In Colour! - THE AUSTIN A35 - MAKING THE MOST OF IT - PATHE NEWS 1956

A brand new Austin A35 is plucked from the assembly lines at Longbridge and taken on a 524 mile RAC road test!

[@Thereishope664]

Don't you just love it, a strict RAC test yet it's lunch and a few beers in the Kings Arms. When England was great.

[@skiddmark7153]

And having a good puff on a fag walking round the factory 😂the good old days.

[@tdr2512]

Is it still there I used to frequent the premises I the 90,s

[@Thereishope664]

I wouldn't know, but many pubs have closed.@@tdr2512

[@scaryfakevirus]

That Hotel is still a very good stop over. Excellent place and friendly staff too. And no, I don't work there.

[@nr5494]

Back when we had our priorities right, and regularly got pissed at lunchtime 🤣

[@charlesclement383]

I wish we could go back to these days. Seriously.

[@SurreyAlan]

When it took half a day to get from South London and round the Staines by pass and all day to get to South Devon.

[@davidjoy7654]

@@SurreyAlan Well yes, but there was a richness in the way we interacted and treated one another. Days before celebrity and social media which brings out the worst in people. We have lost something that we will never see again. Oh and most were proud of our history and standing in the world. Now we are led by, well not statesmen or women.

[@robgraham9234]

@@davidjoy7654we were lead by gormless horay Henrys back then, just as now, but 2 world wars meant they could no longer spin the lie that the “ordinary “ person in the street owed their living to the upper classes. Now we are sleep walking back into feudalism.

[@thesheepman220]

@@SurreyAlan why rush your life away

[@flipper2392]

I used to think that, but we'd have to live through the last 50 years all over again, getting shittier all the time.

[@stevedoubleu99B]

Fantastic stuff!! Did anyone else think a couple of those overtakes were a bit dodgy?

[@jamescourt4703]

Well dodgy!

[@user-jy8mo5fi5q]

approaching a blind bend and what's more the A55 followed through behind him.

[@PaulinesPastimes]

Yes! Into a blind corner and it must have been flat out with nothing in reserve.

[@Jungleland33]

Terrible driving.

[@kevinsenior8155]

Agreed.... shocking overtaking on blind bends.

[@neildelaney5199]

Back when you could actually tell one make of car from another make of car, lovely memories

[@fenrislegacy]

Now, they all look like electric shavers

[@SunofYork]

Pieces of junk. I owned them all including an A35 van. I run a Toyota Camry now...... Wife's 2007 Camry has total repairs =1 sun visor. I owned all the British bikes too. Similar junk. My Kawasaki 1000 SX tourer was a techno miracle.. No wonder British cars and bikes faded away... 3 years = crumbling rust.

[@neildelaney5199]

@@SunofYork I dare say many cheaper cars built back in the mid 50s were not "Brilliant", but they did all look different ,and you could tell one make or model from another at a fair distance,, perhaps it's me but they all look the same these days?

[@SunofYork]

@@neildelaney5199Indeed they have to pass wind tunnel tests so they do look alike ...apart from american Suvs/pick up trucks that are square fronted to look big and tough and intimidating...until a skinny meth user in check shorts and a goatee beard gets out... lol... However we must chose... get you home at 3am for 20 years, or look interesting/break down/for 3 years.. I have married 3 times so I am more the latter with no room to talk

[@leonardgoldberg2879]

We used to have such a lovely Country.

[@KRAMPUS1933]

If I could buy a one way no return family ticket to 1956 I would take it without hesitation

[@johanvangelderen6715]

Woukd you accept less advanced medical care and lower life expectancy they had back then

[@KRAMPUS1933]

@@johanvangelderen6715 In terms of the present situation insofar as who controls the medical establishment nowadays and their nefarious motives together with the fact that people generally live longer as a result of advances in nutrition and lifestyle - which I would take with me... Yes...

[@tonychettleburgh8953]

Get me one too !!!

[@johnsherborne3245]

I love the way the commentator remarks how reliable the car was. It was brand new!

[@son-of-a-gun]

I once bought a brandnew British car... a Morris marina! It was the worst car ever. It rusted in the catalog already....what a crappy car it was! Repairs after repairs untill I sold it and bought a vw beetle. The beetle was the very best. It never let me down.

[@thecorbies]

Have a look at a thing called 'the bathtub curve', or MTBF (Mean Time Before Failure) statistics, and you'll see that actually it is VERY significant.

