Will It Drive After 52 Years? UK Barn Find Austin A30

[@andyf750]

Love Claire's smiles & giggles when she's behind the wheel! ❤

[@davidanderson8407]

Great work. Even if the brake and master cylinder don't last overly long ,the learning how they function is priceless.You really did well. You 2 are a great team!!!!!!!

[@mr-wx3lv]

Well done guys. There is something so cute and character full about the A30/35. More so than the mini. You can't fail to like them. Brilliant piece of design work. 👍

[@UKBarnFinds]

Couldn’t agree more, my first car was a classic mini and don’t get me wrong I still love them but as you say there is something really special about the A30. They look great, sensible price point and great fun to work on. As soon as I saw PPW it was love at first sight! - Claire

[@FatBenny71]

What a beautiful journey! Been following PPW's story from the beginning and now realise I wasn't ready for it to end. Thank you so much Elton and Claire. Please keep posting your restoration videos - they're a joy to watch!

[@robertclarkson5101]

The first drive is such an emotional experience. Well done.

[@UKBarnFinds]

Thank you Robert

[@peterchapman8357]

great cars i have owned one for the last eight years, had a complete mechanical restoration went out for a long drive this morning lovely, have fun bringing him back into service

[@marcduthie4327]

Great to see PPW going again. Great work getting everything done.

[@jphunton1]

Excellent video ❤ you guys are a great double act. Keep the videos coming

[@ianford2383]

Good work keep em coming your a lucky man with Claire

[@staffordian]

Really enjoyed that. The banter between you really adds to the content, and the old A30s and A35s are such great little cars. They bring back memories for me!

[@mrbigarms]

Really great to see the progress being made on this charming little car,

[@grayfool]

Another win! She moves and stops again. Well done guys. These cars are so simple you just need patience and a large hammer. I should think that the younger viewers amongst us must think this car is a joke compared to modern stuff. Well, this is what we got whne I was a lad back in the middle ages.

[@UKBarnFinds]

Thanks for your lovely comment and so glad you enjoyed the video 👍

[@chrishiggins-4443]

Great fun video, I bought an A30 some 45 years ago for my new wife she had just passed her driving test and liked the looks of the little old Austin. WE'RE still married and have four grand children 😊😊😊😊 so far ? 1:08:02 1:08:02 1:08:02

[@grayfool]

@@chrishiggins-4443 it's never too late.

[@georgeshehan5150]

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the story unfold. Thank you for sharing it. It's good to watch the learning process. I find myself rooting for you to get it figured out.

[@angelajones2095]

Love this!!! More of the same please, so nice to see these cars back up and running and saved from the scrap man!

[@Angus367]

It's nice to see the old girl on the road again. Even though as a kid I thought these cars were ugly but now Im starting to like them 😊

[@timjames7869]

Thoroughly enjoyed. I was trained to put the removed wheel under the car to act as another safety. It’s always messy but you persevered. Well done!, 👍

[@UKBarnFinds]

Thank you. And yes, that’s sound advice 👍🏻

[@stevewhone2937]

Elton, you’re not a pessimist, you’re an optimist with experience!! Watching from Canada 🇨🇦👍

[@UKBarnFinds]

He is you’re right 😁 Would love to visit Canada, beautiful country 👍

[@stevewhone2937]

We are on the west coast, an hour from Vancouver. My cousins from the UK have been over and they love it here….as do we! Lots of English vehicles here and in Victoria.

[@johnbollen1322]

Well done, your car is a little beauty. So many happy memories of that same model. As a 9 yo, I used to sit inside pressing the brakes as my dear old dad called "up down up", just like you. Thank you!

[@philipbyron9627]

Really enjoyed seeing this as I do all your videos. Thanks again to you both.

[@UKBarnFinds]

Thank you for your lovely comment, so glad you enjoyed the video.

