Austin 12/4 Burnham

Herbert Austin has the distinction of having twice been a successful motor manufacturer. As works manager he made the Wolsleley to be one of the best selling cars in Great Britain. He fell out with Wolseley’s owners, the Vickers armaments company in 1905, found finance, formed his own Austin Motor Company and in 1906 invited a large group of motorists to his new factory at Longbridge, near Birmingham. By 1934 Austin was Britain’s largest car maker.

The first Austin car was the 24/30 with four-cylinder engine and chain drive, and within a few years the company was making a range of vehicles with varying body styles from 15hp to 50hp, and even a 100 horsepower Grand Prix racing car. 

Austin attempted to follow Henry Ford by initiating a ‘one model’ policy with the 3620cc 20hp model as the basis for a number of body styles, cars and commercials, but slow sales forced the company into receivership in 1921. Salvation for a restructured Austin Motor Company came in the form of the tiny Seven. 

With the Seven revitalising the company, Austin further developed his large car range, based on the 12hp and 20hp models, and after 1930 began to introduce further vehicles with model names such as Sherbourne, Burnham and New Windsor. The 12/4 was to continue in production until 1935. 

Many immediate pre-1939 Austins would continue after the Second World War with some variations until the introduction of a new range of modern styled cars with county names like Devon and Hampshire. After 1952 and the Austin-Morris merger, the company was part of the British Motor Corporation. The most significant later Austin was the Issigonis-designed Mini which also carried the Morris badge, the final of the marque being the Austin Maestro of 1983. 

About this vehicle

This car was bought new by Mr A.W.T. Vale of Streatham, London, and was used regularly until 1956 after which it was stored in his garage.

It was received by the Shuttleworth Veteran Aeroplane Society as a bequest from the Vale family in 1989 and still retains its original paint colours. 

Specification