A mid-1920s Austin motorcar.
Julian sent this photograph over, he's researching his family's history and is seeking more information on the type and model of car shown. It looks to me like a pre-war Austin 20 Landaulette, but I'm sure vintage Austin experts out there will know for sure.
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Julian adds this background information on the car and it's driver:
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"I have just been looking through your website - great pictures from the past and quite a lot of Austin classics. I wonder if you can help solve a mystery of mine? Attached is a picture of my Grand Uncle Herbert (Bertram) William Baker, taken around 1925/30. Bertram came from the Isle Of Wight, born in 1883. My Grandfather used to remark that he went on a special course at Rolls-Royce in order to drive one of the first cars on the Island. I understand that the first cars on the Island were around 1903. Perhaps it was the first Taxi on the Island. Obviously the vehicle shown is a later model, and from his uniform he may have been a Chauffeur or Taxi driver. He married a girl and lived at Sutton around 1910."
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"It would be interesting if you could identify the car. The registration seems to be 'FC 706?' there may be a number obscured by one of the wheels.
One document I found on a website stated that 'FC' was common to the Oxford area. Could you add any information that may identify who owned this car and possibly the history of cars/taxis on the Isle Of Wight?"
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I think the registration might actually be "FC 704-", with the last number obscured, but yes that is an Oxford-area number. The Austin does look like it could have been available for hire, as Landaulette models were popular in this role. I can't see any "Taxi" sign or meter though, so I think it is more likely to have been a chauffeur-driven hire car. The Landaulette models were identifiable by the fold-down rear section of roof, the rear hood can just be made out in this photograph - also just visible are the hood irons beneath the surface. Other photos I've seen of Austin 20 Landaulettes tend to feature cars with wider front doors than that shown here, so it might not be a '20'. If more information comes to light, I'll update this page accordingly. Thanks again for sending the Austin photo over, and ok'ing it's publication.
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Return to Old Car Photos Page No. 8.
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