[@philiptheunismuller6165]

This little austin is very nice, you need to give her a name, i suggest , little dolly 😂,you got me jealous 🎉🎉❤

[@johnlydon533]

Great video guys. Well done. Enjoyed watching. 👍🏼👍🏼

[@KiwiStag74]

Rapt out of me little tree for you both. Choofed-te-fook in other words. The clutch popped off like it was ready to do it all along! An as for the brakes, well, as you say, as long as they are there and there's something to use, that's the main thing. Funny - I don't recall having to pull the whole kit and caboodle out when I did the brake master on my A30 when I was 15 - just the four top bolts and the lines.....but that was 39 years ago now! So rapt that she's moving under her own power and can be driven....and can stop again too! She's the perfect visual advert for the Barn Find experience, so she will definitely draw crowds wherever she goes.....and she's such a lovely wee car too. Well done to both of you!

[@UKBarnFinds]

Ahh…thank you for your lovely comment. I can’t really put into words how fun and satisfying this little series has been. So glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@angelsone-five7912]

Wicked, these are great little cars and it`s nice to see another one come back to life. A credit to you both, congrats.

[@dorling91]

Love watching your episodes on this little A30. I have an A35 and have done the master cylinder change too first job when I bought it. I’m 32 bought mine 7 years ago. Still learning and it’s great to see you bringing life back to this one.

[@robertdunnett5022]

So looking forward to catch up with you and PPW Loved following the journey. Thanks for the great entertainment 👍🏻

[@Levenstone132]

Nice one👍I had one of those little rubber seals go on single circuit brakes. Rear near side cylinder on two tons of 1956 Ford Fairlane auto.Pedal straight to the floor! Thankfully I was just moving it on the front garden so managed to tap it into neutral and use the parking brake. If I had it today it'd be getting some upgrades. If only we could do the same withour old backs! (knees/hips etc.)

[@peterlawrie8766]

Really nice to see the A30 running again. Very enjoyable video.

[@UKBarnFinds]

Thank you so much for watching Peter; much appreciated 😀

[@PaulinesPastimes]

Congratulations on spreading some A30 joy. 😊🏆

[@UKBarnFinds]

Ahh….glad you enjoyed the video and thank you for your continued support; much appreciated!

[@robertdunnett5022]

Woooooooow fantastic. Loved every minute. Thank you for sharing the journey. More please. Hope to catch up with you soon. Who needs TV with this show. Rob D

[@UKBarnFinds]

Thank you. So glad you enjoyed it. We’ve enjoyed the little successes with PPW and it’s been lovely to have the opportunity to share them.

[@drewb9034]

Hi Claire and Elton. Watching from New Zealand. Just found you folk so I'll go back to the beginning of your PPW journey through to today. I have Hillmans from 1959 to 1979 in my collection and its amazing how similar the Austins and Hillmans are and how different they are too. But they are such fun. I can tell by watching this video so far you're doing what I've done in years gone by. Great memories. Thanks for a great video.

[@UKBarnFinds]

Thank you for your lovely comment Drew. So glad you found us 😁 Hope you enjoy watching the full PPW journey 👍

[@Aardvark-dk]

Always a joy, to watch videos from you two, cheers !

[@UKBarnFinds]

Thank you so much; really appreciate your continued support 😁

[@paulnaylor881]

Great to see another oldie brought back to life. A35 was the first car i had at 16 bought for a fiver it was a runner. Got it to find how cars worked . Perants house was on a unmade road so i used to drive round to the next road and back. Dad put a stop to that but didnt stop my love of tinkering with cars. Currently servicing my 2018 Captur. Keep up the good work.

[@Polecat54941]

Not sure what Elton was doing but the camera work and editing were exceptional!

[@bobspeller2225]

Fantastic job, I hope you enjoy many miles in the Austin A30 very soon, local show/events ETC. All the best Bob

[@kevinhirst4108]

Great video, you used up your luck when you met the lovely Claire! ❤❤❤ Sorry to hear about your sciatica, i had the same thing, at your age, the only thing that helped me was Yoga! I'm a bloke in his 50s looking like a complete joke at a Yoga class! However it worked for me! Take care both of you and see you at Rustavel ❤❤❤❤

[@paulmoore6345]

So lovely to see it driving after 52 years

[@UKBarnFinds]

It was wasn’t it! Thank you so much for watching.

