The Austin A35 is a small family car sold by Austin from 1956 until 1968. About 280,897 A35s of all types were produced. It replaced the highly successful Austin A30, and its name reflected the larger and more powerful 34 hp A-Series four-cylinder engine.
Austin A35 at a glance
| Sold | 1956–1968 |
|---|---|
| Built | about 280,897 of all types |
| Engine | 948 cc A-Series four-cylinder, 34 hp (25 kW) |
| Body styles | two- or four-door saloon, two-door Countryman estate, van; 477 coupé utility (pickup) in 1956 |
| Wheels | 13 in (330 mm) |
| Test (British Motor, 1956) | 71.9 mph (115.7 km/h); 0–60 mph in 30.1 s; 41.5 mpg |
| Passenger cars replaced by | the A40 Farina in 1959; estate to 1962, van to 1968 |
This page is based on English Wikipedia only (a trusted source), so the facts were not cross-checked against a second source.
History of the Austin A35
The A35 is very similar in appearance to the A30, except for a larger rear window aperture and a painted front grille with a chrome horse-shoe surround instead of the chrome grille of the A30; both have 13-inch wheels. The semaphore turn-signal indicators were replaced with modern front- and rear-mounted flashing lights, and a slightly easier remote-control gear-change was provided. Much of the improved performance came from the 948 cc engine and different gearbox ratios: the A30 has its first three ratios close together then a big gap to top, whereas the A35’s ratios are better spaced and give a higher speed in third gear.
Range
Like the A30, the A35 was offered as a two- or four-door saloon, a two-door Countryman estate and a van; the van stayed in production until 1968. A rare coupé utility (pickup) was made in 1956, with just 477 sold. Drawings were made for a sports tourer based on the A30, but no A35 prototype was built. The A35 passenger cars were replaced by the new body shape A40 Farina in 1959, but the estate continued until 1962 and the van until 1968.
Tests and records
A two-door de luxe saloon with the 948 cc engine was tested by the magazine British Motor in 1956 and reached 71.9 mph and 0–60 mph in 30.1 seconds, with fuel consumption of 41.5 mpg (imperial). The page quotes period accounts: the cars were tested on the German autobahns, where three small Austins driven flat out all day averaged 60 mph for 25,000 miles, and a privately-owned works-tuned A35 was driven for seven days around the Montlhéry track near Paris at an average of 75 mph, covering nearly 12,500 miles.
Design and features
- Engine: a 948 cc A-Series four of 34 hp.
- Gearbox: better-spaced ratios than the A30.
- Looks: a larger rear window and a painted grille with a chrome horse-shoe surround.
Austin A35 versions
- A35 saloon (1956–1959): two- or four-door.
- A35 Countryman estate (to 1962) and van (to 1968).
- Coupé utility (1956): 477 sold.
More Austin cars are in our Austin collection, for example the A30 it replaced, the A40 that followed and the Mini.
Austin A35 questions and answers
When was the Austin A35 sold?
From 1956 to 1968.
How many were made?
About 280,897.
What engine did it have?
A 948 cc A-Series four of 34 hp.
How is it different from the A30?
A larger rear window, a painted grille, flashing indicators and a 948 cc engine.
What replaced the saloons?
The A40 Farina in 1959.
Video: A Look At The Vintage Austin A30 & A35 British Motor Cars
Video by Men and Motors on YouTube.
Sources
- Austin A35, English Wikipedia: design, performance and range
