Super review of Matthew's lovely A35. Thank you Steph. My uncle had a black Austin of the same model and I loved it. (That wonderful A series engine as well.)
Absolutely brilliant, great to hear a woman talking about these British classics ( never misses a trick) my dad had the Austin van model, remember pretending to drive in it, I’m of the age when every car on the road was British and awesome, I could tell you the make of a car just by the exhaust note... im only 53 from Motherwell and loves my 1975 Triumph T140v xxx
Hi, I really enjoy your enthusiasm for these old cars most of which I grew up with. To be honest a lot of British cars of the 60's and 70's were put together with a knife and fork. That said they had character which is why they are still loved today. You obviously love these old cars and do a lot of research. Keep up the good work. Thoroughly enjoy your videos.
Hi Stef. All of my early cars lacked synchromesh on first gear. I taught myself to double declutch, which enabled me to select first while the car was still moving (albeit not too rapidly!) Great video, as always. Thanks!
Great video, many thanks for the memories. For it’s time the A30 and A35 were quite advanced in having the dip switch on the steering column when most cars had a foot switch, BMC seemed to take quite a few years before the column position became standard! Driving my A30 back from Scotland, stopped for a break and the SU Carburettor, same as A35, developed an airlock and car wouldn’t start, impatient so melted an ice lolly on it and that dealt with the problem but forever left a stain on the outside of the carburettor. This does generate some great memories so thanks again.
Hi Steph. I only discovered your channel TODAY Thank God. Thing IS? THIS is how tv car shows were presented yesteryear before it went pretentious a la CLARKSON. I like YOUR channel. Its fab. I like YOUR look its very retro. I like YOU
I used to own 3 of them left to me by my late father. Brought tears to my eyes when I had to sell them. They were so amazing and cute. The days when cars had style and looked different instead of the clones of today.
@@idriveaclassic When I was 10 my father bought me a black Austin A35. We also had 2 others one of which had a "gold seal" engine which had only done around 20,000 miles and was in excellent condition. They were grey, black (mine) and red. My father adored them. They were so small and cute. On the video it brought back memories of the dahsboard and seats. They were built like tanks! When my father passed away in 2013 I had to clear the garages and a guy came and bought all three for a pittance including 20 grand of Marina, Austin A35 parts and Jaguar. Made me sad as I always wanted to drive my black Austin on the Road. I will always have happy and fond memories of them. Cheers!
1963 I went to Southend airport and flew with it (A 35) to Deauville, drove to the south of Franch for a camping holiday then returned via Deauville and Southend. 1964 left for Canada and drove a Ford with a V8 engine.
My mates brother had one in the late 90's..And he was a bit of a wayward lad. (Jumped into an empty double decker on the hill in Stockport and let the airbrake off) ...Smashed 2 buses) I used to see him zipping round Chorlton in a A35..Well impressed (A35)
Hey Alan! I drive one of my minors on trafficators and always think that’s a bit hairy when surrounded by aggressive drivers but for the issue of side repeaters, I think they operate fine without. This had an optional extra heater. I’ve driven a classic without a heater and absolutely wouldn’t do it again 😂😂😂😂😂
Hi Steph, The A35 was my first car which was many years ago (47 years), great little car, I wonder if 3068 NO is still around?? anyone know? cheers Bob
Great Video, thanks for sharing. Sigh....I like to watch old British black and white films from the 30's to the 60's; I can't help it and much to the annoyed amusement of my partner - she has no interest in cars - I tell her what each car is as soon as I see it. Nowadays when going down the street I can't tell one from the other, unless I can see the badge or name and a lot of those I haven't a clue.
The A35 was a great car to drive, Perky engine, lovely smooth gearbox & 4 doors! BUT shit drum brakes that needed monthly attention, a body that rusted badly everywhere, & those window push up glass blocks which you could never re-glue in place satisfactorily. Still we loved ours & my friend used his to attend rallys in New Zealand. He could handle his car much better than I in a Fiat 850 sports coupe!
On paper it is rather similar to the Morris, but supposedly the Minor should have a superior steering setup (i.e. rack and pinion). Since you don't comment on it, I take it that the Austin actually steers quite well (and I see some in classical racing, so that should bear it out). As always, a super video that is a joy to watch. I would love to drive an A35. Just looking out at those chrome indicator lamps and the big "A" on the bonnet must be enough to keep a permanent smile on your face while driving :)
My old man told me about the A35 when I were a lad. Theres a old guy who STILL has one in mint condition near me. Kind of amazing to see when on the road umongst the modern cars of today. Great review. Proper classic.
Well, well. Just discovered your channel. What a delight. Great to see young people keeping the movement going. Thoroughly enjoyed your review. The A35 looked like a lovely drive. My abiding memory of these cars is seeing a black four-door as a kid, with four elderly nuns inside! Subbed for sure. 👍
Great to see you out in the A35 Steph. My mother had a black one when I was young. It had the same red interior. It had a very distinctive nice smell, from the upholstery I think. My mother really liked it. She replaced it with a Ford Anglia, but always missed the Austin.
I remember when my sisters first boyfriend had one of these cars in Norwich and my father had a Ford Cortina. We went out for a drive with my sister and her boyfriend were in the Austin and my the rest of the family were in the Cortina. We were five up in the Cortina and my sister was following. I think we got up to 80 MPH and the Austin was very slowly following but only by about 10MPH difference. He said 70 MPH on he Austin A35 ! I do remember a few years latter when I was living in a bed sit and my landlady had an Austin A40. She kept saying "Tommy your going to ruin this car" He kept crunching the gears. This was an A40 though. Double de-clutching ! I love the A35 and if they didn't have the spares problem I would have probably bought one today.