[@phillipclaridge3112]

Brought back memories of the '60s when I was a lad with my first Morris Minor and I would do all such repairs by the side of the road with very few tools and just as much knowledge!! I spent many hours keeping that old car running and enjoyed every minute. Some sixty years later, my modern cars are nowhere near as much fun!

[@UKBarnFinds]

Hey Phillip, I agree, modern cars do nothing for me. Elton and I were laughing the other day about how we have no idea about what the popular modern cars are these days!

[@markfourtyeight]

Some good camera work there by Clair, enjoying the little A30's journey back to a functioning car.

[@glennwoods2462]

Oh dear... sciatica is really annoying... I had it for a while, but thank god, it's gone now.... Well done on the brake cylinder repairs.... you both did a great job, Elton and Claire....

[@UKBarnFinds]

The fact that it can go is positive. Hopefully, mine will do that. Been a rough few weeks.

[@williamhawkins5476]

Worked on some of these back in the 1960's in Western Australia. The days when mechanics were mechanics not computer techs and spare part replacement people. We used to diagnose and repair if possible. Miss the good old days now to old to do the same work.

[@stephenredfern7536]

Love your set up. A lot of kit for a DIY mechanic. Something I've always wanted to do. Although when I was in the trade I couldn't get out fast enough.

[@UKBarnFinds]

Thank you. I am a bit ‘all the gear and no idea’ at times, but it does make life easier having some of that kit.

[@Neil-wb2xl]

love the shape of the radiator grill .

[@llslate]

Loved watching your foot on the brake pedal Clare xx

[@lstone.09]

Be kool to see a new paint job on it. BTW awesome video, kool car.

[@johnsutton2527]

Well done :)

[@HellsDamnedUK]

Another great video bringing barnfinds back to live love it

[@nicktasker4287]

Happy for you

[@tns5044]

Excellent stuff, really enjoyed this!

[@UKBarnFinds]

Thank you so much, so glad you enjoyed the video 👍

[@bryjan51]

Another wonderful video of PPW's progress, good teamwork from both of you, much enjoyed watching. If your stuck for a wheel çhock, just tip a axle stand on its side. Regards, Bryan.

[@UKBarnFinds]

Good idea! There are a few axle stands in the workshop. I really should get organised. Living on a big old derelict farm, stuff just vanishes. I bought a load of chocks from an auction a while back and couldn’t even find one that day.

[@MrDesmonick]

I can smell that interior just by watching the video! 😂

[@UKBarnFinds]

We need to bottle that scent. “Nostalgia”, only £50, including p&p 😂

[@MrDesmonick]

@@UKBarnFinds 5 shillings a bottle 🤣

[@UKBarnFinds]

😂😂

[@AndrewCooper-eo7oh]

I had a black a 30 with Ross bracks. I loved it.

[@raymondmaddocks9832]

Was just thinking the very same thing when you said "when do I get lucky "

[@highpath4776]

after starting to knock a drum off , knock back on then it should wiggle easier

[@fiat100bhp]

well done to you by the my favourite car all ways had a soft spot for these

[@UKBarnFinds]

Ahh…thank you and totally agree, they are very special the A30’s.

[@LawnMowersThingsThatMakeNoise]

I wish there were more videos on this lovely car

[@UKBarnFinds]

I feel certain this won't be the last you'll see of this this liitle thing....

[@LawnMowersThingsThatMakeNoise]

@@UKBarnFinds The little car is so cute i must have one 🙂 🙂

[@UKBarnFinds]

We highly recommend you do 😃

[@neilcurson4505]

I see it has the usual rust in front of the A pillar, a common fault on the A30-35 . I learnt to drive in my dad's A35 Countryman, a long long time ago. Keep up the good work.

