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Austin 12/4 LL Taxi. Leo in the Netherlands kindly sent this photograph of a 1930s Austin over, and agreed to it being published here. He took it in 1957, and was asking whether the car is still around, and if the people in this photograph could be traced? I've looked on the DVLA and RAC sites but can find no record of an Austin registered as BYT 645. It may have been scrapped, or broken for parts. However there is a chance that it has survived, and could have been re-registered, or perhaps sat in a garage for so long that it dropped off the DVLA's records. The group with the Austin were photographed in Germany, at the Karlsruhe camping area. Hopefully someone will land on this page and recognise the car, or the people in the photo. Leo would like to send a copy of this photo to any of the people in this photograph, if they can be found.
Austin Low Loader Taxi.The Austin is a very interesting machine. At first glance it looks like a standard 12/4 saloon. However, a closer look reveals some interesting differences to the 12/4 car. The roof rack for one is quite distinctive, and just visible is a 'pram iron' towards the rear of the vehicle, suggesting a folding rear roof (or 'landaulette') was fitted. Alfanut, on the site forum, did a bit of digging around and identified this Austin as an early 1930s Austin 12/4 Low Loader (LL) taxi cab. This model was launched in 1934, continuing on the success of the earlier, 'high lot' (due to its height) 12/4-based taxis.Do any of these Low Loader taxis survive now? does anyone recognise this particular example, or the lads who were on holiday in it? if you do, please get in touch and I'll forward your information on to Leo, thanks. Update. The day after publishing this page, Herb over in Australia dropped me a line. He remembers a vehicle very similar to this taking part in an epic car journey: "Regarding the above, I seem to remember a similar pre-war Austin Taxi with four students driving from the UK across the Sahari to South Africa. I was then living in Johannesburg and remember there was an article in The Star newspaper. There was also a detailed article over a few months in Vintage & Veteran Magazine. That Austin was registered GJ 5936, so not the car shown above sadly. Details written on the side of the roofrack on GJ 5936 stated: 'Vasta Expedition 1963. Bristol-Cape Town.'" Thanks for getting in touch Herb, I wonder if anyone remembers this expedition? A preserved Austin 12/4 taxi.Shortly after this page went live, Richard in the USA dropped me a line, and some photos, showing the rare Austin taxi that he owns. I think this is a standard height taxi, rather than a low-loader, so makes for an interesting comparison with the London taxi shown above. He says:"I read an article online about the 1934 Austin low loader taxi. You were interested in knowing about other taxis still around. I have a 1934 example, still in complete condition. It has had very little restoration due to it's good condition. There is no body rust or body filler. It has been stored for many years. The convertible top and carpet material has been replaced to original, but no new paint. The car is original. I have all the Austin's papers from the original taxi company's maintenance records, through to the ship it was transported on to USA .... The care that went into the design and building can be appreciated when you see it in person .... The beautiful brass and wood trim. I love looking over the pride in workmanship our forefathers had. The patience to do what they did."   Thanks for sending this information over!! Return to Old Vehicle Photos Page 6. |
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