A35 in blue (so I don't hijack Scruff's thread)

[Angrydicky]

Having been avidly following the epic sale and purchase of a brilliant oily rag A35 on here by two hardcore 'shiters, I've gained renewed mojo for the Peanut I have languishing in my grandparents garage. With the Maestro away being fettled, and the Somerset being my only roadworthy car, it made sense to get it out and usable as a backup.

 

Bit of background, it hadn't been used since November (ish) through no fault of its own. This morning I went over there (having struggled to find the keys for it) and attempted to bring it home for a bit of fettling. Keys located, electric fuel pump whacked and the engine started up first pull. As I reversed out, the brakes released with a BANG - I'd mistakenly left the handbrake on

 

The four mile drive home went ok - the brakes were pulling slightly to the left, which should just be a sticking wheel cylinder through lack of use, oh, and I forgot I'd pinched the flasher unit for the A40, so the drive was conducted without indicators.

 

Jobs to do, investigate the clonk from the back end, remove and repair the headlining (it's got Maestro syndrome!) service, grease up, new flasher unit, repair original wing and fit back in place of the fibreglass one it currently has fitted. The drivers seat is sagging, and I'd like to get a better set of seats for it in Blue Twill - rare as hens teeth!

 

It's pretty solid though. My parents bought it for £180 in May 1986, and used it as a daily driver for years. It was written off in a collision with a MK2 Fiesta in 1989, the original front bumper still bears the scars! It became mine when I was 15 in 2006, my first car at 17. It's been restored twice and resprayed more times than I care to imagine. It's survived pretty well really, considering the abuse it's got over the years!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[oldcars]

Lovely wee thing. What's the black leaver for on the top of the dash?

[stephen01]

looks like a very honest steed.

[HMC]

Lovely wee thing. What's the black leaver for on the top of the dash?

Trafficators/ Indicators where fitted

[HMC]

I love reading about stuff that's been in family ownership for years. Hve you got much history? IIRC -MP is east London?

[mercrocker]

Is the Cat Protection sticker a primitive car alarm?   I'd like to imagine a snaggle-toothed old tomcat curled up on the back seat ready to pounce on the neck of anybody foolish enough to try and drive off in it.  

 

That's  a flippin brilliant car, though, AD with all that history and attachment to it as well.   Love it!

[scruff]

Superb and like m' learned colleagues above the history is fab.

[egg]

How 'hard' are these to drive compared to modernz?

[Alexg]

What a tremendous little car.

[Angrydicky]

How 'hard' are these to drive compared to modernz?

Compared to a modern, very low geared, noisy, heavy steering that constantly needs correcting as you're driving along. But compared to a lot of cars of the era, they're very easy. Conventional four speed manual gearchange, simple controls, and simple mechanically (mostly the same as Morris Minor).

[Angrydicky]

I love reading about stuff that's been in family ownership for years. Hve you got much history? IIRC -MP is east London?

It came from J. Gibbs Motors (Austin Distributors for West London) in 1959, and the first owner lived on Staines Road in the shadow of Heathrow Airport.  I have the original buff logbook and a fair bit of stuff from the last 30 years - old receipts, photos, tax discs etc. There's then a gap in its history until it was purchased by the people my parents got it from in 1977. By this point it had been painted purple with a white roof and had a big duck sticker on the boot! My parents got it out of the Thames Valley Trader, went down to Guildford for it then drove it back to my grandparents house in Marlow. The following week, it was driven home to Southend where it has remained ever since.

[danthecapriman]

Lovely little car, and I love the colour of it.

It's nice that it's long term owned and you have family history with it too.

[fordperv]

What a lovely little car, i just imagine going out in it on a Sunday to find a place to have a picnic

[AlabamaShrimp]

In other what's that do questions, what's the small switch in front of the steering wheel and that extra clock that you can know just see?

 

Oh yeah it's very nice too but as I'm a cock I'd always be wanting to paint it black but then they nearly all seem to be that already

[Angrydicky]

In other what's that do questions, what's the small switch in front of the steering wheel and that extra clock that you can know just see?

 

Oh yeah it's very nice too but as I'm a cock I'd always be wanting to paint it black but then they nearly all seem to be that already

The small switch is for the heated rear screen (currently inop). The extra clock is an electric temperature gauge, completely inaccurate but at least it gives an indication when it's getting hot!

[dollywobbler]

Grand stuff. Had to laugh about borrowing bits from other cars. When I was sneaking the 2CV home to be dismantled, I remembered that I'd nicked the indicator relay for the Dyane...

[Faker]

That's a smashing wee yoke!

[scruff]

Are there any more A35s on here? It's interesting to spot the differences!

[phil_lihp]

It looks in excellent condition, love the colour.  It's always nice to see an older car that isn't immaculately restored and shows all the marks and alterations of being used properly over the decades.

[Angrydicky]

Are there any more A35s on here? It's interesting to spot the differences!

Wuvvum's got one.

[Angrydicky]

Unfortunately, using the car today has reminded me how poor the wiring is. It blew two fuses and cooked a flasher unit, so now I have no indicators and occasionally smoke comes out of the horn push...Frankly, it's a fire waiting to happen, so I've bitten the bullet and ordered a new loom from Autosparks at great expense. It's a job I've been putting off for years because it's out of my comfort zone, but I've been encouraged to have a go myself, as it's a small car there's not really very much electrical on it! The Somerset has an Autosparks loom fitted, and I'm very happy with it.

 

I've also decided that I've had enough of the lumpy 1098 engine it's got fitted (never as smooth as the 948) and the old, worn gearbox. So I've agreed to buy a good 1098 "ribcase" gearbox and a 948 engine, as original, which was apparently a good runner when it was replaced with a 1275 unit 20 years ago. This means I have to go to Coventry in the A40 next week to collect them.

[dollywobbler]

I've driven loads of Minors, but don't think I've ever had the pleasure of an A30/A35. Nor an A40 Farina. I must correct this enormous oversight at some point.

[Angrydicky]

You're welcome to have a go in mine, but driving it at the moment would give a bad impression of them! I prefer the driving position and pedals on the A30/35, I always find Minors a bit cramped.

[Vantman]

I may have some brake shoes for this if you need any. I had a couple of these and a Mk1 A40 in my 20s.