[@johnsherborne3245]

@@son-of-a-gun back in the Marina era I worked at a corrosion research lab. I saw a journal article where the people at BL had set up a whole car test chamber. Marina body shells rusted through in 24 hours. Ironically I ran a Morris Minor, c1960, which shared a lot of mechanical bits, I ran my minor for four years, it was a heap, 14 years old, it had 36,000 miles before I had it. I changed engines three times, cylinder heads twice, replaced the brakes for 9” drums, changed the gearbox four times, even the diff once after a shed tooth in the gear box sheared a half shaft. Apart from that it was a great car! I only sold it when the bracket fungus was getting a bit much. I sold it for what I paid. Foolishly I then had Vauxhall victor, before, like you discovering that VW built cars that really worked.

[@leoroverman4541]

That was almost 70 years ago. make of that what you will, plus most motorists could have got going again, no plug in computers. Compression, Spark, fuel.

[@scaryfakevirus]

@@son-of-a-gun Marinas were definitely the worst car ever!

[@roconnor01]

My late father had one of those. To think we managed to fit a family of four's luggage for our annual summer holiday into one of those tiny little cars. I seemed to recall that it was reliable ; I suppose because it was so simple, there was very little to go wrong. Happy days.🙂

[@scaryfakevirus]

You didn't get in it - you put it on!

[@Levenstone132]

People were somewhat trimmer. Not drive-thru in sight!

[@IAN-do7zq]

My granddad worked as a toolmaker at the Austin plant in Longbridge until his retirement in 1962. He qualified for staff discount on new models, but because he couldn’t drive, he bought my Dad’s first car instead - a blue A35 for which I still have the original purchase invoice. He always told me he had an optional extra fitted…..a heater!

[@CraigMilesYoutube]

My grandfather was an electrician at Longbridge, until his retirement in 1970. I have the engraved pewter tankard he was given.

[@ThirdDegreeWitchExplores]

Great display of tailgating and overtaking on bends

[@markshrimpton3138]

And frequently taking his eyes of the road to consult the flip pad down on his lap.

[@rogernevin7461]

Or as Punch would say 'that's the way to do it '.

[@davidjoy7654]

Yes on that corner. Phew.

[@markbur1503]

The glory days of motoring, No Ulez or congestion charges. So good to see the old Street Signs and those lovely old petrol pumps that would fetch a few grand today!

[@user-jy8mo5fi5q]

If only they had taken the same attention in rust proofing the cars back in the 50's

[@trevorayson7593]

This is pure gold!

[@son-of-a-gun]

The little car is big enough to transport the whole orchestra!

[@ferraridinoman]

Love it! TOTALLY authentic!!! NEVER stops pissing of rain in the UK! Then or now!

[@nigelbeaumont1109]

That’s exactly what I was thinking…. Thank God I buggered off to the USA in 1987 and haven’t looked back.

[@logotrikes]

The film gave us a nice picture of how life used to be. I think I preferred it then, but in 1956 I was nine years old with not a penny to my name...

[@rogernevin7461]

Totally agree. Notice how clean the streets were ? No loitering on street corners as the local copper on his beat would straighten any 'workie tickets' out.

[@hereandthere4763]

A lot less cars on the road. If only something could be done to reduce the numbers now. Maybe an increase in fuel duty. I'd willingly pay twice as much a litre if it reduced the traffic on the roads by 50%.

[@brentsummers7377]

That fuel economy was impressive - 53 mpg. Just shows what can be done if the car is small and light.

[@barrytipton1179]

My 2 litre diesel Passat did about that not sure with my diesel yeti now I’m retired never warms up I never check new I used do 30k plus a year lucky do 30 a month

[@Johnnycdrums]

How many c.c.?

[@robstaley3051]

That is an Imperial Gallon.

[@barrytipton1179]

@@robstaley3051 yes it is Great Britain the home of imperial measure we buy in litres now in those days was gallons

[@peterduxbury927]

@@Johnnycdrums I think that the early A35 was 848cc. I owned a 1965 A35 Van. Engines got bigger from around 1963, and my A35 Van was 1098cc. The economy of the test A35 - leads me to believe that it was a 848cc version. It was a bad vehicle. Rod brakes (at the rear), operated by a Slave Cylinder. I had things go wrong, like a couple of broken Half Shafts. Steering was a problem, because mine had worn King Pins. I repaired all of these things, only to fight a losing battle against rot & rust. Three years old - and put to rest in a Scrap Yard. Was my very first vehicle. And (yet), I tortured myself, watching 12 minutes of this. I've gone up in the world, since the 'bad 'ole days, and I drive a 1971 Tesla -powered Electric Beetle. Greetings from a hot Australia.

