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A35 Rollin resto


doobietoo

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My late dad had one of these as his first car - it even had his initials (JRB) on the registration plate. He took the number plate off when he sold it and used it on his cars for many years. His was a 1959 2 door, IIRC - and in this colour combination.

 

My late Dad's first (and our family car) was a grey 2-door A30 (smaller rear window, trafficators).  When I was a toddler I went out to play driving in it and managed to release the handbrake on our sloping driveway.  Luckily the gates caught the car and stopped it rolling into the street.  I destroyed the gates which were removed and disposed of, and I wasn't allowed to play at driving any more.

 

I took my first photo in that car.

 

One time when we were late as usual for our regular trip to Sunday Cricket, he pulled out the choke a little enthusiastically and it just kept coming - I thought this was hilarious - he didn't.

 

Looks a cracker - good luck with resto.

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  • 7 months later...

So its been a while but I have finally got my shit together and have found a welder to do the work at a sensible price... I am picking up the panels at Beaulieu in a couple of weeks time and then it is off to the welders, *should be ready for the road by the end of June if I can get the brakes and electrics sorted by then Yay...looking forward to pottering about in something really old again...

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  • 1 month later...

After a slight delay the A35 finally goes off to the welders tomorrow, hopefully it will come back in MOTable condition in 2 or 3 weeks ... just in time for some pootling around in the sunshine #optimist. Pics hopefully as it gets done .. unless they are quicker than I think...

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So welding not yet started but the parts list has grown to include in no particular order, a voltage regulator, starter switch and ignition switch. Four front brake cylinders, a master cylinder and rear frame cylinder. Quite glad I didn't drive it the 50 miles home from the Isle of Wight now. The fact that the previous owner drove it to and over on the Ferry is a *slight cause for concern though with the rear cylinder pissing fluid and all four front brake cylinders seized solid... At least I will know it is as safe as it can be once it is all done...

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  • 2 months later...

As you can probably tell I am in no hurry with this ... good job really, but the welding has started with removal of the old sill to be greeted with this....

 

 

post-18157-0-90491800-1505246092_thumb.jpg

 

 

We thought the sills were original as they were properly spot welded  in the original positions but we are not so sure now. 

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What we cannot work out is why someone bolted a piece of angle bar inside the sills before they were welded on.... 

 

Rally prep?

 

Love these and looking forward to the work being done........

Are these the same brake cylinders as Spitfires? If so - I have a bloody big ag of new ones spare. 4 for you if you need 'em posting..... they're only sitting spare here anyway.

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Looks like a hopeful piece of amateur strengthening.   Better than finding a curl of chicken wire and a shredded Exchange & Mart, I suppose!

 

No chicken wire but plenty of Ally sheet some of which you will see at the front of the sill...It seems the angle iron is not original, the current theory is that the sills are original and that the angle iron was slid in from either the front or back and bolted in...may be someone was worried about the state of the sill...or had a very heavy passenger...

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If, like my Uncle Fred did, you take off the leather check strap the front door will hinge right round against the front wing.   He kept his A35 far longer than the Mk1 Escort bought by his daughters for him as he just couldn't get in and out of it.   Eventually I took the car on - I wished it had a socking great piece of angle in the sills the first time I jacked it up!

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