[@rachelwhysall9169]

I don’t have an Austin A30 yet but hopefully that will change soon although a friend of mine has a very rare Conway blue A30 with only 24,000 miles from new ! Nice to see PPW again though, great video and I look forward to seeing more progress!😁

[@vumba1331]

We used to have one of those in the early 60s, brakes were always a challenge! No synchro in 1st!

[@Ragnar8504]

I thought that was the kettle boiling before you mentioned the rain 😅 Honestly, I think this is worth going a few tiny extra steps to make it roadworthy, patina and everything.

[@elizaandalisa]

40yrs ago a mate and I did up the brakes on his old 35 bloody nightmare cheers n beers guys Marty Australia

[@UKBarnFinds]

😂😂 thanks for watching and commenting; much appreciated.

[@radds0191]

Brill video ….. I love anything with an A35 😁

[@robertwells1650]

Great video!. Thanks for sharing with us. The two of you make a great team. Great to see PPW running and stopping. Brakes will be good enough for on and off the trailer. Looking forward to your first video unloading her somewhere. Cheers.

[@UKBarnFinds]

Thank you for your lovely comment Robert; much appreciated. We will be taking her to Rustival in a couple of weeks so we’ll get some footage of her at the show 👍

[@nickb5391]

@9.28, the rear cylinder mounted on the heelboard is commonly known as a frame cylinder

[@MorrisPV]

I was shocked to see the master cylinder come apart that easily after 50 years of inactivity... I'm never that lucky... 😅

[@johntovey3928]

There’s a cir-clip in there, needs to come out

[@rowejon]

Yes, people worked on their cars. My mother, born 1920, reconditioned the engine on a 1938 Hillman Minx..

[@UKBarnFinds]

Incredible! Just flicking through those magazines, the adverts and articles paint such a different picture of life compared to today.

[@colrhodes377]

Good on your mum 👏

[@raymondpearce5245]

The old way the best great video guys

[@UKBarnFinds]

Thank you Raymond 😁

[@jagvette1]

Love watching your video's even though at times I yell at the screen no don't do that do this, (I'm surprised you don't hear me ?), I don't care how long the video's are it's always worth a watch, but we need to see more of Claire as she is better looking than Elton, besides I am not into guys :) You mentioning doing stuff at home that's how I learnt about cars back in the 70's, I remember my farther installing wet liners in an engine one weekend so he could go to work on Monday.

[@stevepoulton8826]

Nice professional patch on fhat o/s wheelarch.

[@stephenholland5930]

Same quality job on the near side, too.

[@highpath4776]

Haynes (And BMC) did manuals you can read for doing brakes. looks like you didnt wind back the adjusters on the front wheel cylinders (pair off) did you do the single cylinder for the rear. (note still get a rust iine holding the drum on but the rubber / hide hammer normally frees off after a while

[@ericstein5485]

I worked on Many of these. They can be a real nightmare!! I have a 59 AH Sprite. Converted the front to disks much easier!

[@TheBenilady]

My husband says you need to slacken the brake shoe adjuster on the wheel cylinder so that the brake shoes close down and this will allow you to pull the brake drum off

[@UKBarnFinds]

Can you please tell him thank you, but they were seized. He’ll see this later in the video, as I had to go to extreme lengths to free them off later.

[@roblawrence2025]

Super!

[@Phiyedough]

Amazing how things came undone, perhaps the car has been restored at some point and the threads were lubricated.

[@UKBarnFinds]

It was serviced shortly before it was parked up in 1971, but I think it’s more a case of things being made of better metal back then and that we spray things with penetrating oil and leave it for a long time before we go at it with a spanner.

[@LeifDjurfeldt]

She deserves a full restoration ;)

[@UKBarnFinds]

Claire, or the car? 😂

[@MorrisPV]

And destroy all of the patina? They're only original once. IMHO, PPW needs conservation, not restoration...