[@trondog8503]

No coasting down hill with the engine idling or switched off! Fantastic!!

[@johnlong8082]

Into the ‘King’s arms’ for lunch. They were the days.

[@robotmad]

It would probably explain those scary overtaking manoeuvres and tailgating. LOL

[@johnlong8082]

@@robotmad Very true, I bet the old drum brakes were nearly on fire after that. 👍

[@solentbum]

The Kings Arms is still there, open for business.

[@johnlong8082]

@@solentbum Good to know some things don’t change.

[@thebrothers3971]

@@solentbumI had to check on Gmaps earlier . The road is a little different.

[@roadrunner708]

My dad had a similar A35 van which he converted with rear windows and a seat, then brush painted it maroon. We went all over the UK on holidays and it never failed us, even when a brand new MK2 Cortina crashed us sideways. He sold it only when we could see tarmac through holes in the floor, but patched it up and got £67 trade in. If only motoring was simple nowadays...

[@blackpoolrox6475]

My Dad had the A35 van too. Not converted with rear seats as he used it for his business, but those interior shots of the dashboard sure brought back some lovely memories. Also, I could recognise the exhaust note of an A35 blindfold. Beautiful sound!

[@stanelder9995]

I loved the guys smoking everywhere, including on the assembly line and at the petrol station! :)

[@nr5494]

😄 At least he put it behind his back when the attendant started filling!

[@fredfarnackle5455]

I remember when I was lad, back in the early 50's I think, my Dad had an old car that had the petrol tank under the bonnet - at the back up against the 'firewall'. He had a (ahem) black market gallon can of petrol and had the bonnet open to fill the car. I watched him doing it and noticed that the petrol was running down his fingers - in which was a lighted cigarette! How he got away with it I have no idea. 🫣😳

[@treforjones6289]

I had an A35 4-door and I used to get 50mpg. Could do most of the servicing myself. A great little car.

[@robgraham9234]

Yes, but 40 mph was high speed travel, you had to attend to the grease points every few hundred miles, full service every 3000miles, complete rebuild of suspension at 30000 miles, rebuild engine and gearbox at 50000 miles and it would rust into oblivion at 6years. These awful modern cars require an oil change every 2 years and easily do 200,000 miles with nowt but routine servicing.

[@nigelbeaumont1109]

Brilliant response

[@terrystevens5261]

Why would a A series engine need a rebuild at 50.000 miles?@@robgraham9234

[@SloopyDog]

I had A35 cars, vans and estates in the 60s. I loved them. The best vehicle ever made in my opinion. I wish they still made them I would buy one.

[@charliepower9192]

My uncle had one in the late sixtys, It had a special addition to it , you could see the lines at the junctions through the floor as I remember when in it 🤣

[@bruceburns1672]

It is hard to believe now, a country like Britain which was once a world power which had massive industrial capability and production could absolutely and thoroughly destroy it and today has nothing to speak of, these small cars were possibly at the time the best the world had to offer and Britain at that time was the second largest manufacturers of autos in the world and the largest exporters of autos in the world, from then on nothing but Union anarchy and chaos and the total destruction of Britain's industrial base.

[@columbmurray]

I was there ! The Marxist played their full part and the workers followed like sheep.

[@jimdavis6448]

After WW2 we had an advantage for a few years over other more war damaged countries but they could make good cars also so they caught up . Probably poor management contributed to the labour tensions and respect for the people that made the product . We were living on borrowed time from the Empire days and we didn't adjust to the change .

[@solentbum]

The Unions got the blame for poor management. When well paid workers go on strike over a broken tea machine it tells me that Management style is mainly to blame.

[@bruceburns1672]

@@solentbum You need to look at some of the videos from the days of Red Robbo the communist running amok destroying the British car industry, 60% of management time was spent dealing with Union demands, meanwhile the Japanese got on with the job and replaced all British made cars with reliable less rusty affordable vehicles .

[@robertsmelt6638]

Yeah, utter bollocks. We still export a colossal amount of high tech products.

[@steftymo]

Pre-Red Robbo days at Longbridge.