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Spares for the A35 are not too bad. Spares for the Minor and the MGB are better. Mechanically, these Austins are almost identical to the Sprite / Midget.
Here in Canada, where we have a season called winter, I learned a few tricks with the SU carburetor. The clothes peg on the "choke" Held the enrichment jet open slightly until the engine was fully warm as there was no actual choke valve in the intake. Also the best oil for the dashpot in winter was diesel fuel. I got one for my wife bu unfortunately with two children and a dog we needed more space so it became student's first car.
The clothes peg trick was the result of people not realising you could twist the choke handle slightly to the right to 'lock' it in place at whichever level you wanted. People regularly broke the mechanism by manhandling it and twisting it round too far repeatedly -- as a result, the cable would return in on its own.
Great little video, beautiful little car! My family couldn't afford the 'car' version in the early 1960s, my Dad had the Wallace and Grommet A35 van version, 2 of them - and put a seat in the back! :) FIVE of us used to squeeze into it from Nottingham on our annual hols to Teignmouth in Devon! Roof-rack on top, 50 all the way, never ever broke down as far as I remember! Great times indeed!
Far different than my memories of going on what you call holiday and we call vacation. In a 1967 Dodge Polara 9 passenger wagon with rear facing rear seat. 383 4bll. Torqueflite auto. trans.
Congratulations Mark on restoring and maintaining this little old classic. The paint work looks great, nicely polished and is obviously cherished. Nice presentation Steph, your enthusiasm is evident and it’s great to see youngsters enjoying the experience of driving a 50’s Classic. These little cars are associated with many childhood memories of family life and happy holiday excursions. I owned one for several years and anyone who drove them at night will remember the comforting small glowing lights that were visible from top of the wings. The side lights were visible when driving, particularly along dark unlit roads and reassuring to see them illuminated in the darkness.
That A35 is certainly a cracking car! Don’t think you mentioned it, but one of the other differences from the A30 is that the A35 has the painted front grille and the A30’s is chrome.
The most often encountered conversion kit was made by a company called "Wizard of Rods" and they also converted Beetles to customer spec. They might still be going, I don't know.
It shared all its pieces with the Austin Healey Sprite Mk1, the Frog-eye. This was very useful for people like my keeping a Sprite alive with no money!
Hi Steph every classic car needs a name so nice to see this one has one. I have a MGA roadster shes called Rebecca after my late mum and yes no synchro in 1st so I know all about the if your still rolling drop into 2nd trick lol. Wouldn't it be great to own a massive shed and fill it with these classic British gems.I live in Adelaide South Australia and I am a member of the MG club of South Australia we are really lucky one of the founder members is an old school mechanic and lives and breaths MGs so I have his number on fast dial when the unthinkable happens lol. I love your show please keep safe and keep up the good work.👍🧡
That's a lovely little car, love all the little features like the bonnet catch and the sidelights on the wings, good knowledge by the way you can certainly back up what you talk about in your excellent vids 🏁🏁🏁🏁👍
What is interesting to me is that these European cars were so much more simpler fuel efficient and practical in comparison to there American counterparts of that same time period. American cars were huge probably more expensive and they were gas guzzlers . The average American was driving cars like the Ford Galaxie and Chevy Impala compare that to something like this and there was a world of difference .
Mine was the A30 but it had the turning indicators fitted as well as the old trafficators. It was the 4 door which was great. Most of the quirks were very good. But I had two complaints. The worm and peg steering was very heavy at parking and the 3 cylinder brakes were HEAVY. Repeat HEAVY. But if they brought out the same car with improved brakes and steering and a modern fuel injected engine I would buy a new one today. Keep the windows, keep the start pull and the centre trafficators. Keep the long lever gear lever too. I was happy with all of that.
I could add that it needed much more regular maintenance than any modern car but the maintenance was easy to do. Parts were simple to install and many could be made by a competent engineer. Just before my wedding I pulled the engine apart and fitted new piston rings in ( from my recollection) two to three hours. Try that on a modern car.
Lovely A35 love the indicater switch when I was lad my dad had standard 8 they had the same switch keep the classic cars reveiw comming from a 63yr old rev
Beautiful little tyke of a car. They were also common in Australia. A lot of young people bought old Austins and Morris Minors as their first car. For Aussies, however, they were a bit under-powered when compared to the most popular cars on our roads which were straight 6 Fords, Holdens and Chrysler Valiants. They also shouted post-war austerity with the lack of simple accessories. Lack of indicators (semaphores aside), lack of proper winding windows...etc...etc... which weren't issues with the locally assembled 6 cylinder cars. I suppose that being that our cars were American influenced we were a little more spoiled in that regard...however one bugbear was shared...the lack of synchro on first. I got around it by double clutching if the car was moving or, as you have in the Austin, hoping I could start in second. One thing that I always admired in the little BMC cars was the fact that they were built with tough and heavy grade steel. You didn't have to worry about idiots dinging your doors in car parks because the metal took a pounding before it indented. They were as tough as nails! The one Austin I did own which I loved (it was stolen from me and totalled two years after I bought it) was the locally-produced 6 cylinder Austin Kimberley. Front drive, handled superbly, heaps of room...even more room than the bigger Holdens of the time and plenty of go. The Austin 1800 and the later E/W six cylinder models were great cars.
