Austin 16
title: "Austin 16" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["austin-vehicles", "1920s-cars", "1930s-cars", "cars-introduced-in-1927"] topic_path: "general/austin-vehicles" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_16" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox automobile"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Austin Sixteen Light Six |
| image | 1929 Austin 16 6 Burnham 5825620282.jpg |
| caption | Sixteen Light Six Burnham saloon 1929 |
| manufacturer | Austin |
| production | 1927–1937 |
| predecessor | none |
| successor | Austin Eighteen 1938-39 |
| body_style | see detail in text |
| most popular: |
| | engine | 2249 cc or 2510 cc 6-cylinder side-valve | | transmission | single plate dry clutch, gearbox 4-speed manual fitted behind with a locomotive contracting brake. Drive is taken by an open propeller shaft at the front by a Hardy type joint and rear by a metal universal to the three quarter floating back axle | | wheelbase | 112 in track 4' 8", 56 in | | weight | Chassis only 14 long cwt Windsor saloon 25+1/4 long cwt York long wheelbase saloon 31+1/2 long cwt | | sp | uk | ::
| name = Austin Sixteen Light Six | image = 1929 Austin 16 6 Burnham 5825620282.jpg | caption = Sixteen Light Six Burnham saloon 1929 | manufacturer = Austin | aka = | production = 1927–1937 | model_years = | assembly = | predecessor = none | successor = Austin Eighteen 1938-39 | class = | body_style = see detail in text most popular:
tourer—Open Road
saloon—Burnham — Westminster | layout = | platform = | engine = 2249 cc or 2510 cc 6-cylinder side-valve | transmission = single plate dry clutch, gearbox 4-speed manual fitted behind with a locomotive contracting brake. Drive is taken by an open propeller shaft at the front by a Hardy type joint and rear by a metal universal to the three quarter floating back axle | wheelbase = 112 in track 4' 8", 56 in | length = | width = | height = | weight = Chassis only 14 long cwt Windsor saloon 25+1/4 long cwt York long wheelbase saloon 31+1/2 long cwt | related = | designer = | sp = uk
| name = Austin Sixteen engine Light Six 2249 cc | image = | caption = | manufacturer = Austin | aka = | production = late 1927–1937 | predecessor = | successor = | configuration = Straight 6-cylinder | displacement = 2249 cc | bore = 65.5 mm | stroke = 111 mm | block = cast iron, alloy crankcase, crankshaft runs in 8 bearings | head = detachable, pistons are aluminium | valvetrain = side-by-side valves, tappet covers may be easily removed, timing is driven by chain | compression = | supercharger = | turbocharger = | fuelsystem = single down-draught carburettor supplied by Autovac which draws from a reservoir beneath the driver's seat, ignition by magneto driven by chain placed behind the timing, dynamo driven by same chain | management = | fueltype = petrol | oilsystem = lubrication by forced feed, filler on the offside | coolingsystem = radiator, fan, cooling water is circulated by a pump forward of the timing on the nearside | power = 36 bhp @2,400 rpm Tax horsepower 15.96 | specpower = | torque = | length = | width = | height = | diameter = | weight = | name = Austin 18 hp engine 2510 cc | image = | caption = | manufacturer = Austin | aka = | production = mid-1934–1939 see Austin 18 | predecessor = | successor = | configuration = Straight 6-cylinder | displacement = 2501 cc | bore = 69.5 mm | stroke = 111 mm | block = cast iron, cast in one piece with crankcase, crankshaft runs in 4 bearings, it is counter-balanced and has a vibration damper. Engine mountings employ rubber bushes within bosses secured to flat steel plates bolted to the cylinder casting. | head = detachable, pistons are aluminium | valvetrain = side-by-side valves, tappet covers may be easily removed, timing is driven by chain | compression = | supercharger = | turbocharger = | fuelsystem = single carburettor supplied by Autovac which draws from a reservoir beneath the driver's seat, ignition by magneto driven by chain placed behind the timing, dynamo driven by same chain | management = | fueltype = petrol | oilsystem = lubrication by forced feed, filler on the offside | coolingsystem = radiator, fan, cooling water is circulated by a pump forward of the timing on the nearside | power = 43 bhp @2,600 rpm Tax horsepower 17.9 | specpower = | torque = | length = | width = | height = | diameter = | weight = ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Austin_Eighteen_Chalfont_1936_(11756964174).jpg" caption="Chalfont Sixteen 18 hp limousine 1936"] ::
The Austin Sixteen Light Six is a British car that was made by Austin from 1927. Announced in October 1927, the first deliveries were planned for March 1928.