[@dawnkennedy3583]

Red Robbo was working there at the time.

[@beaufighter245]

@@dawnkennedy3583 working?

[@AJ-qn6gd]

Yea working to get the place shut down 😡😡😡😡

[@phillipecook3227]

When I heard " Longbridge" I automatically thought " strikes/British Leyland".

[@nr5494]

Was Robbo the guy fitting wheels who gave them the eye as they squeezed past him?

[@andrewrobinson5813]

I was born in 1956 and 67 years on that A35's fuel consumption matches that of my modern Corsa 1.2 on a long run.

[@petergardner5002]

Averaging more than 31 I hope.

[@p.istaker8862]

@@petergardner5002 Probably not due to the amount of traffic on the roads.

[@_Ben4810]

In the days when Longbridge management could take visitors (& a film crew...) onto the shop floor without having to embarrassingly seek permission from the union shop stewards to actually enter their own works...!?!

[@G-ra-ha-m]

Or negotiation with the diversity officer....

[@johnsherborne3245]

Or ask the visitor to extinguish the ubiquitous cigarette!

[@MrDodgedollar]

Or a three hour induction

[@caliom8427]

I remember in '74 going on a dealer training course at Cowley, we had to walk past the entrances where parts were loaded into the production line. We were told that under no circumstance were we to gaze into the line, as we would end up with the whole factory on strike!

[@johnsherborne3245]

@@caliom8427 in about 76 I was looking for some steel components to demonstrate the corrosion resistance of a new zinc plating process. Some one suggested I visit a local company. It turned out they were stamping MG midget spring pads amongst other bits, I went round the shop. Astonishingly it was a timber framed farm building with a beaten earth floor. I have no idea how the power presses didn’t just dig jokes in the ground, it was a real slum. BL didn’t care, besides I’m sure they never did anything as highfaluting as hating bits to resist rust.

[@bob-sb2zu]

If they were still for sale i'd buy one ,or it's succesor the A40 Farina ,basic straightforward cars and not a silicon chip anywhere !

[@richardbarber3348]

50 years ago I owned- 2nd or 3rd hand- both the A30 and A35s. They were lovely little cars. Oh and I was in Frome last weekend - it hasn't changed much.

[@johnfrancis2215]

Many happy memories of been taken to Skegness in one of those as a 9 year old by my cousins. Great days

[@colvinator1611]

Great video, thanks a lot. Motoring from a golden bygone age.

[@David-uf8ex]

Now this country can barely turn out a sandwich and coffee , heartbreaking

[@dougreddy4904]

At least a sandwich would have some use !!

[@thecorbies]

@@dougreddy4904 If only you could afford it! In any case, it most likely wouldn't even be a sandwich. More like a goat fetter cheese salad in ciabatta, a Humous salad wrap or a Brie, tomato & basil baguette.

[@dougreddy4904]

That certainly sounds like a real Pommie sanga. @@thecorbies

[@alanmcewen6111]

I worked in the tyre retail industry in Australia, one of these came in, the owner went away, hopped it to put it in the fitting bay, floor shift no clutch on the floor shift it had a knob in the centre of the floor gear stick, an electric selinoid clutch, how clever.

[@ijg4427]

1963 I flew across the channel from Southend to Le Touquet and drove to and from the south of France in an Austin A35 1964 I drove from Vancouver Canada in a 1956 Ford V8 1000 kms /600 miles to northern BC both were memorable experiences

[@goodo5691]

Dad had one when i was a kid..green , and i remember him drilling holes in the front guards to fit three small chrome stars on each side:). highlight of my day was when he let me turn on the indicators for him..(big black turn switch on top of the dash with a red light in the middle)

[@richardmcmillan5534]

Not only the dodgy overtakes, but also the tailgating.

[@deanosaur808]

There were very few tailgates in those days 😉😂

[@michaelnewbury2856]

My first 'car' was a second-hand (or third, or fourth...?) A35 Van in tweed grey. It cost me £50 and pegged out in 1970 after about 18 months. I still remember 7283WW with much affection.

[@paulferrara9079]

I had the pleasure of rebuilding one of those little engines for this car. Nice and simple. If only we could get back to a basic car for people who want just simple quality transportation. Yes I am aware these car were far from perfect. Maybe I just like knowing that engine 995 did not talk to it's transmission. And the Hvac vents were controlled by levers and cable at the most, not an expensive plastic box full of plastic gears and circuit boards. : ) Love the hammers they all had at final assemble part of the production line. lol

[@alanhindmarch4483]

My dads first car was a 1957 4 Door A35 in Ice Blue, our Friends had a 1957 A35 in Ice Blue also, but theirs was only a 2 door, so we always thought we were better because it more doors.

