Q781156 · 1910–present

Austin 10 hp

The Austin 10 hp is a high-quality small car (not cycle car) produced between 1910 and 1915 by the British car manufacturer Austin Motor Company Limited at their Longbridge, Worcestershire plant near Birmingham. 1,336 cars were made, 213 with the 1125 cc engine and 1,123 with the 1615 cc engine. Like the 1087 cc Austin 7 hp produced by both Austin and Du Cros's Swift Motor Company it was not very successful when sold with the small engine. The original small 4-cylinder 1125 cc engine was replaced in 1913 with a larger 14.32 horsepower 1615 cc engine. Though rated for tax at 14.3 horsepower this larger engined model is sometimes referred to as the Austin 10/12. In 1913, the 10 hp was the cheapest model in the Austin range, costing £260 for a chassis with tyres. The 10 hp (of 14.32-h.p.) was renamed 12–14 hp before midsummer 1915 but production was limited due to the war.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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Ten horsepower

The high-speed type vertical straight four-cylinder engine has a bore and stroke of 63.5 mm × 88.9 mm (2+1⁄2 in × 3+1⁄2 in) giving a capacity of 1125 cc and an RAC and fiscal rating of 10.0 horsepower.

Fourteen horsepower

The new car with the 42 per cent larger engine was described in the Daily Mail newspaper in October 1912. Throttle and ignition levers are mounted on the top of the steering wheel, a foot accelerator is also being fitted. The petrol tank is mounted on the dash. The high-speed type "T"-head vertical straight four-cylinder engine has a bore and stroke of 76 mm × 88.9 mm (3 in × 3+1⁄2 in) giving a capacity of 1615 cc and an RAC and fiscal rating of 14.32 horsepower. The cylinders are cast separately in spite of the general trend to monobloc engines. As before the engine is arranged to have interchangeable exhaust and inlet valves on opposing sides of the engine. Engine output was quoted as 12.5 brake horsepower at 1,000 r.p.m. and fully 16 brake horsepower on acceleration to 1,500 r.p.m. There is a cooling fan for the honeycomb radiator and the engine incorporates a pump to ensure the flow of coolant. Lubrication is forced by pump to all the bearings. A float indicator shows the depth of oil in the crank chamber. Ignition is by High Tension Bosch magneto and may be manually advanced or retarded. The carburettor is by Claudel. The thin steel-cone clutch engages with the Ferodo lined flywheel. The Ferodo linings are in sections which may be replaced individually. The gearbox is suspended at four points. It is operated by a hand lever controlled by a gate and now has four speeds forward and reverse. Drive is taken by propeller shaft with universal joints to a live axle, the actual drive being by bevel gearing. The detachable steel wheels are by Austin-Sankey. Brakes suspension steering. The usual foot (transmission) and hand (back wheels) brake levers are provided. The pressed steel frame is suspended by three-quarter elliptic springs at the rear and semi-elliptic in front.

Bodies

=== Open 2-seater with dickey === Tourer. === Sirdar phaeton === Austin's 10-h.p. four-seater phaeton was called Sirdar. It was supplied fitted with leather upholstery and horsehair cushions. A Cape hood was fitted and side curtains. There was a double folding glass screen with brass fittings, a spare wheel and tyre, Lucas paraffin side and tail lamps and Solar mirror lens acetylene headlamps with separate generator. A speedometer and mileage recorder, horn, tyre pump, lifting jack, kit of tools and accessories were all supplied.

Production

All numbers extracted from data in the publication by Ian Dimmer, The Edwardian Austin, the survivors, The Vintage Austin Register Limited, 2014 == References ==

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name

Austin 10-hp

Manufacturer

Austin Motor Company Limited, Longbridge Works, Northfield, Birmingham

Production

1910–15

Assembly

Longbridge Works, Birmingham

Body style

Courier open 2-seater, open tourer, Sirdar phaeton, chassis for bespoke body

Engine

1125 cc vertical inline four cylinder, 1615 cc vertical inline four cylinder

Transmission

3-speed gearbox, Austin segmental cone clutch, 4-speed gearbox, propeller shaft with universal joints to live rear axle through bevel gears.

Wheelbase

96 in, 99 in or , 111 in track 48 in

Length

130 in, 147 in

Width

55.5 in, not reported

Kerb weight

10+1/2 long cwt, not reported

Predecessor

Austin 7 hp

sp

uk

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

• Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3629922CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_10_hpCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1371727865 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1913_Austin_%2710%27_(cropped).JPGCC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Andrew Haigh · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.

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