1962 Austin A35 Van

Registration No: OEJ 665
Chassis No: A-AV8/13582
MOT: Exempt

• The subject of restoration work in recent years
• Some £4,500 of parts purchase
• Front disc brake conversion and other uprgades
• Original owner's manual and a collection of spare parts included

Introduced in 1956, the Austin A35 could be had as a two- or four-door saloon, two-door Countryman estate or Van. The latter became a familiar sight the length and breadth of the UK serving tradesmen and delivery drivers alike. Powered by three different A-Series OHV four-cylinder engines during its twelve-year production life, the diminutive commercial was surprisingly fun to drive thanks to the provision of independent front suspension, a well-located hypoid rear axle and hydraulic drum brakes. With so many worked into the ground, survivors are comparatively few and far between.

First registered in the UK on 9th October 1962 and destined for Evans Motors Limited, Camarthen and then likely, Lloyd Motors, Aberayron (dealer sticker on the car) for Thomas Davies of Treberfedd Farm, Lampeter, and just 1 former keeper is recorded on the V5C. Accompanied by a BMIHT certificate, in 2020, the owner has taken the time to put the van back on its original 1962 issued registration number ‘OEJ 665’, as recorded manually in a copy of a local authority ‘Record of Motor Vehicles’ on file.

In recent years the van has been the subject of restoration work to bring the condition back to a usable and conserved condition. There are many invoices on file for parts purchased at a cost in excess of £4,500, many from ESM Morris Minors Ltd. In 2021 and 2022, amongst the items supplied: the front horseshoe, a new rear bumper, wheel bearings rocker and sump gaskets, rear chassis legs, poly bushes, rear hangers, back axle hub and pinion seal, gearbox front cover and a clutch kit. Additionally, work on the braking system included the rear brake frame cylinder assembly and a front disc brake conversion.

The engine received new big ends and mains, pistons and rings, thrust bearings, oil and water pumps, a duplex timing chain, a spin-off oil filter conversion, alternator conversion, alloy radiator, leads, plugs, points, a reconditioned exchange unleaded cylinder head, fuel pump, pipes and SU carb filters. Body panels purchased from ESM included front and rear panels, kick and sill panels. Inside there is an aftermarket rev counter, map light and a modern radio unit. Accompanying the little van are a couple of period Austin books, collection of spares and a current V5C.

For more information, please contact:
James McWilliam
james.mcwilliam@handh.co.uk
07943 584760