[@trevorwarner6196]

What a treat beautiful '50s cars

[@repairworld2367]

We had 2 A35's in the family. Both vans fitted with side windows. As children we were in the back and went on holiday to Brixham from Stourbridge every year and Blackpool every autumn.😊

[@repairworld2367]

50 mpg too🎉🎉

[@jourwalis-8875]

A very nice sight seeing tour in old England!

[@gglen2141]

I have a brother in law in Tokyo who races vintage cars. He has an A-35 modified within an inch of its life. Weirdly, racing A35s is a surprisingly popular thing to do. I like it because an A35 is probably the LAST car I'd use to go racing, but here we are.

[@caliom8427]

Graham Hill began his racing career in one, very popular class in its day apparently.

[@settertwo]

Graham Hill used to race one in the early 1960s !

[@royster3345]

Remember being given a lift in one of these as a kid, even then they felt small, but we still managed three in the rear seat.

[@austingreenough6396]

I have always loved these little cars

[@normanedwards7220]

Ah , the memories, I learned to drive in one of these , it had a nasty habit of breaking half-shafts , ( not my fault , honestly ) but after the first time , watching a mechanic fix it , I could , with practice, ( after about six or seven times ) change a half shift, including getting the broken bit out of the differential, in Olympic gold medal time , ....I even carried spares with me , to hang them at the road side , ....oh the joys of motoring in them days ,

[@paulnolan1352]

That RAC adjudicator looks like professor Stanley unwin, “I’m byloadeefold into the centrimorn until tomoffeemoodeanip”.

[@p.istaker8862]

No Pirelli tyres were used on this test. Deep joy !

[@johnsherborne3245]

@@p.istaker8862 I’m intrigued, I seem to recall Michelin ZX was the tyre to have for longevity, I’m sure Dad did 100,000 on a set. If so, I guess the road holding might have been rather suspect?

[@p.istaker8862]

@@johnsherborne3245 kzbin.info/www/bejne/sGqxY36boZ6Sn8k

[@p.istaker8862]

@@johnsherborne3245 kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6aYh5Wpod5jqdk

[@mattcollier5957]

Fantastic, thanks for posting

[@dechs54321]

Love the overtaking before the bend😃

[@tenparkdrive]

I’ve always wanted one of these.

[@JoseMartinez-og2hy]

How I wish I could turn back time.

[@rogeruk4291]

Fantastic car those were the days! My dad brought a brand new A35 van in old English white ( cream) I was only 2 years old at the time but my parents used to tell me what great holidays they had. Happy days

[@crawfordg]

Great video we had 4 of these cars in our family over the years including a van and a van with windows but I do not recall 50 mpg! But I remember 58 mph flat out on a good day!

[@jimdavis6448]

Yes that film was 1956 & Suez Crisis which made people think about mpg . I was thinking the A35 might get 40 mpg tops with a careful driver .

[@spamhead]

⁠@@jimdavis6448 The A35 would easily give 40mpg running around. My 1000 mini admittedly a bit smaller, but still an A series engine, would get 43 mpg on short journeys(3-4 miles) from cold, and 55 on longer journeys if I held it below 60 mph. Of course, the earlier Zenith carbs had to be looked after, especially air filters which tended to get neglected.

[@od5699]

Yes, no seatbelts, no airbags, no breathalyzer, no speed limit, drum brakes and a heavier car - what dangers did we expose ourselves to in those days, but wait, seatbelts, airbags, breathalyzers, superior brakes and we have to reduce the speed to 20mph?

[@keepitsimple4now]

This was my first car after I passed my test back in 1975. It certainly was a fun car and did the job for my first year of my driving experience.. fond memories

[@jokermaan1]

Mine too. In 1966. Great litlle car.

[@metricstormtrooper]

The driver didn't stick to the rules, he was over the unbroken centre line on several occasions.

[@solentbum]

At the time it was 'lawful' even though stupid.

[@farnthboy]

At 6.49 it states the RAC man was watching the lass fill up the car - we all know he was actually watching her cute little arse.

