The Austin Sheerline is a large luxury car produced by Austin in the United Kingdom from 1947 until 1954.
History
The new Sheerline, with razor-edge styling, first appeared at the Geneva Motor Show on 13 March 1947.[1]
It was a luxurious car in the style of the contemporary Rolls-Royce or Bentley but at a much lower price, around two-thirds that of the equivalent Rolls-Royce but still the price of five or six small Austins.
Design began in 1942 during WW2 when Austin Motors Chairman, Sir Leonard Lord, decided that Austin needed a large and traditionally styled car to compete in the luxury car market.[2]
Argentine/Italian stylist, Ricardo Burzi designed the Austin Sheerline based on Leonard Lord's sketches. The day Italy entered the war, Ricardo Burzi was interned on the Isle of Man due to being an 'Italian resident alien' and only released after Leonard Lord pulled some strings and personally vouched for his character. Upon release he was allowed to work on condition that he worked in an isolated area and reported daily to the police. He designed the Austin Sheerline alongside the Austin A40 in a 30 ft long office and about half as wide with a full sized layout board and three desks.