Description
1939 AUSTIN Taxi LL (Low Lauder) by Jones Brother of Bays Water 12/ 4 Engine Very rare model as there are less than 10 in existence, The wood has been restored as well as the original bodywork, a lot of money has been invested the car is complete to be registered as a collector To finish restoring For most people, the Austin Twelve Landaulet is the archetypal London taxi of the 1930s. Introduced in 1921, the Twelve, along with the Seven, saved the Austin Motor Company from bankruptcy. The Twelve was a conventional car, solidly built in the best Austin tradition, powered by a 1, 660 cm3 (later 1, 861 cm3) side-valve four-cylinder engine driven by a four-speed gearbox. Such was the Twelve's reputation for durability that it was used in a number of commercial variants and became a firm favourite with London taxi drivers, enjoying a long life in that role that lasted well into the 1930s and beyond. Austin used the reliable 12/ 4 as the basis for its first London taxi of 1930 and the model was to dominate the market. Built to mechanical specifications dictated by the demanding fitness requirements of the Metropolitan Police, and expensive to produce due to the low volumes involved, most enjoyed long careers in service. Indeed, pre-war Austin taxis could still be seen for hire in London's main tourist attractions in the early 1960s.