[@Richie90090]

Thanks as always Matt

[@frank1672]

My old dad had one as you can see all the windows fogged up! He could get up on two wheels going quickly around sharp bends pretty cool. Had loads inside going for pick-nicks in the Shoreham Valley happy days lovey little motor. Would I get another not bloody likely

[@keithwalker6892]

AGREED. That’s what happens when you think you know every thing. I worked on the Boeing727 in 1971 as an engineer. Boeing listened to the airlines and made the aircraft size to suit the airline and sold about 1700 of these. Similar British aircraft too small and only sold about 250.

[@chrispenn715]

Amazing 'flip' paint on the A35 😂 One minute grey, then beige, then orange! Better than TVR's efforts. Enjoyed the road scenes - lots of great classics like the Jaguar mkV and a Rolls Royce 20/25 along the way. 😃

[@septembersurprise5178]

Was the camera car a Bentley? Just caught a glimpse of the hood ornament a time or two. Wonder what sort of fuel mileage the camera car achieved considering the slow overall speeds.

[@daddybob6096]

@@septembersurprise5178 I think it was either an A50 or an A55, did you not see the Austin flying A emblem? My eldest brother bought a new A35 two door such as the featured car, when he got jilted by the girl he was planning to marry, back in the mid 50s. I was 15/16 yo, he was pretty cut up about that. I drove his A35 several times back then, it was a lovely little car with plenty of pep, (for those days). Bob. 83yo. New Zealand Veteran.

[@septembersurprise5178]

@@daddybob6096 Hello Bob. No I did not see, or rather I didn't recognize the Austin flying A emblem. I mistook it for an Bentley emblem. Old cars, for me are something akin too time traveling , triggering so many memories , as I suspect they do for many. Memories, "...little threads that hold life's patches of meaning together." - Mark Twain

[@rsc9520]

These Pathé documentaries are the best! Great narrator!

[@nygelmiller5293]

These videos seem to me so "cheery", that they seem to be glossing over something, in a superficial way!

[@kazoo864]

I love this video! May be dorky to today’s standards, but it show history in the making. The car old maps black & white, some color tinting, plastic narration. Plus a cute car. Europe is so far ahead of the USA, on cars and mpg! 50mpg, 1/2 way through! I’ll keep my, comments about the US auto and petroleum business, to myself!

[@geoffhanmer6966]

I’m not sure how they managed 50+ mpg without towing it after the more or less inevitable breakdown, but a very interesting film. I think James Hunt had an A35 van; he enjoyed the handling, apparently.

[@michaelpielorz9283]

Miles were shorter those days?

[@nr5494]

Probably went better after the decoke at the half way mark

[@raypurchase801]

Driving slowly. I recall a special economy contest in about 1981, set up by BL to show the new Metro's phenomenal economy compared with the equivalent Renaults and VWs. The Metros did well, but an A35 beat the the whole lot and came first.

[@deanosaur808]

So many haters in the comments. They were great little cars and we're very reliable! Get over it 🤡

[@45sunnybank48]

In the 1960's I had a much older cousin who was a scrapper and he sold one of these to my mom for me as a surprise for my 11th birthday, it cost £3 and me and my mate Johnny raced the daylights out of it around the paddock at my uncles until the differential gave up, it was shiney black with bright red seats, door cards and carpets. Ma then sold it to a lad doing up a mini as he wanted a few bits off it, think they all had A series engines plus 2 after market dials, volt meter and oil pressure. She would have made a good car saleswoman as she got £3 for it and he had to remove it from the paddock not just take the bits he wanted. I have fond memories of that little car and had considered buying one until I saw what a good one goes for, a bit more than £3

[@garygray8226]

for usa readers, what are door cards?

[@peterduxbury927]

@@garygray8226 It is the Vinyl Trim Panel that is found on the inside of Car Doors. Called Door Cards.

[@Mitch-Hendren]

The trim panels in the inside of the doors that cover the metal behind the handle and window winder .called cards because originally made out of fabric covered laminated cardboard

[@thomasfrancis5747]

Like the way they say the car is built to the finest engineering standards shortly after seeing two blokes going at the painted floorpan with lump hammers....

[@user-ir4dd6dn6g]

my father's first car was a A35 and watching this film, it is strange to see how much the county has changed.

