Great British Cars: Austins of the 1930s

GREAT BRITISH CARS is an appreciation of British motoring heritage. A series of highly collectable, specially filmed programmes, which capture and distill the driver appeal, the presence, and above all, the sheer style of cars built in Britain in the 40 years between 1920 and 1960. Four completely original cars of a particular make or type feature in each programme, and every car is the subject of a skilfully shot and informative commentary drive. There are detailed sequences on style, on accommodation, on controls and on engineering.

AUSTINS OF THE 1930s focuses on four of Herbert Austin's cars favoured by the middle and professional classes of the period. (The famous Austin 7 is dealt with in another programme in the series).

1935 AUSTIN 12/6 ETON
OPEN ROAD TOURER

This 2—seater open tourer with dickey was introduced in 1932 and quickly became popular with the ladies for its very flexible top gear performance. Once in top there was rarely a need to change down, the car being as happy crawling in traffic as it was at its top speed of 65. Miss Mary Lambert of London bought CGT 937 on the 10th of October 1935.

1935 Austin 1218 Eton 2-seater Open Road Tourer.
Price £2225.
Engine and size: B-cylinder side—valve 1711 cc.
R.A.C. rating 15.9 h.p. 0-50 m.p.h. 28 secs.
Top speed 65 m.p.h. Touring m.p.g: 25.

1939 AUSTIN 10
OPEN TOURER

Introduced in August 1936, the Cambridge departed from the previous model in several ways. The styling was more modern and the swept tail provided space for both luggage and the spare wheel. FVX 119 was supplied to the Critical Manufacturing Company of Braintree on the 3rd of February 1938.

1937 Austin 10 Cambridge Saloon.
Price: £178.
Engine and size: 4-cylinder side-valve 1125cc.
R.A.C. Rating: 9.99 h.p. 0-50 m.p.h. 29 secs.
Top speed: 60 m.p.h. Touring m.p.g: 36.

1937 AUSTIN 10
CAMBRIDGE SALOON

This car replaced the 12/6 in August 1936 and was acclaimed for its modern streamlined coachwork. Engine power was increased towards the end of the year, which gave the car a top speed of 70 m.p.h. ETU 166 was delivered on the 11th April 1938 to Mrs J Ann Ann Burgess in Cheshire - she kept it for another 28 years.

1937 Austin Fourteen Goodwood Saloon.
Price £260.
Engine and size: 6-cylinder side-valve 1711 cc.
R.A.C. Rating: 15.9. 0-50 m-p.h: 21 .2 secs.
Top speed: 70 m.p.h. Touring m.p.g: 25.

1937 AUSTIN l4
GOODWOOD SALOON

With a radiator style influenced by the rakish Buick Straight-8. this 1939 Austin could well have been available supercharged had the war not intervened.
This car had the largest body of the series. There was plenty of room for four adults and their luggage. BVG 44 was bought in March 1940 by the Archdeacon of Norwich.

1939 Austin 10 Open Tourer.
Price: £175.
Engine and size: 4-cylinder side-valve 1125cc.
R.A.C. rating: 9.9 h.p. 0-50 m.p.h: 26.6 secs.
Top speed: 65 m.p.h. Touring m.p.g: 35.

DIRECTED BY JIM POPLE.
NARRATION BY TONY BAST ABLE.
WRIYTEN AND PRODUCED BY IVAN BERG.
A MOTORING FILMS PRODUCTION.

1990
VHS
PAL
Label code: MF101