A35 Rollin resto

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

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.

[scruff]

Mine should be grey too.

[martc]

Although they might be made of Plasticine.......

 

Picture of W&G's A35 van, reg number HOP 21T

 

Late registration maddness.

[daveb47]

My dad had a spruce green 1955 a30 4 door

489dvw.

[AMC Rebel]

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.

[Uncle Jimmy]

25 posts before J.Hunt was mentioned

Digging the pro yellow MOT style yellow crayon man.

[Laseraligningfoofooflanges]

Tweed grey nice! My old boy had one of these lingering in the garage throughout my youth same red interior.

 

He gave it away in the end Nice car.

[anonymous user]

25 posts before J.Hunt was mentioned

but did you know he used to lend his van to Princess Anne when her Scimitar was off the road?

[doobietoo]

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...

[mercrocker]

Excellent news, its a lovely little thing....

[doobietoo]

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...

[doobietoo]

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...

[doobietoo]

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....

 

 

 

 

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

[Mally]

Still looks quite good to me.

In fact compared to a certain 1100 it's almost good as new.

[doobietoo]

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

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

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.

[mercrocker]

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

[vulgalour]

Odd to bother strengthening these, they're fairly rigid as standard.  Wish I had that much sill

[Mally]

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

 

Because they had a piece, and it provides much strength.

I'd leave it in.

[Dj_efk]

That angle iron could almost be factory?! Has anyone else seen inside certified original sills on one of these?

[doobietoo]

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...

[purplebargeken]

Cute little car but waaay too smoll for a lardy like me to use. Hat doffed. 

[bigstraight6]

Cute little car but waaay too smoll for a lardy like me to use. Hat doffed.

 

You might be surprised how much room there is in the front of these baby Austins, I drove one not too long ago and found it easy to enter and exit with good legroom and I'm generously proportioned......

[mercrocker]

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!

[cros]

Superb cars, I hope you enjoy it hugely. Seatbelts of dubious effectiveness anchored on 4 door's b pillar but they are a very strong car so plenty of other places screw 'em to if you want them.

[doobietoo]

Seatbelts? bugger that I go by the reckoning that if I ever hit or get hit by something hard enough to need them I will be dead anyway...Just my little two fingers up to the elf and Stacey brigade.