Austin A35 - A Very British, Little Van!

This Austin A35 is a plucky little van. Born in the postwar period, this van and others like it were the backbone of the British Isles. The Austin A35 did everything - from moving families with relative comfort to transporting goods and cargo. It even had a surprisingly successful stint in circuit racing!
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[@danieljames2015]

My Mum had a A30 4 door saloon in the 60s, when I was a little kid in the UK. This brought back the memories of that lovely dash and huge steering wheel, the choppy but nippy ride along the Hertfordshire lanes, and especially the distinct interior ( pleasant) aroma of a British 50s car. I loved the bonnet ( sorry Hood) Austin badge release. Nice memories. You have exquisite taste, Sir.

[@hoodagooboy5981]

Sayin this little car had a "Big Block" put a smile on my face. I use to have a Geo Metro with the 1.3L- 4 cyl. motor, when most of them had the 1 liter 3 cyl. I would tell people it had the factory big block. Wish I had kept it what with gas prices are now.

[@johndavey72]

This brought back memories Donald. An A30 van was my late brothers very first "wheels " at 17 in 1964. Donald , the A30 was 803cc the A35 was 948 cc , there never was a 998cc in this series . Although this little "hot rod "may have a 998 cc but more likely a 1098cc or 1275cc . Donald you really must watch "Wallace and Gromit " a hilarious animated series that featured a man and his dog and of course the Austin A30 . It is British humour at it's very best and l think you would thoroughly enjoy it , as would your co-pilot ! Thankyou Donald

[@williamschoemann4209]

I love cars that smile. And of course, many observers can't help but return the smile.

[@robertp.wainman4094]

I remember my Father's little grey A35 van well - I was so excited as we travelled in it to collect my very first bicycle from the store in Hull England! You really captured the spirit of the A35 - and I was most surprised to learn that the great industrial designer Raymond Loewy was responsible for it's cute looks. A lovely video - thank you!

[@marcusbrutus1999]

I echo the Brit comments made on this post. I was born in London in 1951, so remember the A30/35 well. My uncle owned a A35 saloon/sedan. We preferred the Morris Minor because it was a bit wider and had rack and pinion steering. Austin of course, donated its 'A' series engine to the Minor as we all know. Coincidentally, the magazine, 'Classic and Sports Car' had a feature on the A30/35 in its July edition. They say the pick-up is the most valuable, followed by the vans! Thanks Donald for featuring this great little car.

[@arkhsm]

My first car was an A30 with a later 948cc engine in it. These baby Austin's are character personified !!

[@michaelbenardo5695]

This is what we here in North America call a Sedan Delivery - a vehicle that resembles a 2 door station wagon with no side windows and a rear door instead of a tailgate.

[@henryhol8538]

I did not realise these were sold on the States! A recreation of the similar larger Morris Commercial van is being manufactured here in the UK as electric!

[@frglee]

As said, in the UK in the 50s and 60s, these simple little vehicles were used by the small tradesmen - like the grocer for deliveries or for the plumber to do his calls in. Growing up, I remember seeing them everywhere, cheerfully puttering about along the country roads or the city streets. The ubiquitous, influential and long-lived BMC 'A' series engine was designed for the A35s predecessor, the Austin A30 in 1951 powering many other models right up until 2000.

[@tim.timothy.brennan]

Remember as being young going in to the garage and sitting in my Dad's van and imagining I was driving it. Also as a family outing, my parents and two sisters in back seat with myself and Dog behind middle seat in the back waving to the traffic!

[@spotsterjon74cu]

My Grandad had an A35 van with rear windows, when Grandad said to my uncle he should get one, my uncles car had just broken down at the time, my uncle said I don’t f*#£ing want one of them. I now think they are great little things now although, I agreed with my uncle at the time! Great video brought a smile to my face. Thanks

[@AudrainMuseumNetwork]

Thanks for watching! Puts a smile on our faces that we could evoke some good memories. If you haven't already, please consider subscribing - we'd love to have you as part of our growing KZbin family!

[@damxgopak457]

Looks like a ton of fun .

[@melvinburwell8202]

Anything Austin is cool. The original mini van. Interesting and right hand drive. Mr. Utility vehicle Osborne. ❤❤😊👍🤑😎

[@andynixon2820]

I found out from an embarrassed parent that I was concieved in the back of an A35 van - it was the summer of love . Told this to a cousin and to my astonishment that was exactly how he came into the world as well but a few years earlier . Not the same van I might add . Apparently they weren't just used for light commercial duties .