Great video ..... I learned to drive in an A35 back in the 70s & it was over 20 years old even then . Im now looking for another one . Love the wing mounted side lights. The saloon went out of production in 1959 but the van continued until about 67. Great little cars.
I used to know a oldish guy, really old fashioned and was an old hand at every thing who had a black one of these, and his dog who used to sit at the back seat looked bigger than the car, lol,
My dad had a couple of the vans, both had rear seats and back windows and were excellent cars. one did about 475k with no problems at all because he kept it well maintained. Great upload which brought back tons of memories.
Good little British car. My late uncle in the East of the Netherlands ran a BMC dealership and sold lots of these. He had a good reputation and a steady costumer base. That is until the dreaded BL plughole of despair kicked in.
Meu tio teve um carro desse assim que ele faleceu a Esposa praticamente deu de graça preço irrisório eu me lembro era um cinza claro fosco todo original Brasil 🇧🇷
In the US we never see british sedans of any make , only sports cars .I when to a british car show and the only non-sports car was a 1956 Rolls Cloud . GOD BLESS Studebaker Kary NH USA .4-12-20 .
The Austin A30/35 was the car before the Mini. The facelifted A35 has a larger rear window. Saloon production finished in 1959 but the Countryman estate was to 1962 and the van until 1968.
I bought my 1957 A35 in April to replace my rust bucket mini, got to say I love it! Its pretty good to drive and is rather comfy for a small car. These cars have a lot of character and paid £2000 for it. As you say the boot is big for the size of the car. I'm not a fan of the sliding windows either and mine keep sliding up. Recently upgraded to a HS2 carb with a 4.22 diff from a moggy and has made a huge improvement. Easily do 60mph on the main roads and keeps up with modern traffic fine. Great review!
Great video Steph. A35s actually better than Moggies. Now, you might? know BUT. You know how wide Moggies are under the bonnet. Well......this was for the flat 4 (like a Beetle engine) that they couldn't get to work. So......in desperation they took the A30 engine and put in the Moggie. So THAT is why you've so much space under your bonnet on you're Moggie.
Steph......I'm NOT a safety natzy but please, position your camera where Ian (hub nut) does. Look where you are going. Sooner or later someone will spot this.....and you MIGHT lose your licence. Don't want to lose your excellent videos 😉😉👍
@@idriveaclassic I know you are. However you know the people out there are paranoid. If you put your camera/phone etc in front but to the side it would address this. Btw all women adjust their hair while diving lol.
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The A35 is simple to hot-up because they're mechanically almost identical to Spridgets (Austin Healey Sprite & MG Midget). The A35 is the weapon of choice in historic racing, as with the St. Marys Trophy at Goodwood. There's an active club with local branches. The A-Series engine has huge potential for improvement. Companies such as Frontline Spridget can sell you goodies such as a racing suspension, and a conversion to accept the Ford 5-speed transmission. Bull Motif sells a heated front windscreen which works brilliantly, plus other upgrades such as modern headlamps which look identical to the originals. The two-door A35 only weighed a little over 14 cwt (about 650kg) so small improvements in horsepower go a long way. Be aware that adding these goodies always works out as phenomenally expensive.
Tha handbrale was put on the right as the transmission tunnel is too narrow to accomodate the handbrake linkage. The A35 is a early monocoque design and the transmission tunnel was made narrow and deep for floor pan strength. I recall an A35 in the 60's, a friend drove me and other children to school in it, she was in teh driver seat, a friend in the passenger seat with a child on her lap, There were four children on the back seat and I liked to stand on teh tranmission tunnel and look out of the windscreen. I clearly recall the central indicator control, I loved watching it flash.
My primary school teacher had an A30 - was the first car I was ever driven in (1968) when she gave my mum and me a lift home. We never had a car until 1971 😢 Thanks for the memories
I have a very similar experience. My first car journey that I can remember was being driven home at the age of 5 by my primary school teacher in her pale blue A35. I sat in the back foot well and was crying my eyes out - no idea why! I’d actually forgotten that until I read your comment!
Paul Johnson - I think something must have happened to me as well, can’t remember what though. Must have been a standard thing back then, a ride home with teacher - couldn’t see it happening now.
Well done! I passed my driving test in 1956 (I think!) and I bought a 2nd hand A30 as my first car. I tarted it up a bit and bought the Chrome moulding to 'upgrade' the appearance to that of the A35. I toured Wales from South to North. Those were the days. I also ventured into rallying and track racing at Brands Hatch and if course club driving tests.
I nearly bought a Austin A60 cambridge. Didnt buy it because it was really rotten. And the engie, wooh, it sounded like it was fueled by sandpaper once.
One of a few I'm considering for about £5k. Useful review. Others I'm thinking of which I haven't had are Austin 7, Trabant, Daimler 420. Or another 2.8 Granada or XJ6 which I have owned. A dream being a 1978 Lincoln Continental but above the budget so far.
idriveaclassic I'd offer for you to do a video of my Anglia but you'd not get very far, she's got no wheels, no brakes either 😂 and if I'm brutally honest I've seen better examples in scrapyards
Nice little car Steph! Down south where l live,this car would keep up the the modern stuff easily,as there is so much of it.Anyway,why rush l say. I drive an Audi A2,and,although modern,is apparently heading for classic stuff.160000 of these made,so more A35s built. Good to see these older cars on the road.Very refreshing! Great review❤😎👍👍!
