page_title: Austin 12 (1939)
section_title: Evolution
hierarchical_section_title: Austin 12 (1939) / Evolution
caption_attribution_description: 1947 Austin Twelve. The split rear window, the upward sweep of the crease just below the side windows and the size of the car suggests that this is an Austin 12 rather than an Eight. Please See http://www.austin-eight.com/austin8brochure1946.htm &amp; http://thegegeblog.canalblog.com/archives/austin/p10-0.html
context_page_description: The Austin 12 is a large four-door family saloon that was produced by Austin. It was launched in August 1939 and was produced until replaced in 1947 by the similar-sized but larger-engined Austin A70 Hampshire. For much of this period, however, it was provided only for military and government use.
context_section_description: There is little detailed information on how the car was developed during the war years, although by September 1945 numerous refinements and improvements had been implemented, presumably in response both to technical developments and materials shortages encountered.   From the exterior the Austin 12 as announced in 1944 appears indistinguishable from the car announced in August 1939, and there was no attempt to highlight improvements introduced during the preceding five years.  Nevertheless, the wheelbase had been reduced by 1.5 inches (3.8 cm).  A heater and radio were offered as extras.
  A significant interior improvement on the postwar model was redesign of the dash/instrument cluster.  As evidenced on the pictures in an Austin-produced ad at the time of the 1939 introduction, the instrument cluster design was essentially carry-over from the typical layout on prior 1930's Austin cars (and continued on the postwar 8 and 10), basically two large dials directly in front of the driver. On the postwar 12, and the 16 which followed, the instrument cluster was an elongated type across the centre of the car.
caption: 1947 Austin 12
exif: {}