1926 Austin 20/4 Hertford Style Tourer Herbert Austin had driven a Hudson Super Six during the Great War and was greatly impressed by the American car.

Using this as inspiration for his first post-war car, the 20 of 1919 was therefore somewhat American in character, with a massively built chassis, a large under-stressed four-cylinder engine, and such features as a central gearchange.

Intended for mass-production – again along American lines – the 20 was planned to be Austin’s only model.

However, despite the car’s many qualities, the British public was not ready for such a large car after the austerity of the war years, and at first sales were disappointing.

Austin responded by launching the 12/4 – in many ways a scaled-down 20, retaining the extremely robust construction principles – and then the Seven.

These cars saved Austin; however, that should not diminish the excellence of the 20, which continued in production and gained an enviable reputation.

Indeed, many contemporary ...