To distinguish the car from the smaller engined models in the range a plated Austin Six script was fixed to the radiator grille.
1927
The Austin Sixteen was introduced as a medium saloon sitting within Austin's range above the Seven and Twelve models but still much smaller than the 3.6 Litre Twenty.
The six-cylinder engine was new but had similarities to the engine fitted to the Twenty with its timing chain at the rear of the block. The design was up to date with the gearbox mounted in-unit with the engine and semi elliptic springs all round for the suspension. Triplex safety glass was fitted to all front screens from March 1929.
A wide range of body types was available at first but was simplified over the years. The coupés went first in 1930 followed by the Weymann type fabric saloons in 1931.
1934
In August 1933 various improvements were announced for 1934 models. The gearbox gained synchromesh on 3rd and 4th gears and an alternative larger (2511 cc) 18 hp engine was made available at no extra charge. A longer 120 in wheelbase chassis became an option.
Of this version 5742 16s and 2630 18s were made.
Hayes selfselector transmission
"This provides a drive which is automatic in variation of ratio within limits, easily set by a finger and thumb lever on the top of the steering wheel. The actual transmission is through steel rollers which transmit the drive between curved steel races, the ratio being altered by rocking the rollers to different driving positions to engage with differing diameters of the driving and driven races. There are no gears—except for reverse—and a wide variation in ratios is available automatically. The driving rollers are rocked or precessed to give varying ratios by hydraulic means and the driver by his little lever can modify the performance as road conditions require. Subject to the control setting, the automatic functioning ensures a constant engine speed whatever the tractive resistance met with on the road, the transmission varying its ratio to balance the resistance as it increases or decreases. The engine speed by creating oil pressure in the hydraulic control system, tends to precess the rollers to give a high ratio drive. This is counterbalanced by the reaction of the tractive resistance, which tends to give a low ratio precession. A valve worked by the movement of the forward and reverse lever which engages the drive —in the ordinary way and is centrally placed like the ordinary speed lever—releases the pressure in the hydraulic control unit when the lever is in its neutral and reverse positions, so that the drive is always at low ratio for starting from rest or reversing.
"The finger and thumb control lever works in a small quadrant which is marked at the top "Traffic" then "High" and at the bottom "Low" and finally "Cold" with spaces in between. Variations of this lever govern engine speeds. The forward, neutral and reverse positions for the central hand lever are stepped. To start the car from rest a driver presses out his clutch, moves his hand lever forward, and lets in the clutch in the ordinary way with slight acceleration. Thereafter the whole of the drive is done with the accelerator pedal, the accelerator allowing the engine to run up and keep constant maximum speed governed by the control lever on the top of the steering wheel by which engine braking power can also be regulated. When the accelerator is pressed after being released the effect is rather similar to that with a free wheel in use, in that the engine picks up to the speed that is suitable to the drive. The engine is available as a brake, and greater power of this kind can be had by moving the control lever down towards low" Motoring correspondent, The Times
1935
Further upgrades were made in 1935. The body range was simplified and now had only the 5 and 7 seat saloons. Externally the most obvious change was to the radiator surround which was painted body colour rather than chrome plated, and a small external boot was added to the rear which contained the spare wheel. Synchromesh was added to second gear. The larger engine was modified to have only four rather than eight main bearings. ::data[format=table]
| 1936 | Westminster | Chalfont | York | Hertford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| length | 168 in | 176 in | 176 in | 168 in |
| width | 68.5 in | 68.5 in | 68.5 in | 68.5 in |
| height | 70.5 in | 75 in | 70.5 in | 70.5 in |
| wheelbase | 112 in | 120 in | 120 in | 112 in |
| :: |
1937
In 1937, the last year this car was made, the smaller engined Sixteen was dropped and pressed steel road wheels replaced the previously fitted wire wheels.
Between 1935 and 1937 12,731 were produced.
Performance
The 16 hp engined car could reach 60 mi/h and return 21 mpgimp depending on the body fitted.