Checked that channel out...seems little more than walkarounds that talk about exterior/interior condition (as one would expect from a car seller). Fair enough, but...unsatisfying.
Lovely little motor. My neighbour had one of these in the late 60,s. I remember as a 12 year old helping him change the exhaust in a lockup garage. He also fitted an AeroFan to the water pump they had blades that changed pitch as the engine changed speed, supposed to help with fuel consumption. Once fitted the A35 started to over heat, we spent hours trying to sort out the problem. Only to find that the fan we fitted was for a transverse engine car, it was blowing instead of sucking......
Just discovered this review, most definitely a prudent choice to click on view! Evoked many memories as a green one of these (LFX 519) doubled up as my father's show car and our family daily driver in the 80s!
Yes, I know the 'A' series engines - all good for their time and surprisingly nippy. There was no flesh-burning/freezing vinyl seats in them days! I've always thought of these as "nannies' cars", but there you go - nanny needs something to get her from a to b! 🤣 Then again, the fact that James Hunt drove one puts paid to that idea!
Super review of Matthew's lovely A35. Thank you Steph. My uncle had a black Austin of the same model and I loved it. (That wonderful A series engine as well.)
Thanks so much mike 🥰🥰🥰
Absolutely brilliant, great to hear a woman talking about these British classics ( never misses a trick) my dad had the Austin van model, remember pretending to drive in it, I’m of the age when every car on the road was British and awesome, I could tell you the make of a car just by the exhaust note... im only 53 from Motherwell and loves my 1975 Triumph T140v xxx
Steph you are such a sweetie, and very knowledgeable to boot.
One of my fave channels.
Keep em coming girl 👍
Aww thanks ever so much! I try!
Big Rigger I agree. She’s terrific and so interesting as well.
Hi rick nobody has offered one yet
I have a 1967 Vauxhall Victor 101 you would be welcome to review.
Please pop me an email :D
Hi, I really enjoy your enthusiasm for these old cars most of which I grew up with. To be honest a lot of British cars of the 60's and 70's were put together with a knife and fork. That said they had character which is why they are still loved today. You obviously love these old cars and do a lot of research. Keep up the good work. Thoroughly enjoy your videos.
Thanks Griff!
Hi Stef. All of my early cars lacked synchromesh on first gear. I taught myself to double declutch, which enabled me to select first while the car was still moving (albeit not too rapidly!) Great video, as always. Thanks!
Great video, many thanks for the memories. For it’s time the A30 and A35 were quite advanced in having the dip switch on the steering column when most cars had a foot switch, BMC seemed to take quite a few years before the column position became standard! Driving my A30 back from Scotland, stopped for a break and the SU Carburettor, same as A35, developed an airlock and car wouldn’t start, impatient so melted an ice lolly on it and that dealt with the problem but forever left a stain on the outside of the carburettor. This does generate some great memories so thanks again.
Hahahaha that’s brilliant about the ice lolly. How clever
Just bought one of these today,it needs restoring but it will be worth it. Love the vids,thanks.
Great video! 👍I love the Austin A 30/A 35. Beautiful cars.
Totally agree! Thanks for the comment
Hi Steph. I only discovered your channel TODAY Thank God.
Thing IS? THIS is how tv car shows were presented yesteryear before it went pretentious a la CLARKSON.
I like YOUR channel. Its fab.
I like YOUR look its very retro.
I like YOU
I used to own 3 of them left to me by my late father. Brought tears to my eyes when I had to sell them. They were so amazing and cute. The days when cars had style and looked different instead of the clones of today.
Oh god tell me about it
@@idriveaclassic When I was 10 my father bought me a black Austin A35. We also had 2 others one of which had a "gold seal" engine which had only done around 20,000 miles and was in excellent condition. They were grey, black (mine) and red. My father adored them. They were so small and cute. On the video it brought back memories of the dahsboard and seats. They were built like tanks!
When my father passed away in 2013 I had to clear the garages and a guy came and bought all three for a pittance including 20 grand of Marina, Austin A35 parts and Jaguar. Made me sad as I always wanted to drive my black Austin on the Road.
I will always have happy and fond memories of them.
Cheers!
Another lovely review! Thank you sweetheart, i will be more than happy to try a car like Austin A35
Built one up in 1978 as my first car. Got my license in it!
It has a Tow Bar!
I admire the Optimism!
1963 I went to Southend airport and flew with it (A 35) to Deauville, drove to the south of
Franch for a camping holiday then returned via Deauville and Southend.
1964 left for Canada and drove a Ford with a V8 engine.
Aww lovely
Another great video Steph what else would I do in the evenings
Cheers Martin!
My mates brother had one in the late 90's..And he was a bit of a wayward lad.
(Jumped into an empty double decker on the hill in Stockport and let the airbrake off)
...Smashed 2 buses) I used to see him zipping round Chorlton in a A35..Well impressed (A35)
Oh jeeez!!!
As always, Absolutely Fabulous review. Cars with such character and individuality are sadly lacking these days.