[@nygelmiller5293]

To think, the "A" series engine, was actually used in 39 DIFFERENT models. BUT tey were all afflicted with this unrefined motor, till about 1980 - when it was reworked as the "A" PLUS engine, that finally gave a smooth refined engine tone! Cars transformed! Witness the base model 1300cc Morris Ital, which had a facelift, and a new name to go with it. (Previously the Morris Marina 1300) Our family had both of them. The Ital version, with its A - PLUS engine was a great improvement, which made it a great CAR! Anyone needing to replace their A35 engine, would be well advised to CHANGE it, for one of these A - PLUS engines, in the 1300 size ( the largest A series), and also get improved performance!

[@tectoramia-sz1lu]

Love the uplifting music. It's amazing how the technology has advanced.

[@larkhill2119]

53.7 mpg is better than a modern Mini. So much for progress, The plate is no longer listed in the MoT check.

[@itchyfeet41]

You saved me a job there, thanks.

[@johanvangelderen6715]

An Imperial gallon is larger than a US gallon. So it's 44 mpg per US gallon

[@52robbo]

My first vehicle was a 12 year old A35 van. Absolutely brilliant. Went all over the country, fully loaded without a murmur.

[@See_more....]

When England was a great country and a report was a genuine article.

[@rosewood1]

Some great photo footage with lots of cars from the 1940s. A long test especially at 30 mph and bad typical weather! But today classic cars especially here in Australia are faced with average speeds of 60 mph! which some cars like Prefects will even struggle to reach!

[@farnthboy]

Do a Brocky & put a Holden six in it.

[@garydunn3037]

I thought you Aussie's measured speed in KPH?

[@campacolasworkshop6042]

6:55 quick inspection of the boot(y) all looks good 😂

[@stuartwren5526]

First car was an A 30 which I bought second hand in 1967 for £35. It had Gold Seal replacement engine, and despite being rather rusty, kept going for several years. Easy to work on too. Petrol was 5/11 a gallon and beer 1/5 a pint. Aah, those were the days.!

[@RobertSmith-jl4yw]

Nice to see film of my home planet.

[@poggs9500]

Wonderful old film! love the style of number plate,wish we could use them on modern cars

[@snowwhitehair485]

They still use those exact same black and white number plates in Malaysia, (a former British colony).

[@garethjudd5840]

And finally as a jolly reminder, everyone involved in this film are no longer with us.

[@markbennett9787]

I suppose that if it was acceptable to fly a Spitfire solo with a map strapped to your leg then doing the same thing and even making notes was OK when driving an A35. I had one when I was 21 in 1964, brilliant little car which later on encouraged me to own a Frogeye Sprite.

[@williammatthews9131]

Believe it or not, we still fly with chart strapped to leg...am private pilot with a "Rans s6"...electronic charts...gps etc are good, but still need back up if anything fails, also part of flying training is being able to read charts.😊

[@SunofYork]

My uncle set off from Leeds to go to Cornwall.. No motorways. No M5. He got lost and arrived back home a week later. Didn't know where he had been. Slept in the car. He never did make to Cornwall... I fly to Heathrow from Chicago in 6 hours 50 minutes, then jump in a hire car, get my GPS cracking and whizz down to Cornwall easily and fast... Wife's motor is a Toyota Camry 2024... techno miracle with an electric water pump etc etc High tech suspension links....wonderful handling...

[@mikecrean8849]

Great to see all the old sights. Loved the music. 🙋‍♂️🇬🇧

[@johnrebus1641]

Imagine 524 miles at 35 MPH ! Thats a similar distance from Adelaide to Melbourne. Even my dad's 845cc Renault Dauphine used to make that journey in less than 10 hours, with 4 passengers & before the South Eastern Freeway.

[@user-jl4iz8ej2z]

This was my first car when I was a kid took months of my paper round money to pay for it great little peanut !!

[@mikebutler3263]

Wonderful, most enjoyable.

[@petercrosland5502]

Splendid what!

[@ferraridinoman]

Can remember buying one of these A35s (1957 model) in south London Ice Blue! (for its registration number in the 1980s) Had been sitting outside for over an year (or longer!)so the owner said,covered in moss and crap,and me and my lovely Dad towed the old girl (brakes still worked) back to Chipping Ongar in sunny Essex. What a bloody mess!. Just for a laugh, it still had its keys in the ignition and tried to turn the engine over! Turned the engine over and The BLOODY SWINE started straight away and ran as sweet as a nut!! (BAST-RD!!) Happy days!

