Lot number | 105 |
---|---|
Hammer value | £5,600 |
Description | Austin A35 Van |
Registration | JAX 551D |
Year | 1966 |
Colour | Blue |
Engine size | 998 cc |
Chassis No. | AAV8-56403 |
Engine No. | 41492 |
Documents | V5C |
Found hidden away in an old toy factory in Swansea, our vendor rescued this charming little 1966 A35 van and set about sympathetically restoring it about 12 years ago.
He undertook the project by himself, enlisting the help of a few friends with particular skill sets, the project taking about two years to complete.
The body was stripped and repainted, new tyres fitted, along with a new stainless exhaust, a new loom and the engine serviced and checked over. The seats were re-covered and the interior includes a rear bench seat which is present, although currently not fitted.
As the work was done piecemeal and by his group of friends, there are no invoices or documents to support all this, but a cursory look over and under the van confirms what was done.
Understood to run and drive well, it has seen little use since completion. The last time it was presented for an MOT (although obviously now exempt) was in January 2017 which it passed without any advisories recorded and showing 16,403 miles. Please note that the speedometer has been changed and the mileage showing is not correct; The vendor is reluctantly offering this lovely old van for sale due to lack of use and suggests it would likely benefit from a service as it has been sitting around for a while.
With recent strong performance at auction, A35 vans are certainly ones to watch offering simple DIY mechanics, usability and oodles of charm. You may have noticed we haven't mentioned Wallace and Gromit yet....oh, we just did!