During the late 1920s and early 1930s, Britain was suffering the effects of the Great Depression.

Herbert Austin’s Heavy 12s must have been a welcome relief, offering in their many guises, Saloons, Coupes, Vans and trucks, a level of strength and dependency which carried families and small businesses through the troubled times.

Powered by a 12.8 hp four cylinder, side valve engine, driving through a four speed gearbox, the Heavy 12 trundled on through all manner of weather at a steady 40-50 mph, using around 25mpg.

A lovely article in one of the five files attached to this car, describes the experience of one of its previous owners, who bought the car in 1951 for £105 and kept it as his only daily driver for fifty years.

During this time he tells us that only two major repairs, the rebuilding of the rotten roof structure and an engine rebuild, caused him to be off the road for any length of time.

He enjoyed the simple pre-war upright coachwork which gives such excellent vision - p...