[@rodgreen6021]

My Dad's first car way back when .Long remembered

[@paulhanger7242]

Isn't it sad to think the the once great UK has been destroyed by politicians. They should be ashamed of themselves

[@solentbum]

I wonder which Shell Garage they used for the start/finish, is the one that is now an All Electric forecourt? The A35 van was my dads first new car in 1961. With a fold down passenger seat in the back for me, my brothers carrycot behind that, we went everywhere. I learnt to drive in it as well! It ran well, but died of rust at over 140k miles.

[@itchyfeet41]

They used Cloverdale garage in Lyme Regis where my dad bought a Morris Marina from, complete piece of crap, he should have kept his A35 which was more reliable.

[@abbimilagon5499]

Where did you get this great footage from. Thanks for a awesome upload 👍

[@trevorrandom]

Look up in th right-hand corner...

[@abbimilagon5499]

@@trevorrandom thankyou 👍

[@Mod-rw9cw]

They were renowned for the rubber hoses bursting when the engine started to get hot. Then the cylinder head would crack.

[@bigoldgrizzly]

I inherited my Grandfathers A35 in the early eighties. Full service history, not just from the same garage, but the same mechanic ! It had just over 250,000 miles on the clock when financial circumstances meant I had to part with it. It went to an enthusiast and I dearly wish I could buy it back. ps it must have been older than the one in this video, as it had the old pop out arrow 'trafficators' on the top of the door pillars

[@deanosaur808]

You probably had the a30! They have the smaller rear window

[@bigoldgrizzly]

@@deanosaur808 Yes, you are right, my error. I really needed the money with three toddlers to support,,,,,, they are all in mid 30s now. I did go to an enthusiast and I last saw it on the road, just before covid and it looked a treat ! Glad it's still going strong and being looked after.

[@johnmoulton9728]

After a few pints in the Kings Arms and anything possible

[@stokes8762]

When we were kids in the 70's a mate always said 'look it's Beryl the peril's dad's car' when he saw an A35.

[@davidcoudriet8439]

Great movie! I love these lil cars!

[@campacolasworkshop6042]

I remember using those RAC print outs to navigate to Wales in the early 1970's 😊

[@hirampriggott1689]

Back in the days when Britain was Great Britain.

[@davidhancock91]

Excellent film quality. Amazing

[@gordonholding5621]

My first car was an A35. It was a tough little car but it had a high centre of gravity. You had to really slow down to take bends safely. It was very basic technology by the 1960’s

[@barbaraling8718]

Mine too. Cost fifty pounds second hand in 1968. I learnt to drive in that car and with three friends and loaded with surfboards on the roof rack it took us to Newquay in Cornwall three times. Great memories.

[@ijg4427]

1963 I flew I flew across the channel from Southend to the Le Touquet and drove to tand from he south of France in an Austin A35

[@stableofspeed1217]

I noticed that the when there was a view of the fuel gauge it was always around the quarter mark even after it was filled up. Enjoyed the trip anyway.

[@SpacedOdyssey]

53 mpg form a 948 cc car, fantastic

[@johanvangelderen6715]

44 US gallon mpg.

[@SpacedOdyssey]

@@johanvangelderen6715 We are in England, and the IS English !

[@johanvangelderen6715]

@@SpacedOdyssey Do you still use the Imperal Gallon there. ? My comments are directed at viewers who live in the USA. Our gallons are 20 percent smaller than the Imperial gallon. So when one converts the Imperial gallon into USA gallons the gas mileage is 44 US gallons. Still quite good. Yet not the phenomenal 53 mph Imperial

[@SpacedOdyssey]

@@johanvangelderen6715 But it's a British car made in Birmingham England and filmed in a quintessentially English style and Probably by produced by British Pathé and the MPG is clearly sated, So I'm not sure why you would feel the need to transpose Imperial to US Gallons. The film was made for the British market, had the intended market bee the UK I'm sure the narration would have included it. Just my thoughts of course

[@johanvangelderen6715]

@@SpacedOdyssey I live in the USA. I'm aware that the Imperial gallon would contain more gasoline than a US gallon. My point of reference is the US gallon. Other viewers in the US would like to know how many mpg that car got if measured in US gallons. The Imperial gallon is 1.2 US gallons. So one needs to convert Imperial to US measure. The smaller US gallon means that mpg would be lower in US gallon. Similar concept as converting GBP into Euro. Perhaps you just enjoy arguing?