Hi, did the A35 have a heater? And do you feel side repeaters would be beneficial as an upgrade? Another great video ,
Hey Alan! I drive one of my minors on trafficators and always think that’s a bit hairy when surrounded by aggressive drivers but for the issue of side repeaters, I think they operate fine without.
This had an optional extra heater. I’ve driven a classic without a heater and absolutely wouldn’t do it again 😂😂😂😂😂
The windows were difficult in the winter when your hands were frozen!
Hi Steph, The A35 was my first car which was many years ago (47 years), great little car, I wonder if 3068 NO is still around?? anyone know? cheers Bob
Lovely dear... Beautiful! Perfect!
Thanks!
Great Video, thanks for sharing.
Sigh....I like to watch old British black and white films from the 30's to the 60's; I can't help it and much to the annoyed amusement of my partner - she has no interest in cars - I tell her what each car is as soon as I see it. Nowadays when going down the street I can't tell one from the other, unless I can see the badge or name and a lot of those I haven't a clue.
All modern cars are just blobs to me.
@@idriveaclassic You are so right, and ugly blobs at that.
Double de-clutch for first gear on the move!
Yeah but most people nowadays can’t double de-clutch to save a life x
@@idriveaclassic But that's what you have to do. like you have to turn the wheel or push the brake pedal
My first car it was fairly reliable but it would almost turn over on any bend
The A35 was a great car to drive, Perky engine, lovely smooth gearbox & 4 doors!
BUT shit drum brakes that needed monthly attention, a body that rusted badly everywhere, & those window push up glass blocks which you could never re-glue in place satisfactorily.
Still we loved ours & my friend used his to attend rallys in New Zealand. He could handle his car much better than I in a Fiat 850 sports coupe!
15:39 Is that a Beetle pickup??? We definitely don't have those here...
My favorite car is Trabant 601.
Oh I love them!
Haha...My dad rolled one of these with my mum in the back!!
They're easy to roll apparently 😂😂
Oh jeeeeeeez. I’d be really worried.
👍👍 🇫🇮
Thanks
Good footage of A30's and Jags dicing at goodwood. Jags have to work hard.
Beautiful car, beautiful lady!!! Awesome!
Cheers Nikola x
Beautyiful car,lady . Agree
It’s nice to see young people keeping cars from my younger years alive it would be nice to see a wolsley 1500 featured
I’d love to do one! It’s down to who offers what really 🥰
Lovely old car, remember my Mum had one back in the day
I bought an a35 as my first car a few years ago and have used it as my daily since passing my test. So much more fun than driving a modern car
Aww I’m so jel xxx
Dead right! Modern cars have all the visual appeal of a fridge.
All cars of that era had that wonderful oily smell inside.
Don't ever change your enthusiasm Steff. You're as much a gem as these wonderful cars are! Roger.
On paper it is rather similar to the Morris, but supposedly the Minor should have a superior steering setup (i.e. rack and pinion). Since you don't comment on it, I take it that the Austin actually steers quite well (and I see some in classical racing, so that should bear it out). As always, a super video that is a joy to watch.
I would love to drive an A35. Just looking out at those chrome indicator lamps and the big "A" on the bonnet must be enough to keep a permanent smile on your face while driving :)
Sorry I probably should’ve said. It drove like a dream and I was in love from the point I hopped in.
My old man told me about the A35 when I were a lad. Theres a old guy who STILL has one in mint condition near me. Kind of amazing to see when on the road umongst the modern cars of today. Great review. Proper classic.
Thanks Eddie!!!
I have an A30. I cant see the purpose of the all that extra power LOL
I totally agree!
You need the bigger window for all the stickers.
Well, well. Just discovered your channel. What a delight. Great to see young people keeping the movement going. Thoroughly enjoyed your review.
The A35 looked like a lovely drive. My abiding memory of these cars is seeing a black four-door as a kid, with four elderly nuns inside!
Subbed for sure. 👍
Ahh thanks so much xxx
I love the sound of these old cars, full of character, thanks for spending the time to show us.
You’re very welcome 🥰🥰🥰
Great to see you out in the A35 Steph. My mother had a black one when I was young. It had the same red interior. It had a very distinctive nice smell, from the upholstery I think. My mother really liked it.
She replaced it with a Ford Anglia, but always missed the Austin.
What a cute little car. Made when cars were made of metal not plastic
Tell me about it. All this plastic isn’t good for the world surely.
I remember when my sisters first boyfriend had one of these cars in Norwich and my father had a Ford Cortina.
We went out for a drive with my sister and her boyfriend were in the Austin and my the rest of the family were in the Cortina.
We were five up in the Cortina and my sister was following. I think we got up to 80 MPH and the Austin was very slowly following but only by about 10MPH difference. He said 70 MPH on he Austin A35 !
I do remember a few years latter when I was living in a bed sit and my landlady had an Austin A40. She kept saying "Tommy your going to ruin this car" He kept crunching the gears. This was an A40 though. Double de-clutching !
I love the A35 and if they didn't have the spares problem I would have probably bought one today.
Spares for the A35 are not too bad. Spares for the Minor and the MGB are better. Mechanically, these Austins are almost identical to the Sprite / Midget.
Another good one Steph, love A35s 😀
Cheers Tony!
Here in Canada, where we have a season called winter, I learned a few tricks with the SU carburetor. The clothes peg on the "choke" Held the enrichment jet open slightly until the engine was fully warm as there was no actual choke valve in the intake. Also the best oil for the dashpot in winter was diesel fuel. I got one for my wife bu unfortunately with two children and a dog we needed more space so it became student's first car.
