1913 Austin 20hp Tourer

Lot details
Registration No: IO 827
Chassis No: 6581
Mot Expiry: Exempt

- First road registered in Kildare, Ireland or so its 'IO 827' number plate would imply

- Acquired by Marshall of Cambridge in 1980 when they took over car dealer Maddox & Kirby of Huntingdon

- Used for a variety of pageants and parades over the years and maintained by Marshall's own vehicle technicians until being laid-up

- Recently got running again by VCC member Martin Whitlock but would benefit from further recommissioning

- Nicely detailed fixtures and fittings and great patina

- VCC dated

Introduced at the 1912 Paris Salon, Austin's 20hp was available with a choice of three wheelbases and coachwork varying from Two-Seater Tourer to Six / Seven-Seater Landaulette. Notable for its torque and smoothness, the newcomer's 3160cc (later 3610cc) four-cylinder sidevalve engine featured a dual ignition system (coil and magneto), five-bearing crankshaft, low pressure-fed lubrication and separate camshafts for the inlet and exhaust valves. A four-speed gearbox was provided, and suspension followed proven Austin practice with semi-elliptic leaf springs up front and full-elliptics at the rear. A substantial torque arm kept the back axle in check. Performance was bodystyle-dependent but contemporary road testers found a Five-Seater Tourer capable of cruising at 50mph. Notably as the only Austin car to be produced during WW1, the 20hp was phased out in 1919.

Thought to have begun life in Eire, if only because of its Co. Kildare issued registration number 'IO 827', a continuation logbook on file shows that this rare surviving 20hp belonged to Essex resident Robert Hames by July 1965. Passing to Sidney Dale, Alec Norman (Garages) Ltd, Peter Beck and Maddox & Kirby Ltd thereafter, it has been owned by The Marshall Group of Cambridge since 1980. Used for a variety of pageants and parades over the years (including as Santa's Sleigh on occasion) and maintained in-house, the Austin was entrusted to restorer John Foy Ltd for £6,839.70 worth of recommissioning in 2013. Further benefiting from a new radiator core the following year (£2,364), 'IO 827' was laid-up once more. Recently got running by VCC member Martin Whitlock (albeit he had to jury rig a starting coil because the 20hp's own one is missing), this handsome Austin is very much worthy of further recommissioning / restoration. Accompanying paperwork includes a Veteran Car Club of Great Britain Certificate of Dating issued on 9th June 1965 which notes: 'replica mudguards and nearside front wheel hub' as well as assorted bills and old MOTs etc.