[@UKBarnFinds]

Watch it Elton! 😂 - Claire

[@MetamorphicWonders]

I have just seen your not driving it on the road. Then hopefully the existing parts will be ok. It should be ok for private land or off a trailer without replacing many bits!!

[@UKBarnFinds]

That’s right. This is just a ‘show car’ and the idea was to keep as many of the original parts as possible. The engine was locked when we got it, but it now runs on the same plugs, points, coil and condensor that it arrived here with. Even the fan belt is over 50 years old 😳

[@garyclifton2180]

Nice work guys but why aren't you taking ppw on the road x

[@pauljenks4901]

I do enjoy the banter between you two guys, but seriously, you should wear a musk when you have your head in the wheel arch close to 30-year-old asbestos pads and its dust.

[@UKBarnFinds]

You’re right Paul, noted 👍

[@nickb5391]

@12.27, that is a very late van, late A40 Farina MK2 & the MK1 Austin 1100 hub cap

[@highpath4776]

Interesting actually adjusters on on the front cylinders. Does BMC say use a "special tool" ( shaped bit of metal ?)

[@UKBarnFinds]

Once they were back on, I just used a screwdriver. I couldn’t release them at the start, as they were seized solid.

[@DavidFischer-mj2sv]

The best phrase from this video is Elton’s “little luxuries like brakes…”

[@UKBarnFinds]

I spoil that woman... 😂

[@jamesberdine8574]

The guy on Vice Grip Garage says the same thing. That is what 1st gear is for.

[@UKBarnFinds]

😂😂

[@kenneth7549]

Noticed the generator light was still on ! Whilst being driven round the farm ?

[@UKBarnFinds]

Something else to fix.

[@colrhodes377]

I would love to own that little car

[@UKBarnFinds]

Ahh….thank you. I don’t know where you are based but there are plenty of A30/35’s for sale on eBay/Facebook Marketplace. They are at a very reasonable price point for classic cars too. Perhaps you could get yourself a barn find 😉

[@colrhodes377]

@@UKBarnFinds I have been looking for something half decent but so far they are either too expensive for what they are, or rotten. I'm in no rush, I'll find the right one eventually.

[@nickb5391]

@19.52, the drums usually have 'MOWOG' in them & a date, possibly has been replaced or possibly an early casting?

[@MorrisPV]

Early Series 4 cars still had BRITMO castings. Note also the two adjuster holes and that they are oval, not circular... Changed in early '54...

[@nickb5391]

​@@MorrisPVI knew someone very knowledgeable would know 👍

[@johnpritchard2772]

hello both, to see you struggle with brake drum removal was a little painful to watch - maybe slacken off the brake shoes with the internal adjuster, a look at the service manual would help?? ohhh, using an airline near your hand - hair-raising! Got to ask was a lip on the outer / inner edge of the hub?? What was the overall condition of the brake shoes?? There is a special brake pipe tool / spanner which you could use. Very entertaining though!! Best wishes from Lincolnshire.

[@UKBarnFinds]

The adjusters are on the cylinders, which were seized solid. You’ll see this later in the video 👍🏻

[@rogerreed905]

Great video . . Awesome effort on those brakes . Well done . . Even the music was cheerfull lol . . . And a massive smile on Claires face . . So cool . . 💐 Hope you dont mind a personal question Claire . . Was your maiden name ,by a very small chance, Mills . . ??? Till the next time . . Take care . . Bye from NZ . 💐🍻👍🇳🇿

[@UKBarnFinds]

Hey Roger so glad you enjoyed the video. My maiden name wasn’t Mills, do I have a doppelgänger? - Claire

[@rogerreed905]

@@UKBarnFinds all good . . For some reason Gilbert O'Sullivans "Claire " popped into my mind and having had experiences where ive been right when somthing like that happens .so was just curious . . I know im wierd . . Lol . . But spooky if i was right 🤣 Take care 💐💐

[@nickb5391]

@13.45, the screws were 'Phillips' headed

[@richardfearn6638]

Always a good idea to slacken the shoes, it makes it easier to remove the drums

[@UKBarnFinds]

The adjusters on the cylinders were seized, sadly. You’ll see just how badly, later in the video.