The clothes peg trick was the result of people not realising you could twist the choke handle slightly to the right to 'lock' it in place at whichever level you wanted. People regularly broke the mechanism by manhandling it and twisting it round too far repeatedly -- as a result, the cable would return in on its own.
Great little video, beautiful little car! My family couldn't afford the 'car' version in the early 1960s, my Dad had the Wallace and Grommet A35 van version, 2 of them - and put a seat in the back! :) FIVE of us used to squeeze into it from Nottingham on our annual hols to Teignmouth in Devon! Roof-rack on top, 50 all the way, never ever broke down as far as I remember! Great times indeed!
Aww what a lovely memory 🥰🥰🥰
Far different than my memories of going on what you call holiday and we call vacation. In a 1967 Dodge Polara 9 passenger wagon with rear facing rear seat. 383 4bll. Torqueflite auto. trans.
Love the A35. Such a cute car.
Oh I agree 🥰🥰🥰
estercars..THE TEAPOT !?!,..HA Ha ha a a ))))
Congratulations Mark on restoring and maintaining this little old classic. The paint work looks great, nicely polished and is obviously cherished. Nice presentation Steph, your enthusiasm is evident and it’s great to see youngsters enjoying the experience of driving a 50’s Classic. These little cars are associated with many childhood memories of family life and happy holiday excursions. I owned one for several years and anyone who drove them at night will remember the comforting small glowing lights that were visible from top of the wings. The side lights were visible when driving, particularly along dark unlit roads and reassuring to see them illuminated in the darkness.
Peg on the choke! My sister in law had one on her Mini. A must have for when it stops staying out.
That A35 is certainly a cracking car! Don’t think you mentioned it, but one of the other differences from the A30 is that the A35 has the painted front grille and the A30’s is chrome.
Ahhh I think I skipped over it. Loads of info isn’t there 🥰
idriveaclassic As informative as ever! Another great vid!
Never saw a woman with so much knowledge about cars before
Beautiful video 👌😊😇
Aww thanks so much x
And with a very nice personality too!
A VW Beetle pickup at 15:40 - never seen one of those before!!
It looks like one of the fibreglass kits from the 80s There were three in Edinburgh. Red Yellow and Blue. The kit also made a van version.
The most often encountered conversion kit was made by a company called "Wizard of Rods" and they also converted Beetles to customer spec. They might still be going, I don't know.
No way, a Pick up, I have never seen one of them either....Interesting...
ME: Have I watched this video? Also me: Who cares I will watch it again. Also me. Oh look I have commented on this video before.
Good one Steph. Lovely little car. A friend has one. I just find it hard to get in and out of. But I’m not young anymore
Aw Kenny 😭
It shared all its pieces with the Austin Healey Sprite Mk1, the Frog-eye. This was very useful for people like my keeping a Sprite alive with no money!
I can imagine!
After owning the Austin A30 I went into a period of buying all the Sprites from MK1 to the the last MK 4 with 1275cc engine. IIRC.
Hi Steph every classic car needs a name so nice to see this one has one. I have a MGA roadster shes called Rebecca after my late mum and yes no synchro in 1st so I know all about the if your still rolling drop into 2nd trick lol. Wouldn't it be great to own a massive shed and fill it with these classic British gems.I live in Adelaide South Australia and I am a member of the MG club of South Australia we are really lucky one of the founder members is an old school mechanic and lives and breaths MGs so I have his number on fast dial when the unthinkable happens lol. I love your show please keep safe and keep up the good work.👍🧡
What a beautiful little car!
Thanks glen! X
Nice car I do remember them well
Unusual to have a hubcap on spare wheel
And I do like the indicator switch 👍
Indicator switch was bonkers 😂
Great review again and what a cracking little car
Cheers Martin! She was a beauty x
That's a lovely little car, love all the little features like the bonnet catch and the sidelights on the wings, good knowledge by the way you can certainly back up what you talk about in your excellent vids 🏁🏁🏁🏁👍
What a lovely comment cheers my love
What is interesting to me is that these European cars were so much more simpler fuel efficient and practical in comparison to there American counterparts of that same time period. American cars were huge probably more expensive and they were gas guzzlers . The average American was driving cars like the Ford Galaxie and Chevy Impala compare that to something like this and there was a world of difference .
Mine was the A30 but it had the turning indicators fitted as well as the old trafficators. It was the 4 door which was great. Most of the quirks were very good. But I had two complaints. The worm and peg steering was very heavy at parking and the 3 cylinder brakes were HEAVY. Repeat HEAVY. But if they brought out the same car with improved brakes and steering and a modern fuel injected engine I would buy a new one today. Keep the windows, keep the start pull and the centre trafficators. Keep the long lever gear lever too. I was happy with all of that.
I could add that it needed much more regular maintenance than any modern car but the maintenance was easy to do. Parts were simple to install and many could be made by a competent engineer. Just before my wedding I pulled the engine apart and fitted new piston rings in ( from my recollection) two to three hours. Try that on a modern car.
The maintenance thing would definitely be an issue for many modern drivers of today I think :(
Lovely A35 love the indicater switch when I was lad my dad had standard 8 they had the same switch keep the classic cars reveiw comming from a 63yr old rev
Cheers Malcolm! The indicator switch was bonkers but I loved it
I'd like a Standard 8, probably the most pared down British car of the era. The boot has no lid IIRC and you access it from inside the car.
