HMC- Return of the Cheeky 500

[trigger]

Jesus, lockdown fevers got you bad! I approve! I've always fancied a go in a A30/A35, what are they like, slow? 

[HMC]

Not driven one yet, I did have an a35 a few years ago but that was full of holes and never ran. SSK is 803cc/ 29bhp so pretty slow, in standard form at least.........

 

[plasticvandan]

They are like driving a Morris Minor that doesn't handle,steer or stop.

The a30 was the car that Reliants founder hit back at three wheel critics saying "I could turn over a four wheel car if I wished"

I've wanted one for years.

[Six-cylinder]

Did you miss this one!

Engine 1275cc in-line four-cylinder, ohv, two SU carburettors Power 130bhp Price £25,000

[brownnova]

Good God man you make me jealous!! 

[eifion]

That's a lovely little thing. I had a black A35 about twenty years ago that had a 1098cc engine in. It was great around town as it'd pull in top from about 20mph. Less fun on the motorway, though.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

What happened to the bloke on here that had an A30(5?) bought from @cros and used as his everyday car? Land Rover and traction engine botherer, had a plant moving business , can’t remember his name or if he’s still around , I know Cros went to The Other Place and I think the little Austin was a  bit breathed on.
 

Someone should start a sweepstake on which comes up for sale first.

Im saying VdP before the end of June.. My logic? Even in Devon, there are occasions when one might need to travel at more than 50mph, so the S500 will be the perfect stablemate for the A30. 

[HMC]

Lowering local property values......

Just been dropped off

[lesapandre]

17 hours ago, HMC said:

As alluded to on news 24 I have also had a crisis over another car. One which the esteemed LJK Setright had to say this of in 1980....

“That appallingly unlovely and deservedly unlamented little saloon”

Soz Len

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Very nice. I've had a few years ago. They used to go for about £75.

They benefit from daily/weekly maintenance if you use regularly. Brakes are hydo-mechanic - join the owners club to get advice on getting them right. 

Front suspension uses lever arm dampers - wear in the front suspension set up can make them not much fun to drive. Again there is lots of advice to be had there. 

These were a very innovative car at the time - its easy to forget.

*unitary body

*OHV A series engine

*IFS

*3box styling

This is an AS2 version with dash designed by David Bache - he of Range Rover fame. 

Some lovely detailing on them. Look at the fillet plate behind the bumpers to elegantly hide the bumper irons and the Austin of England script. 

Car had an interesting design history - based on a car called the Duncan Drone - then completely reworked by Bob Koto at Loewy and then Dick Burzi at Austin.  The stressed monocoque is very rigid and well engineered - some aircraft tech went into that.

Very good design overall compared to the contemporary Fords and Hillmans - and the fact they are still raced says a lot.

Keep on top of the running maintenance.

[HMC]

An allegro licker has owned it previously and made a slightly cringey bespoke folder for the history. 
 

 

Of which there is a fair amount- my favourite bit being a few brochures which in true 70s fashion have the feel of cheap porn flick.

[Supernaut]

48 minutes ago, NorfolkNWeigh said:

What happened to the bloke on here that had an A30(5?) bought from @cros and used as his everyday car? Land Rover and traction engine botherer, had a plant moving business , can’t remember his name or if he’s still around , I know Cros went to The Other Place and I think the little Austin was a  bit breathed on.
 

Someone should start a sweepstake on which comes up for sale first.

Im saying VdP before the end of June.. My logic? Even in Devon, there are occasions when one might need to travel at more than 50mph, so the S500 will be the perfect stablemate for the A30. 

That description sounds a little bit like @JimH, but actually I don't think it was him!

I know who you mean now, but not by name. He had a white DAF and a lowloader.

[anonymous user]

50 minutes ago, NorfolkNWeigh said:

What happened to the bloke on here that had an A30(5?) bought from @cros and used as his everyday car? Land Rover and traction engine botherer, had a plant moving business , can’t remember his name or if he’s still around , I know Cros went to The Other Place and I think the little Austin was a  bit breathed on.
 

Someone should start a sweepstake on which comes up for sale first.