[@MorrisPV]

The adjusters work by rotating the piston in the cylinder. If the cylinders are seized, they can't be slackened...

[@nickb5391]

@1.05.47, take it slowly through the gears Claire, it's not a modern gearbox lol

[@UKBarnFinds]

Noted Nick 😉

[@SalisburyKarateClub]

I was actually wondering when you would post a new video, hadn't seen one for a while.

[@UKBarnFinds]

Hey there, yes we had an unplanned break due to Elton’s back problems. Thankfully I’m happy to report that he is much improved but he does need to take it easier for a bit 👍

[@mariemoo9979]

I have a 1993 charade g200 1.3 16v rs sat on my driveway in Lincolnshire if anyone wants a project, needs a little work for the mot but well worth doing, This is a rare 90s jdm sleeper hot hatch and you will not find another original UK car, solid car, runner, Reply here if interested and come take a look at this barn find 90s 16valve efi Toyota engined hot hatch

[@MetamorphicWonders]

undo the five nuts inside. The cylinder will come loose. Then get under the car and disconnect the pedal base from the cylinder.

[@UKBarnFinds]

I did notice that after I’d cleaned it up, but as we didn’t have a gasket for it, it kind of worked in our favour at this point. If the car was going back on the road, it would have to be done again, I think, and that gasket replaced.

[@nealeburgess6756]

Elton, RELEASE THE BREAK ADJUSTERS! Holidays? Don't go to the Costa Brava. Come visit me on the Costa Del Sol. I don't have any of these problems with my Austin (1936 Ruby). My brakes are just worked by cables. They hadn't got around to hydraulics at that time. You are right. You are no Ed China. You are more real and honest with your repairs. Ed China's repairs are too good to be true. I prefer your honest learn on the job approach. Also Claire is a lot better looking than Ed. I would love to see PPW back on the road. She looks to be in amazingly good condition, apart from the measles in the paintwork.

[@UKBarnFinds]

Poor Edd, I like his work 😂 Sadly, the adjusters were seized solid. They’re part of the brake cylinder. You’ll see later in the video, it took extreme measures to get the cylinders to budge once they were off. A Ruby on the Costa Del Sol? You’re living our dream! Keep in touch…we may well ask to visit one day. 😃

[@loosewheels1000]

Why not change from brake fluid to silicone brake fluid, it wont absorb water ( but you probably already knew that), then you wont have to touch the brakes again for many years?

[@UKBarnFinds]

I think that probably would be an idea for the future, especially as our cars often sit for ages.

[@Starburst_Candy]

I hope that one day, you sell that car to somebody who will cherish her and out her on the road.

[@MorrisPV]

I fear that would lead to its restoration, which would toss away all of that lovely patina... They're only original once...

[@dustystuffgarage]

Massive effort there guys and doing the work on the floor, not easy, but smiles for miles. Cheers

[@charliecoco2115]

Clare, what first attracted you to Elton the billionaire car collector?

[@UKBarnFinds]

😂😂

[@mp3bbb]

You can get a hub puller for 15 quid.

[@raymondpearce5245]

You should take the brakes adjusted off

[@UKBarnFinds]

They were seized solid, unfortunately.

[@darrenmnewbold]

at the moment trying to catch up with you two as been in hospital due to a blood clot again as it seem i got more blood clot that what than what ment to hace in e

[@UKBarnFinds]

Oh, no, we hope they get it sorted for you soon. Take care, Claire & Elton

[@darrenmnewbold]

thank you @@UKBarnFinds

[@worldofrandometry6912]

Good job, both of you. In my opinion circlips are the most hateful thing ever made.

[@UKBarnFinds]

😂😂 agreed!!

[@MelvinSevik]

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