THE AUSTIN SPORTS RANGE COMPLETED. THE "GREYHOUND SALOON AND TEN FOUR SPORTS.

THE AUSTIN SPORTS RANGE COMPLETED. THE “GREYHOUND” SALOON AND TEN FOUR SPORTS.

IT was only to be expected from the Austin Motor Company Ltd., that their new sports range should be the result of many months of experimental work. Austin engineers testing cars at Brooklands have been a familiar sight at Weybrid.ge all this Summer. The TwelveSix Sports Tourer and the new Seven were described in the August issue of MOTOR SPORT, and during last month the remainder of the programme for 1934 was announced at a meeting at Birmingham, presided over by Sir Herbert Austin himself. Dealing with the’ Greyhound” saloon, this model is mounted on the Twelve-Six sports chassis already described in this journal, but a synchromesh gear box has now been added. With a combination of a very moderate overall height, a low centre of gravity, and special springing, the car possesses excellent road-holding. By careful design the amount of interior room is far greater than is usually found with sports saloons. The car has four doors, hinged on the centre pillars. The

rear seats are really comfortable, and have a centre arm-rest. The equipment is extraordinarily complete, including such features as illuminated direction signals, a double windscreen-wiper, spring-arm steering wheel, and a metal spare-wheel cover. At 2305 the Austin ” Greyhound ” Twelve-Six Saloon should be very popular.

The new Ten-Four open sports 4-seater is a very interesting model. Those who have already had experience of the lively Standard ” Ten-Four ” will have remarked upon the possibilities of tuning this model for sports work. Now this has been accomplished by means of a Zenith downdraught carburetter, a special manifold and valves, a high lift camshaft, and a cylinder-head giving a compression ratio of 6.5 to 1. These alterations have resulted in a power output of 30 b.h.p. at 3,800 r.p.m. Other details of the specification include a synchromesh gear box and a crossbraced frame. Here again the equipment

is very complete, namely, a spring spoke. steering wheel, sports windscreen, 12 volt lighting, and direction indicators. In general lines the Ten-Four sports model has similar coachwork to that of the larger Twelve-Six car.

Summing up, the Austin programme for 1934 presents a very complete choice of models to the prospective sports car owner. The Twelve-Six open sports tourer at 2265 can take four people in complete comfort at high cruising speeds, and should be an ideal car for long-distance touring. For those who desire a closed car, yet who wish to own a vehicle of sporting outline and performance, the ” Greyhound ” saloon on the same chassis costing 2305, will fulfil their requirements. The man of lighter purse to whom low running costs combined with maximum passenger-room are essential, the TenFour should have a strong appeal at 2215. Finally the Seven two-seater provides a high road performance at the lowest possible initial price and upkeep, this model being obtainable at 2148.