Austin A35

A35 van

The A35 was a small (compact) car sold by the British Motor Corporation under the Austin marque in the 1950s. Introduced in 1956, it replaced the highly-successful Austin A30. The name reflected the larger and more-powerful 34 hp (25 kW) A-Series straight-4 engine, enabling a slightly higher top speed and better acceleration.

The A35 was very similar in appearance to the A30, except for a larger rear window aperture and smaller 13-inch wheels, as well as a painted front grille in place of the chrome grille featured on the A30. The semaphore turn-signal indicators were replaced with present-day front- and rear-mounted flashing lights. A slightly easier to operate remote-control gear-change was provided.

Like the A30, the A35 was offered as a 2- or 4-door saloon or 2-door "Countryman" estate and also as a van. The latter model continued in production through 1968. A rare pickup version was also produced in 1956, with just 475 sold.

The A35 passenger cars were replaced by the new body shape A40 Farina models in 1959.

The A35 was quite successfully raced in its day and can still be seen today at historic race meetings.

A 1964 model A35 van carrying a 1953 tax disk with a 1978 registration (HOP 2 1T), and no front "sidelights", features in the 2005 Aardman movie, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.

Production

*Saloons: 130,000
*Others: 151,000.

Engine:
* 1956–1962 - 948 cc A-Series I4, 34 hp (25 kW) at 4750 rpm and 50 ft·lbf (68 Nm) at 2000 rpm
* 1962–1968 - 1098 cc A-Series I4, 55 hp (41 kW) at 5500 rpm and 61 ft·lbf (83 Nm) at 2500 rpm (Van)