Austin A35 van

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Introduced in 1956, the Austin A35 was a much-improved version of its A30 predecessor.

The name reflected the fact that it used a larger 35bhp A-Series 948cc engine as found in the new Morris Minor 1000. This powerplant gave the little Austin surprisingly good performance for its class and even led to some saloon car racing successes during the late-50's – indeed several A35s are still being campaigned in historic races today, often humbling much larger machines with their pace and agility.

Very similar to the A30 in appearance, the A35 is distinguished by a larger front grille (with painted slats instead of chrome), a larger rear window, remote control gear-change and flashing turn signal indicators in place of semaphore arms. It was a huge success with the buying public and some 130,000 A35 saloons were sold before it was replaced with the Farina-styled A40 in 1959.

A van version of the A35 was also produced from the outset which proved so popular that it remained in production right up until 1968. One of the most celebrated A35 van owners was legendary F1 racer and hell-raiser, James Hunt, who used one as his daily driver in London until his death in 1993. “I can put everything I learnt in motor racing into driving it round the Wandsworth one-way system on a wet Saturday night, blow off all the Ferraris and nobody takes a blind bit of notice,” he told Practical Classics magazine in 1993.

This example originally started work for a fleet delivery company in Dudley, however was soon replaced with a more modern (?) fleet of Morris vans which helps account for its sub 30,000 miles, a figure which the vendor believes to be correct.

In more recent times it was purchased by a gentleman who ran a tea-shop in nearby Clungunford. He spent a lot of money bringing the vehicle up to scratch, having it sign-written and placing it outside his shop to encourage business. It passed into the vendor's hands in 2006, although he hasn't divulged whether he bought it to take on all-comers up the Ludlow bypass or use for more practical purposes.

The history file comes with a number of MOTs and invoices for restoration work by Hopton Heath Garage in Craven Arms. It is fitted with a rear seat which was a common option on these vans, turning them into practical family transport, escaping the crippling purchase tax as long as no side windows were fitted.

Running and driving, it will need a small amount of welding to the passenger floor and a thorough recommissioning before use. These cute little vans have a cult following amongst a much wider audience than just F1 drivers and this one looks particularly good value at its modest guide price.