Description

1931 Austin Light Twelve-Six Harley

Quite possibly the oldest Harley in existence; recent sympathetic restoration which took five years to complete; a really genuine old Austin with room for all the family

Launched in January 1931, the Light Twelve-Six was Austin’s answer to the craze for small capacity six-cylinder cars that was sweeping the nation at the time. The 24bhp 1,496cc side-valve straight-six engine (RAC rating 14hp) was all new, being mated to a three-speed gearbox which gave the car a top speed of 48mph. The chassis was entirely conventional with semi-elliptic leaf springs on all wheels and rigid axles front and rear. Steering was by worm and wheel, electrics were 12v and it had brakes on all four wheels.

Two body styles were initially offered, a steel-bodied six-light Harley saloon and a fabric-bodied Clifton saloon, both costing £198 at launch. Open two-seater (Eton) and four-seater (Open Road) tourers were added in September 1931, when the Harley De Luxe also became available with luxuries such as bumpers and a sunshine roof.  

This particular Harley was first registered in April 1931 and is believed by the vendor (a long standing member of the owner’s club) to be the oldest known survivor. The chassis number F214 leaves no doubt that it is a very early car, and it has various other features such as the steel (rather than timber) dashboard which were only found on the earliest models.

His research has shown that the car was probably originally registered in the Bournemouth area as EL 1382, the current AAS 730 registration indicating that it was re-registered in Nairn in Scotland in c.1963. He acquired the car from the Isle of Wight in 2016, at which point it was a non-runner after 12 years in storage, although it had previously been used as a wedding car.

Over the next five years he sympathetically restored the car to bring it back to its original 1931 ‘Fleet’ model spec with painted headlamps, fixed roof and no bumpers. The only concessions to modernity are brake lights and flashing indicators discreetly incorporated into the scuttle-mounted side lamps plus an electronic engine temperature gauge. The full extent of the work carried out is too detailed to list in full here but is amply covered in copious notes and several photos on file.  

Mechanical highlights include: engine, gearbox and back axle stripped, cleaned and reassembled in good working condition with new parts as required; carburettor, starter and dynamo rebuilt, converting it from 3 brush to 2 brush using a new/old Lucas 106 cut-out; complete rewire and new 12v battery with floor-mounted cut-off switch; flashing indicators; brake and side lights and dipping headlamps; suspension and brakes overhauled.

Other work includes: new plywood floor, carpets, leather seats and wool headlining; dashboard clock rewound; new window glass; rechromed brightwork; new running boards and Rexine roof; bodywork restored and repainted in two-pack black; all wings undersealed; five new wheels and tyres.

Supplied with sundry useful spares, the car also comes with an original owner’s handbook and parts catalogue, period sales brochure and road tests, plus much technical literature relating to the model. Having seen the video on the website, the vendor points out that the car does not smoke once warmed up and uses no oil.

Starting easily and running nicely as we have moved it around on site, with good oil pressure, this historically interesting and sympathetically rejuvenated old Austin doubtless has another 90 years of useful life ahead of it.

For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com