[@arkhsm]

Tiny mobile love shacks ?!

[@andynixon2820]

@@arkhsm yes , the tiny British 60s equivalent of an American 70s boogie van .

[@darrylmcleman6456]

Fine Business!!! CHEERS from Westcoast Canada!

[@user-tv4zy4px7b]

This.van. brings childhood memories in. the==60s era my uncle had five.of these he used. to own.a.laundry.and.dry cleaning.business.in.durban south. Africa 👍👍👍🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦

[@AudrainMuseumNetwork]

Taking care or business in style! Thanks for sharing!

[@ukman9797]

Good reveiw sir. And you look mighty fine too.

[@herrunsinn774]

10:43 Just to prove the point that the car gets noticed, in the closing scene, the bicyclist on the side of the road turns his head to watch the A35 as it goes by. 😍

[@AudrainMuseumNetwork]

Had to leave that in there!

[@user-cf7zs5rm4r]

I would love to see a show on early vans/trucks they are such a neglected class of vehicle when it comes to the classic automobiles=

[@FunAtDisney]

Only Donald could pull off wearing a bowtie and sports jacket while driving around an old Austin utility van, and look right doing it!

[@eddkennedy6458]

Great review my dad had one in the early seventys, it was a reliable little workhorse.

[@Leonard-gz3ml]

Its real beauty, I love to two tone colour.

[@jamesonpace726]

Awsomely cool....

[@blackdog850]

...And the word for today is: Commodious. LOL, just say spacious, roomy and comfortable. No need for wordy banter. 😄

[@stephenholland5930]

Looks like your trafficators weren't working, Donald. Great video.

[@AudrainMuseumNetwork]

During its restoration, it was decided to switch the indicators to bulbs on the corners of the car, but the trafficators remain for aesthetic purposes.

[@techn1kal1ty]

You are correct in your assumption that I have clicked the subscribe button, and the bell.

[@AudrainMuseumNetwork]

Thank you!!!

[@dr.aculasdad2713]

At the time of their building, one did not pay Sales Tax if there were no side windows in the load area. The downside? you were limited to 40MPH, even on the new M1 motorway ! In 1968, I drove one from London to Barcelona, three adults, one child, and a swag of camping gear.

[@frglee]

I think after a certain number of years (10?) you were allowed to put windows in the rear without paying the tax. (I can remember watching a neighbour cutting the window holes on one in the street in the 60s) People sometimes put in rear seats as well as flip up front seats in these, and as such they could make a cheap and serviceable little family runabout. When money is tight, people are forced to be inventive.

[@twistedaxles9126]

Kinda wierd to see it without a dull blue paintjob, red siren and pest control stickers

[@AudrainMuseumNetwork]

A little more exciting this way, isn't it?

[@WolfandCatUnite]

nice

[@SimpleCarGuy]

What happened to the dapper mustache and goatee!!???

[@scubatrucker6806]

Similar looks of a london taxis❤❤❤

[@tturtle1659]

It figures - those were an Austin design too.

[@scubatrucker6806]

@@tturtle1659 I didn't know they were Austin designs

[@tturtle1659]

@@scubatrucker6806look up "Austin FX4", the original came from Austin but production was by a separate coach-building company, Carbodies who eventually took over the rights for the design. The current TX4 is a retro design made (in the UK) by a subsidiary of China's Geely (yes)...

[@Ribeirasacra]

Wallace and Gromit.

[@chillipeppaboris172]

From 1964 the engine size was 1098cc. There never was a production 1275cc.

[@glpilpi6209]

If memory serves BMC offered the economy option of the 848 mini engine in the final few years of production as well .

[@yugotime1598]

Does it have a brake dragging? You can hear a rhythmic metallic sound when coming to a stop.

[@markstokes5365]

Can I just correct you with one thing please, the A35 came with a 948cc engine, and not a 998cc. The later a35 vans did also come with a 1098 and extremely late vans With an 850cc engine.

[@larrysmith6797]

Unlike Jay, Donald keeps up with traffic. Please tell me you didn't buy the wrong Monaco wristwatch. You should be wearing the model with the original Caliber 11 movement, the grown on the left side of the case and Heuer on the face. Not the Caliber 02 with the crown on the right and the godawful "TAG Heuer" on the face.

[@aeronca65t]

Great video! That van is a real beauty! Interesting that it has rack & pinion steering. So does my A35 2-door and it was a complex modification. I think my A35 is the only one that is currently vintage racing in the US. Here's a video of mine from Fall '23. - kzbin.info/www/bejne/fobXlYRjir2Ifdk