Borderlands they even marketed that as an advantage in the advertisements.. "you can access your luggage in the rain whilst keeping dry"
The indicator switch gained the nickname "The alien eyeball"!
Beautiful little tyke of a car. They were also common in Australia. A lot of young people bought old Austins and Morris Minors as their first car. For Aussies, however, they were a bit under-powered when compared to the most popular cars on our roads which were straight 6 Fords, Holdens and Chrysler Valiants. They also shouted post-war austerity with the lack of simple accessories. Lack of indicators (semaphores aside), lack of proper winding windows...etc...etc... which weren't issues with the locally assembled 6 cylinder cars. I suppose that being that our cars were American influenced we were a little more spoiled in that regard...however one bugbear was shared...the lack of synchro on first. I got around it by double clutching if the car was moving or, as you have in the Austin, hoping I could start in second.
One thing that I always admired in the little BMC cars was the fact that they were built with tough and heavy grade steel. You didn't have to worry about idiots dinging your doors in car parks because the metal took a pounding before it indented. They were as tough as nails! The one Austin I did own which I loved (it was stolen from me and totalled two years after I bought it) was the locally-produced 6 cylinder Austin Kimberley. Front drive, handled superbly, heaps of room...even more room than the bigger Holdens of the time and plenty of go. The Austin 1800 and the later E/W six cylinder models were great cars.
I always wonder how Aussies got on with cars like these. Your roads are enormous!!!!
Great video ..... I learned to drive in an A35 back in the 70s & it was over 20 years old even then . Im now looking for another one . Love the wing mounted side lights. The saloon went out of production in 1959 but the van continued until about 67. Great little cars.
Amazing cars aren’t they 🥰🥰🥰
I used to know a oldish guy, really old fashioned and was an old hand at every thing who had a black one of these, and his dog who used to sit at the back seat looked bigger than the car, lol,
I have never known an A series that didn't have a peg on the choke.....really cold mornings could be a "2 peg" morning
My dad had a couple of the vans, both had rear seats and back windows and were excellent cars. one did about 475k with no problems at all because he kept it well maintained. Great upload which brought back tons of memories.
I wouldn't worry about the lack of modern indicators. BMW drivers never use them anyway.
Cost the equivalent of about £16,000 in today's money, pretty expensive for a Tiny car
Thank you, Steph, for another great video. Keep them coming :)
Thanks so much!!!
Yes James Hunt had the van version, because he said it was the only car you could drive flat out without breaking any speed limits 😃
Hahahaha. To be fair, I could’ve broken a speed limit in this. It was nippy.
Apparently he used to love hurling it around on crossplies in the wet. 😁
I used to look after my bosses A30 with the 803 engine that was slow believe me it was a struggle to get over 50 from it!
Good little British car.
My late uncle in the East of the Netherlands ran a BMC dealership and sold lots of these.
He had a good reputation and a steady costumer base. That is until the dreaded BL plughole of despair kicked in.
Meu tio teve um carro desse assim que ele faleceu a Esposa praticamente deu de graça preço irrisório eu me lembro era um cinza claro fosco todo original Brasil 🇧🇷
In the US we never see british sedans of any make , only sports cars .I when to a british car show and the only non-sports car was a 1956 Rolls Cloud . GOD BLESS Studebaker Kary NH USA .4-12-20 .
Love that turn signal switch in the middle of the dash ,with that , there can`t be any dought as to your direction .
hi and my name is kevin from nz and I have 4 Austin a 30 when I was 15 years old and thay a good car
Сладкая и огненная Стеф! Привет из Одессы, Украина!
Hope you are safe in Ukraine.
The Austin A30/35 was the car before the Mini. The facelifted A35 has a larger rear window. Saloon production finished in 1959 but the Countryman estate was to 1962 and the van until 1968.
I bought my 1957 A35 in April to replace my rust bucket mini, got to say I love it! Its pretty good to drive and is rather comfy for a small car. These cars have a lot of character and paid £2000 for it. As you say the boot is big for the size of the car. I'm not a fan of the sliding windows either and mine keep sliding up. Recently upgraded to a HS2 carb with a 4.22 diff from a moggy and has made a huge improvement. Easily do 60mph on the main roads and keeps up with modern traffic fine. Great review!
Ahhh thanks so much for the lovely comment x
Great video Steph. A35s actually better than Moggies. Now, you might? know BUT. You know how wide Moggies are under the bonnet. Well......this was for the flat 4 (like a Beetle engine) that they couldn't get to work. So......in desperation they took the A30 engine and put in the Moggie. So THAT is why you've so much space under your bonnet on you're Moggie.
Steph......I'm NOT a safety natzy but please, position your camera where Ian (hub nut) does. Look where you are going. Sooner or later someone will spot this.....and you MIGHT lose your licence.
Don't want to lose your excellent videos 😉😉👍
Thank you!!! I am obeying the law so don’t panic :) I don’t touch anything other than the car (or annoyingly my hair) whilst driving
@@idriveaclassic I know you are. However you know the people out there are paranoid. If you put your camera/phone etc in front but to the side it would address this. Btw all women adjust their hair while diving lol.
