Beschreibung
Advertised price or best offer.
Below are links to current detailed condition videos:
Start up video 07 July 2024: - details above
Engine running video 11 July 2024: - details above
Brief drive video 07 July 2024: - details above
Walk around video 04 July 2024: - details above
Narrated underside video 05 July 2024: - details above
Lasty, here is the link to an old clip of it in full flight with the late owner: - details above
"The fact is that the Twenty wouldn't wear out. Its derivative, the Heavy Twelve, has been described as 'one of the hardest wearing machines of all time'. If that is true, then I would assert that the Twenty is the hardest-wearing" (Michael Worthington-Williams writing in The Automobile, July 1986)
Finished in maroon over black, this particular example wears open-drive limousine coachwork by an unknown maker, probably antipodean. Riding on wooden artillery wheels, it sports buttoned upholstery (black to the front, blue to the rear), fork-mounted CAV headlights and a well-stocked wooden dashboard. It was an exhibit in the Osaka Sakai City Museum for many years, being paraded periodically through the city's streets. It came to the UK in 2007 and has since been in enthusiastic single family ownership. It was regularly rallied and used in many local events, as per some images shown above, during which time it proved itself a capable vehicle of considerable presence. Sadly for the past several years it has been largely inactive due to ill health and though running and driving would now benefit from some recommissioning prior to use e. g. some untidy and missing wiring etc. Only for sale due to bereavement. V5c document present. Non-transferable registration mark. Historic Vehicle, MOT and Tax exempt under current regulations. It is an extremely rare early Twenty on beaded edge tyres bearing evidence originality and light use. The only apparent departure from originality is the fitment of an electric water circulation pump and re-upholstery. It is still complete with original under trays, leaf spring gaiters etc. The body/ roof is sound. Magneto recently refurbished. Tyres good. Lights partially wired. 12V electrics, starter and generator. Also has starting handle and a second spare wheel.
Overall length 15ft, width 64", height 80". Approx. 126" wheel base. Chassis No: T3189. Engine No: P3374, engine block casting date 22 04 20.
It very much deserves to be with a true devotee of the model as it is a good honest specimen ripe for new enthusiastic ownership. Partially inspired by the Hudson Super Six which had served him as everyday transport during the latter stages of WW1, Herbert Austin settled on a one-model policy when peace dawned in late 1918. Charged with carrying the fortunes of an entire company, the resultant Austin 20hp had to be all things to all people. Highly versatile, its robust leaf-sprung ladder-frame chassis played host a wide range of body styles encompassing everything from sporting open two-seaters to heavy-set formal limousines by way of various commercial variants. Powered by a seemingly unburstable 3. 6 litre, four-cylinder side valve engine, the big Austin was famed for its ability to maintain momentum almost regardless of load. Equipped with rear wheel drum brakes and a centre-change gated four-speed manual gearbox even those cars with substantial bodies could apparently reach 60mph+.
As a friend well aquainted with vintage and classic vehicles with numerous of my own and appropriate fracilities for the prospective buyer wishing personal inspection I am conducting the advertising on behalf of the Marshall family who are dispersing a small collection which also includes a 1933 Humber Pullman limousine major restoration project last taxed in 1951 (KV 5538) That will be listed in due course once moved here from long term storage. I have had a long association with this Austin Twenty and its driver. I have personally owned three 4 cylinder Austin Twenty's (KO 870, KO 6111 and XL 2299) two of these being ex WJ Oldham cars. Oldham was arguably the foremost collector authority on this model and drove great mileages home and abroad in the Austin Twenty even though he also had a 1930s RR Phantom. His friend Jim Bidwell-Topham of Aintree was another leading Austin Twenty devotee. These were gentlemen owners of noted vehicular discernment.
