelve
Twelve-six Fourteen
Full-size car 15 hp Sixteen or Eighteen Eighteen
20 hp Twenty Twenty-Eight
15-20 18-24
30 hp
25-30 40 hp
50 hp
60 hp
Coupé / Roadster
Taxi Austin Twelve
Top Hat		 Austin Twelve
Low Loader