Austin Six registered July 1929 2249cc Tickford bodied.JPG|Sixteen with Tickford body by Salmons 1929 1932 Austin 166 Open Road Tourer 192394996.jpg|Open Road Sixteen tourer 1932 1932 Austin 16 westminster Saloon 192394989.jpg|Westminster 4-light saloon 1932 Interieur Austin-wagen.jpg|Berkeley Sixteen saloon interior 1932 OC 8149 - 1934 Austin 166 Carlton Saloon.jpg|Carlton Sixteen 7-seater long wheelbase saloon 1934 Austin.berkeley.1934.750pix.jpg|Berkeley Sixteen saloon 1934 File:1934 Austin Berkeley - Plaza Cinema.jpg|Berkeley Sixteen saloon 1934 in period setting Austin 18 1935 2510cc.JPG|Chalfont Sixteen 18 hp 5-seater saloon 1935 wire wheelsDescription from display in windscreen Austin Eighteen Chalfont 1936 (11756838243).jpg|Chalfont Sixteen 18 hp limousine interior 1936 Austin Six (1).jpg|Hertford Sixteen 18 hp 5-seater saloon 1936 pressed steel wheels 1935 Austin 16 York Saloon 9138829492.jpg|York Sixteen 5-seater saloon 1935 wire wheels 1935 Austin 16 York Saloon 9138830054.jpg|York Sixteen 5-seater saloon 1935 wire wheels
Catalogue 1927 to 1937
The first name for this car was Austin Sixteen Light Six. In 1930 Light Six was dropped and it was an Austin Sixteen. From 1933 it was deemed necessary to offer an 18 hp engine at no extra charge, in mid 1937 this car's body was replaced by a new shape only available with the 18 hp engine and known as an Austin Eighteen.
::data[format=table]
| Body | Model | seats | side windows (lights) | wheel base | March 1928 | March 1929 | Oct. 1929 | May 1930 | Feb. 1932 | Aug. 1933 | April 1935 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light Six | Light Six | Light Six | Sixteen | Sixteen | Sixteen | ||||||
| 16 or 18 | |||||||||||
| Chassis only | £240 | ||||||||||
| Tourer | Open Road | 5 | £355 | £325 | £310 | £290 | £295 | ||||
| Tourer | Open Road | 2 | £325 | £310 | £290 | ||||||
| Tourer | Clifton | 5 | £305 | £305 | |||||||
| Tourer | Harrow | 2 | £295 | ||||||||
| Saloon | Burnham | 5 | £395 | £375 | £375 | £375 | £325 | ||||
| Saloon | Burnham drophead | 5 | £325 | ||||||||
| Saloon | Fabric | 5 | 4 | £435 | £365 | £365 | £365 | ||||
| Saloon | Fabric | 5 | 6 | £375 | £375 | ||||||
| Saloon | Windsor | 5 | £298 | ||||||||
| Saloon | Westminster | 5 | 4 | £350 | £348 | ||||||
| Saloon | Berkeley | 5 | 6 | £318 | |||||||
| Saloon | Hertford | 5 | |||||||||
| Saloon | Carlton | 7 | 6 | long | £328 | ||||||
| Saloon | Iver | 7 | 6 | long | £338 | ||||||
| Saloon | York | 7 | 6 | long | |||||||
| Saloon | Chalfont | 7 | 6 | long | |||||||
| :: |
Note
References
References
- Cars Of To-Day. Austin Sixteen 6-cylinder, ''The Times'', Tuesday, Oct 02, 1928; pg. 7; Issue 45013
- (1934-11-01). "Austin Eighteen (p.5)". Austin; revsinstitute.org.
- ''The Times'', Monday, Sep 23, 1929; pg. 8; Issue 45315
- New Austin Models. ''The Times'', Tuesday, Aug 15, 1933; pg. 8; Issue 46523.
- Austin, ''The Times'', Tuesday, Oct 18, 1927; pg. 10; Issue 44715.
- Sedgwick, M.. (1989). "A-Z of Cars of the 1930s". Bay View Books.
- Cars Of To-Day. By our Motoring Correspondent. ''The Times'', Tuesday, May 21, 1935; pg. 8; Issue 47069
- ''The Times'', Tuesday, Mar 20, 1928; pg. xliv; Issue 44846.
- ''The Times'', Tuesday, Mar 12, 1929; pg. xxii; Issue 45149
- ''The Times'', Friday, Oct 18, 1929; pg. 21; Issue 45337
- ''The Times'', Friday, May 23, 1930; pg. 21; Issue 45520
- ''The Times'', Thursday, Feb 11, 1932; pg. 17; Issue 46054.
- ''The Times'', Tuesday, Aug 15, 1933; pg. 6; Issue 46523.
- ''The Times'', Wednesday, Apr 10, 1935; pg. 5; Issue 47035
- The advertisement states that this car is a 'saloon'
- Supplied with bumpers, front and rear, at no extra charge
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