Austin A35

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Discussion

ClaphamGT3

Original Poster:

11,376 posts

246 months

Monday 24th June
quotequote all
Hi

Looking to source the wisdom of PH.

Younger daughter is 14, a bit of a handful, not getting on too well with her mother and has something of a propensity to spend her time gaming with her friends &/or shopping & 'hanging out' rather than anything too purposeful.

She does quite like cars and - prompted by us seeing one recently - has become quite taken by the idea of an Austin A35 for us to go to events in and, maybe, tweak a little to use in low key competitions.

Although, in normal circumstances, I would consume my own vomit before parting with my hard-earned for a 'peanut', the game changes if it's something that Claphamette 2 becomes interested in.

My issue is that, when I started looking into it, I naively assumed that there would be a plentiful supply of the things. What I am finding is that 2 doors are very rare and that the few that are on the market are either sub £2k basket cases, tarted-up horrors that haven't seen the inside of an MOT bay for 10 years at £5k or full on Speedwell replicas at £20k +

Looking at E-bay, Car and Classic and the A35 owners club (which all seem to be rotted hulks that have been festering on drives for 30 years or Betty selling Sid's long-time pride and joy now that she's had to put Sid into a home)

Any smart ideas that I've missed for where to find a decent A35?

ClaphamGT3

Original Poster:

11,376 posts

246 months

Monday 24th June
quotequote all
blue_haddock said:
I could put you in touch with a guy called Neil Evans who is the technical guy for the austin A30/35 club, he may know of any possibilities.
That would be awesome thanks - really appreciated!

I am also learning that most A35 owners have a total aversion to London and the ones that are for sale are miles away

ClaphamGT3

Original Poster:

11,376 posts

246 months

Monday 24th June
quotequote all
Chunkychucky said:
Turbobanana said:
Chunkychucky said:
Whilst i've got my anorak on, that picture was from one of the HRDC amalgamation races at Mallory Park, opening it up to all A35s built to HRDC regs - the cars at the front with body coloured roofs being the faster Speedwell-specification cars. Not surprised the values are rising tbf, even in the 22 years i've been following A35s racing i've seen countless cars rolled in to a ball or involved in a big one...
My bad, I didn't check, I just Googled "A35 Academy".
All good! beer I'm all for seeing some A35 pron posted on PH, fortunately not everyone is 'special' enough to simultaneously ruin their A35 and their bank balance like i've done... paperbag

As another poster suggested, it may be worth considering something other than an A35 - they're cute, but it can be a slippery slope when you start modifying one.. in all honesty I still get a good laugh taking my dad's bog-standard car out and driving it on the doorhandles whilst just about managing 50mph, although the braking distances do take some getting used to!
I have tried to get her thinking about;

- Lancia Fulvia rally replica
- Riley One-Point-Five in period saloon car racing spec
- Frog-eye Sprite in period club racing spec

All get a "Nah; I'd like an A35 please" response