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In 1947 Austin announced, ‘news of the first importance to the discerning motorist’ with the introduction of the new Sheerline. Furthermore, its bodywork represented one of the company’s ‘finest creations; graceful in every line, it signifies speed and smooth performance while maintaining a perfect balance between appearance and comfort’. Meanwhile, the advertisements claimed, with a complete lack of modesty, that here was ‘the finest car we have ever produced’.

In other words, this potential rival to the Humber Super Snipe Mk. II and the Wolseley 25 Limousine was really aimed at the provincial mayor who craved a Bentley Mk. VI. In fact, when Austin was planning the eventual replacement for their 28 Limousine in 1942 the MD Leonard Lord instructed his chief designer Dick Burzi to create a car possessing the elegance of his own Bentley. The result was an Austin that was ‘“Distinctive yet discreet. Luxurious but in the best of taste”, and the car from Longbridge certainly looked almost as imposing as the car from Crewe – but, at £1,277, were somewhat more affordable.

The first dozen Sheerlines were powered by a 3,460cc six-cylinder engine and were known as the A110. These were quickly succeeded by the 3,995cc A125 and keen drivers soon discovered an increase in the Sheerline’s top speed could be achieved simply by turning the P100 headlamps sideways. The extremely lavish specification included a radio, fog lamps, adjustable steering, a sliding roof, a heater, Wilton carpeting, a map-reading lamp and even the Smiths “Jackall” hydraulic jacking system. There was also the option of fitted suitcases for another £21 while the idea of that distinctive winged bonnet mascot was courtesy of Lord.

Naturally, the Sheerline was aimed at the export market, and the comments of one Australian journalist must have gratified Lord. This gentleman claimed the A125 was ‘probably the finest car Austin has ever produced’, echoing the publicity for its predecessor. By 1949 the A125 was also available in LWB limousine form, the chassis of which was available to coachbuilders for conversion to an ambulance, shooting brake or a hearse. Four years later, Jensen even used the Sheerline’s engine in their 541.

The Sheerline was discontinued in 1954 although Longbridge did consider a replacement in the rather startling form of a modified A70 Hereford. In reality, by that time the A125’s customer base was already catered for by the A135 Princess III. The importance of one of the first significant post-war Austin saloon should never be overlooked - and anyone who pointed out that its engine was sourced from the K-Series lorry was merely being a snob.

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Here at Lancaster, we love classic cars as much as you do and we understand what it takes to protect them for future generations.

We have links with some of the top classic car clubs around the country and some of our policies even offer discounts of up to 25% for club members.

Other benefits of classic car insurance through Lancaster can include:

• Historic rally cover
• Static show cover
• Limited mileage discounts
• Choice of repairer
• 24-hour claims helpline

Give your classic the protection it deserves and get a quote for your Austin today.