The A35 is simple to hot-up because they're mechanically almost identical to Spridgets (Austin Healey Sprite & MG Midget). The A35 is the weapon of choice in historic racing, as with the St. Marys Trophy at Goodwood. There's an active club with local branches. The A-Series engine has huge potential for improvement. Companies such as Frontline Spridget can sell you goodies such as a racing suspension, and a conversion to accept the Ford 5-speed transmission. Bull Motif sells a heated front windscreen which works brilliantly, plus other upgrades such as modern headlamps which look identical to the originals. The two-door A35 only weighed a little over 14 cwt (about 650kg) so small improvements in horsepower go a long way. Be aware that adding these goodies always works out as phenomenally expensive.
Bull motif get enough money off me as it is. Let’s not make it worse 😂😂😂
Tha handbrale was put on the right as the transmission tunnel is too narrow to accomodate the handbrake linkage. The A35 is a early monocoque design and the transmission tunnel was made narrow and deep for floor pan strength. I recall an A35 in the 60's, a friend drove me and other children to school in it, she was in teh driver seat, a friend in the passenger seat with a child on her lap, There were four children on the back seat and I liked to stand on teh tranmission tunnel and look out of the windscreen. I clearly recall the central indicator control, I loved watching it flash.
Ahh thanks for explaining 🥰🥰
The indicator control was great!
On a fashion note... Love today's dress! X
aww Jess 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
My primary school teacher had an A30 - was the first car I was ever driven in (1968) when she gave my mum and me a lift home.
We never had a car until 1971 😢
Thanks for the memories
My pleasure!
I have a very similar experience. My first car journey that I can remember was being driven home at the age of 5 by my primary school teacher in her pale blue A35. I sat in the back foot well and was crying my eyes out - no idea why! I’d actually forgotten that until I read your comment!
Paul Johnson - I think something must have happened to me as well, can’t remember what though.
Must have been a standard thing back then, a ride home with teacher - couldn’t see it happening now.
I had an A30 NUX228
Well done!
I passed my driving test in 1956 (I think!) and I bought a 2nd hand A30 as my first car. I tarted it up a bit and bought the Chrome moulding to 'upgrade' the appearance to that of the A35.
I toured Wales from South to North. Those were the days.
I also ventured into rallying and track racing at Brands Hatch and if course club driving tests.
Aww thanks for sharing your story x
am i wrong in thinking that to lock the windows, you push the door handle down?
i used to see these in the scrapyards in the late 80s early 90s........
What a waste 😭
I nearly bought a Austin A60 cambridge. Didnt buy it because it was really rotten. And the engie, wooh, it sounded like it was fueled by sandpaper once.
Can be the way sometimes!
My first car back in 1981
1956 model in black,
Reg WJH 653. I had lots of fun in that car and hope to think that it's still in existence somewhere.
Just checked and it’s still on the road somewhere
@Astro Chaos thanks very much for that it would be great if there was a site where people could share photos of old cars in previous lives.
One of a few I'm considering for about £5k. Useful review. Others I'm thinking of which I haven't had are Austin 7, Trabant, Daimler 420. Or another 2.8 Granada or XJ6 which I have owned. A dream being a 1978 Lincoln Continental but above the budget so far.
Finally it's about time we had a lady testing cars on TH-cam
Cheers Cameron! X
idriveaclassic I'd offer for you to do a video of my Anglia but you'd not get very far, she's got no wheels, no brakes either 😂 and if I'm brutally honest I've seen better examples in scrapyards
Awwww poor anglia! I did my best friends anglia as one of my first videos. Need to revisit it at some point really 😂😂😂
A delightful looking car. Too bad I never had the chance to ride in one. My dad had a Morris Minor as he thought it was more comfortable.
Nice little car Steph!
Down south where l live,this car would keep up the the modern stuff easily,as there is so much of it.Anyway,why rush l say.
I drive an Audi A2,and,although modern,is apparently heading for classic stuff.160000 of these made,so more A35s built.
Good to see these older cars on the road.Very refreshing!
Great review❤😎👍👍!
Thanks ever so much!
I love this and will be subscribing. I watch something very similar from Bradley James Classics! So I can't wait to watch your vlogs. You've got me!
Ahhh thanks so much
Checked that channel out...seems little more than walkarounds that talk about exterior/interior condition (as one would expect from a car seller). Fair enough, but...unsatisfying.
The ultimate british classic, good to see these in motorsport! Great video by the way, and great information 🙂
Thanks so much!
Loverly colour wish i knew what its called, could someone tell me please if they know ??
Tweed Grey 👍🏻
Lovely little motor. My neighbour had one of these in the late 60,s. I remember as a 12 year old helping him change the exhaust in a lockup garage. He also fitted an AeroFan to the water pump they had blades that changed pitch as the engine changed speed, supposed to help with fuel consumption. Once fitted the A35 started to over heat, we spent hours trying to sort out the problem. Only to find that the fan we fitted was for a transverse engine car, it was blowing instead of sucking......
Just discovered this review, most definitely a prudent choice to click on view! Evoked many memories as a green one of these (LFX 519) doubled up as my father's show car and our family daily driver in the 80s!
Ahh thanks so much x
Yes, I know the 'A' series engines - all good for their time and surprisingly nippy. There was no flesh-burning/freezing vinyl seats in them days! I've always thought of these as "nannies' cars", but there you go - nanny needs something to get her from a to b! 🤣 Then again, the fact that James Hunt drove one puts paid to that idea!
I’m a bit of a nan and would absolutely love one 😂😂😂