Austin A35

The Austin A35 is a small family car that was sold by Austin from 1956 until 1968. About 280,897 A35s of all types were produced.[2]

Austin A35
Overview
ManufacturerAustin (BMC)
Production1956–1959 (saloon)
1956–1962 (estate)
1956–1968 (van)
280,897
Body and chassis
ClassSmall family car (C)
Body style2/4-door saloon
2-door estate
2-door coupe utility (pickup)
2-door sedan delivery (van)
LayoutFR layout
Powertrain
Engine948 cc A-Series I4
1,098 cc A-Series I4
Dimensions
Wheelbase79.5 in (2,019 mm)[1]
Length136.5 in (3,467 mm)[1]
Width55 in (1,397 mm)[1]
Chronology
PredecessorAustin A30
SuccessorAustin A40 Farina

Design

Introduced in 1956, it replaced the highly successful Austin A30. The name reflected the larger and more powerful 34 hp (25 kW) A-Series inline-four engine, enabling a slightly higher top speed and better acceleration.[3]

The A35 is very similar in appearance to the A30, except for a larger rear window aperture and a painted front grille, with chrome horse-shoe surround, instead of the chrome grille on the A30. Both have 13 in (330 mm) wheels. The semaphore turn-signal indicators were replaced with modern front- and rear-mounted flashing lights. A slightly easier to operate remote-control gear-change was provided. Much of the improved performance is a result of different gearbox ratios. The A30 has the first three ratios close together then a big gap to top (fourth gear). The A35's ratios are better spaced and give a higher speed in third gear.

A35 4-door Saloon

Like the A30, the A35 was offered as a two- or four-door saloon and two-door "Countryman" estate and also as a van. The latter model continued in production through to 1968.[3] A rare coupe utility (pickup) version was also produced in 1956, with just 477 sold. Drawings were made for a sports tourer, but no prototype was actually built.

The A35 passenger cars were replaced by the new body shape A40 Farina models in 1959 but the estate car version continued until 1962 and van until 1968.[2]

Performance

A two-door de luxe saloon with the 948 cc engine was tested by the British Motor magazine in 1956 and was found to have a top speed of 71.9 mph (115.7 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 30.1 seconds. A fuel consumption of 41.5 miles per imperial gallon (6.81 L/100 km; 34.6 mpg‑US) was recorded.[4]

Referring to the A35, from Staton Abbey (1969?). The Book of the Austin A30 and A35. Pitman Press: p 148.

"....The new cars were thoroughly proved by tests carried out on the German autobahnen, during which drivers of much larger cars were astonished to be passed by three small Austins which were being driven flat out all day, averaging 60 mph for 25000 miles!......"

".....a privately-owned works-tuned A35 was driven for seven days around the Montlhéry track, near Paris, in a record-breaking run at an average speed of 75 mph, covering nearly 12500 miles...."

With standard fit of drums all round, in both the A30 and the A35, the front hydraulic with rear hydro-mechanical brakes (the hydraulics acted upon the hand brake at the rear) needed regular adjustment to keep the stopping distances reasonably short.

The A35 was quite successful in 1950s saloon car racing, until supplanted by the Farina A40, but some still appear in historic events.

In recent years a special Academy class of racing has been introduced by the HRDC (Historic Racing Drivers Club)[5], featuring A30 and A35 saloons. These cars feature sealed 1275 cc Marina engines, and are a restricted class, meaning that owners are limited to a specific range of parts from specified suppliers.

Film and media appearances

A model of an A35 van features in the 2005 Aardman Animations movie, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, and another was seen in A Matter of Loaf and Death. In 2009, as part of the show put on in the exhibition "Wallace & Gromit present a World of Cracking Ideas" at the Science Museum in London, a real A35 van was mocked up to look like the model used in the film.

A 1959 4-door model was used as Beauregard's taxi in the 1981 Muppet movie, The Great Muppet Caper.

Former politician, the right honourable Ann Widdecombe, has appeared in two BBC television programmes reliving and recounting her childhood holidays in an A35. The first was a segment in The One Show where she and Christine Walkden took a trip in an A35. Ann appeared again with the same car in series 1 of Holiday of My Lifetime, this time alongside Len Goodman.

In the French movie Oscar, the second most successful film in France in 1967, starring Louis de Funès and Claude Rich, the latter can be seen driving a black A35 2-door saloon throughout the opening credits, driving through Paris in the early morning hours.

In a 1985/86 RTE Irish language programme Dilin ó dheamhas, an A35 countryman is seen being driven by a character called Dado.

Production
A35 van
  • Saloons A2S5: (two-door) 100,284,
  • Saloons AS5: (four-door) 28,961,
  • Saloons Total: 129,245
  • Van & Countryman, AV5 & AP5: 138,356
  • Van AV6: 13,222
  • Countryman AP6: 74
  • Van AV8 (1098cc): 45,685
  • Van AV8 (848cc): 14,230
  • Pick-up: 477
  • CKD (completely knocked down) 13,320
  • Total: 354,609

Engines
  • 1956–62 - 948 cc A-Series I4, 34 hp (25 kW) at 4,750 rpm and 50 lb·ft (68 Nm) at 2,000 rpm
  • 1962–66 - 1,098 cc A-Series I4, 55 hp (41 kW) at 5,500 rpm and 61 lb·ft (83 Nm) at 2,500 rpm (van)
  • 1963–68 - 848 cc A-Series I4, 34 hp (25 kW) at 5500rpm and 44 lb·ft (60 N·m) at 2,900rpm (van)
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References
  1. Culshaw; Horrobin (1974). Complete Catalogue of British Cars. London: Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-16689-2.
  2. Sedgwick, Michael; Gillies (1993). A-Z of cars 1945–1970. UK: Bay View Books. ISBN 1-870979-39-7.
  3. Adams, Keith. "Austin A30/A35". www.aronline.co.uk. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  4. "The Austin A35 de luxe two-door saloon". The Motor. 21 November 1956.
  5. HRDC

Further reading
  • Post War Baby Austins (1988) Sharratt, Barney ISBN 0-85045-710-6
  • Austin A30 & A35 Super Profile (1985), Henson, Kim, Haynes Publishing Group ISBN 0-85429-469-4
  • Austin A30 & A35 1951 - 1962, Brooklands Books, ISBN 0-907073-70-0
  • Allen, Michael (1985). British Family Cars of the Fifties. Haynes Publishing Group. ISBN 0-85429-471-6.

http://www.austina30a35ownersclub.co.uk

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