Austin A35 Van

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There is no history to accompany this 1963 Austin A35 van, but whoever did the work did a first-class job: it really is a little cracker.

The bodywork looks very solid and shows no signs of patching suggesting that it has lead a sheltered life, which in itself is unusual (it is a van, after all). CMU 656A has been repainted and it looks as though as much attention was paid to painting the inside as the outside - again an unusual feature, even the engine bay is spick and span.

The upholstery has also benefited from some first class work, with the seats re-upholstered in heavy-duty vinyl and looking better than new. The van has been fitted with a rear-seat conversion and rear side windows, which makes it an even more practical proposition and, as an added bonus, the seats fold down to increase the luggage capacity.

The under-bonnet appeal is increased by the presence of a 1,275cc A-series engine, believed to be from an Austin Healey Sprite – a belief supported by the 12CE engine number. Fortunately, there is just enough room in the engine bay to accommodate the twin SU carburettors and their perky little K & N air filters.

The 55bhp from the Sprite engine certainly gives the van a little bit of extra oomph compared with the standard engine’s 45bhp and our man on the spot – no stranger to hot-rodded classics – was suitably impressed. It is, perhaps, just as well that the van is also blessed with front disc brakes and very recent Firestone Multihawk radials (including an unused spare).

The recorded mileage is 38,885, which, judging from the underlying condition of the van could be original but is not supported by any documentary evidence. The van had its last MOT in August 2017 when it passed with no advisories and has had little use since. It is, of course, tax- and MOT-exempt.