Im saying VdP before the end of June.. My logic? Even in Devon, there are occasions when one might need to travel at more than 50mph, so the S500 will be the perfect stablemate for the A30. 

You are thinking of Scruff, I bought my Land Rover 90 from him, I think he might not have the A35 anymore 

[HMC]

Think I might have to have a picnic on the table.

 

 

Something the s500 and Allegro have in common. 

 

[GrumpiusMaximus]

Allegro ones are clearly superior because they give you somewhere to secure your mug of tea.

[Skizzer]

1 hour ago, GrumpiusMaximus said:

Allegro ones are clearly superior because they give you somewhere to secure your mug of tea.

Mug? Mug?!  Peasant.

Have you not read that brochure? It’s all about point-to-points and the Hilton, not White City dog track and the Crossroads Motel you know.

 

Outstanding purchases sir ?

[Fabergé Greggs]

It’s been said before, but I’ll say it again:

That was an inspirational period of fleet expansion. 

[GrumpiusMaximus]

44 minutes ago, Skizzer said:

Mug? Mug?!  Peasant.

Have you not read that brochure? It’s all about point-to-points and the Hilton, not White City dog track and the Crossroads Motel you know.

 

Outstanding purchases sir ?

Ok.  Fine bone china adorned with a picture of the Queen and Prince Philip...

[anonymous user]

22 minutes ago, GrumpiusMaximus said:

Ok.  Fine bone china adorned with a picture of the Queen and Prince Philip...

Still no, it is recessed to fit your champagne flute

[JimH]

No. There is no way on God's clean earth that a VDP driver would drink something French.

It is recessed to fit your sherry glass.

 

[GrumpiusMaximus]

Tea.  Earl Grey.  Hot.

[bramz7]

No, it's obviously most likely to have been used as an ad-hoc ash tray.

Super purchase. I thought I was good at sniffing things out but obviously my stone cold ignorance of proper cars makes these elude me. And to be honest I don't really have enough (or really any) class for a Vanden Plas. 

What's the plan? I know you're as bad as me for selling stuff on but is that likely with this? 

[HMC]

33 minutes ago, JimH said:

No. There is no way on God's clean earth that a VDP driver would drink something French.

It is recessed to fit your sherry glass.

 

Indeed nor buy a kebab- EXCLUSIVE

[HMC]

It’s pinking a touch under load- does anyone know which way the distributor spins on the e series engine?

[JimH]

Nowt to do with the ignition. It's that funny foriegn food playing havoc with it. Get down the Berni and it'll be as right as rain.

[Mr Pastry]

35 minutes ago, HMC said:

It’s pinking a touch under load- does anyone know which way the distributor spins on the e series engine?

Pretty sure it is a standard BL/Lucas dizzy, so anticlockwise.

[Zelandeth]

Worth just putting some decent fuel in and seeing if that helps.  If it's running on the fermented cat piss that passes as supermarket garage unleaded these days that could well be a large part of it.

[SiC]

Four star is roughly equivalent to Super Unleaded. I've never had a problem with super market fuel and all my cars get it. 

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Just noticed the Cardiganshire registration, in my formative years I visited Merion Motors in Aberystwyth whenever we went to what was to us the biggest town we ever went to. BL cars were relatively rare in rural mid Wales in the 70’s- Ford was king with dealers In  smaller towns and even some villages. I used to stand looking longingly at SD1s until the salesman found me whatever brochures I hadn’t already got and sent me on my way. There were a lot of retired Brummies around who would have been the most likely first owner for this as they had more money than local older people, and were often the snobby type that was BLs targeted demographic.

There must have been a dealer in Cardigan although I can’t remember it and one in Llandysul where my mum bought a Mk2 Capri trade in.

 

[Six-cylinder]

17 hours ago, HMC said:

It’s pinking a touch under load- does anyone know which way the distributor spins on the e series engine?

I had to back the timing off on ours. I marked the distributor and base place with Tipp-Ex and played and this is where I ended up.

[Split_Pin]

Lovely wee car that. You're all wrong about the recess on the picnic table though. It's designed to hold a bottle of cold tea, as was the tradition in picnicking, although probably 20 years earlier.