Description
1939 AUSTIN-branded taxi
LL (Low Lauder) by Jones Brother of Bayswater
12/ 4 engine
Very rare model as there are fewer than 10 examples remaining,
The wooden frame is new, the original coachwork has been fully restored, a lot of money has been invested
The car is complete
To be registered as a classic/ collection vehicle
To finish restoring
For most people, the Austin Twelve Landaulet is the archetype of the London taxi of the 1930s. Introduced in 1921, the Twelve, together 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 four-cylinder side-valve engine of 1660 cm3 (later 1861 cm3) driven by a four-speed gearbox. The Twelve’s durability reputation was such that it was used for a number of commercial variants and became the favourite of London taxi drivers, enjoying a long life in that role that lasted into the 1930s and beyond.
Austin used the reliable 12/ 4 as the basis for its first London taxi in 1930 and the model went on to dominate the market. Built to mechanical specifications dictated by the Metropolitan Police’s demanding eligibility requirements, and expensive to manufacture due to the low volumes involved, most had long service careers. Indeed, one could still see pre-war Austin taxis circulating for hire at London's main tourist spots in the early 1960s.
