The Austin Twelve was designated The Salesmans Joy, and a most ready seller, nearly 70,000 being sold up to 1930.

Launched in late 1921, the Twelve owed its success to Austins superior build quality and the soundness of basic design, the model becoming a by-word for indestructibility. The Twelve engine was a five-bearing magneto ignition side-valve four, displacing 1,861cc from 1927 for which the factory claimed 27bhp at just 2,000rpm, sufficient for 40-45mph cruising, at which speed the Twelve returned around 26mpg.

Effective four-wheel brakes meant that the Twelve coped with sudden emergencies better than many of its contemporary rivals. Enduringly popular and a very attractive model, the Twelve remains a favourite with Austin enthusiasts.