OVY871
Part of things
Owner of Austin A35 Saloon
Posts: 321
Club RR Member Number: 66
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1957 Austin A35 - "Ovy"OVY871
@ovy871
Club Retro Rides Member 66
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Jan 16, 2012 10:03:55 GMT
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Here's my Austin A35 2 Door, Ovy (Named due to the registration Ovy871) is a 1957 A35 2 Door Saloon and is painted Spruce Green. Owned by my dad in the 80's as his first car he restored it in 1979 and 1980 but unfortunately he parked it in the garage in the mid-80's after a few problems arose I think with plans to sort them out, and he would get it out every now and then just to start the engine and make sure most of it was working. Since then the car hasn't been on the road.
Well I was born in July 1993 so the car has been in the garage since I can remember and I can also remember loving the car all the time I have been growing up. Well I decided in 2010 that I'm not just going to say that I'm going to sort her out one day but I actually will, so sure enough the work began. With plans to get it on the road for my first car, well since then I have sorted out the engine so it worked and that's about it due to the lack of funds.
My plan of action is to get the rest of the mechanicals working such as the brakes which need a complete overhaul, with new brake pipes bought and brake shoes and some brake cylinders that I found in my grandpa's garage from when my dad restored the car the first time round (stuff goes into the garage and sometimes never comes out, theres 3 spare engines plus various bits and bobs and few panels all sat in there along with stuff from that my uncles cars when they were young too.) Also need to sort out the front dampers but hopefully just topping them up with oil will do.
After these few jobs are done I need to sort out all the electrics as I want to replace all the wiring to a bit more modern standards as I don't want to rely on 30 year old wiring for modern electrics that I'm adding.
A rally inspired look is probably how she'll end up on the outside with a more custom interior to make it nice in there for me. Will upload some pictures in the next post...
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Last Edit: Apr 28, 2012 4:10:11 GMT by OVY871
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OVY871
Part of things
Owner of Austin A35 Saloon
Posts: 321
Club RR Member Number: 66
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1957 Austin A35 - "Ovy"OVY871
@ovy871
Club Retro Rides Member 66
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Jan 16, 2012 10:05:09 GMT
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 As my dad got Ovy.  The start of his resto.  Restored but in need of bit of paint.  Getting the primer  Completed and travelling places with my parents.  At an A30/A35 club shown in 1983  And Again  And Again  All polished up.  Proof that it was an all year round car.  How it came to its new home in 1984..... And that's its travels in a quick post, however quite a few of these problems were fixed that it arrived with such as the paintless bit behind the door...... still got more to post... |
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OVY871
Part of things
Owner of Austin A35 Saloon
Posts: 321
Club RR Member Number: 66
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1957 Austin A35 - "Ovy"OVY871
@ovy871
Club Retro Rides Member 66
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Jan 16, 2012 10:06:53 GMT
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 Used as storage.  Moved into the back where it was stored for three years not running. (the gap that it can be seen through is what we had to go through.... its about 2cm wider than the car :S Also the space infront is what we had to shuffle up to and back again until we could get her out sideways through the door at the opposite side of the car to the camera.  Out of the garage and into the driveway.... I have decided to start sorting her out.  (May 2010)  Next to my mums car last car. Just shows how much smaller they are compared to today's smallish car.  The interior complete with furry 80's seat covers, Jaguar steering wheel and MG key fob.  New parking place in the garage.... the centre of the middle. or at least it was till September when my dad bought a Land Rover Series Lightweight |
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OVY871
Part of things
Owner of Austin A35 Saloon
Posts: 321
Club RR Member Number: 66
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1957 Austin A35 - "Ovy"OVY871
@ovy871
Club Retro Rides Member 66
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Jan 16, 2012 10:18:54 GMT
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 The new Austin A35 fuel tank to repalce the old Cortina? one. The right hand side is how it was found and the left hand side is once I've started tidying it all up.  Old Cortina tank and the A35 tank once I have clean up and repainted. Fuel tank was found in my grandpas garage.  Another view, as you can tell the new one is much better condition. The reason for replacement, well I didn't want a Ford fuel tank, especially when its blocked and half full of sediment kind of stuff.  New Fuel pump and old fuel pump, the new one is the one on the left.... it actually sucks  The back seats which has two sets of rollerblades, the old boot... errr... carpet (a piece of cardboard) and radiator cover. would like to say that it isn't all as colourful as it looks and the headlining isn't actually that yellow.  The underneath.... the floor has been repaired in the past and the exhaust now sticks out to the side (although there is a spare one hanging up on the wall)  Ready to go surfing..... ok maybe not just yet Little video from when got the engine working again after swapping the fuel tank to one without sediment and rust, all new fuel lines, new fuel pump and swapped carb. Unfortunately after a while of the engine running found out the thermostat wasn't working, when I investigated why I found this... Some nice pictures of the old thermostat:   Cleaned all the rest of the water system out and now that's all fine. That's about where I got up to by May 2011, the engine runs fine now with no problems of getting warm. But since then not much has been done as in July went on Holiday till September then in September I went to uni and went back for 3 weeks over Christmas but in that time all I did was swap an indicator bulb over to LED's and stick a clear lense on one indicator and on a side repeater than was fitted behind the door. Will upload some photoshops of my 'plans' in a bit aswell as saying what I have ordered that I need to fit. But for now I just need to do brakes, front dampers and lights/electrics aswell as buy some new tyres then I'm going to take it for an MOT to see what it fails on. |
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Last Edit: Jan 16, 2012 10:27:47 GMT by OVY871
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OVY871
Part of things
Owner of Austin A35 Saloon
Posts: 321
Club RR Member Number: 66
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1957 Austin A35 - "Ovy"OVY871
@ovy871
Club Retro Rides Member 66
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Photoshops of my plans... (Ignore the big flag on the aerial on the back, that won't be staying.)  What it looks like atm  What it will probably look like in summer. Not a massive difference, just the addition of some mudflaps, some really slimline fog lights and the spotlights will be some halo ring spotlights of the same size, chrome bullet mirrors, and changing all the indicators and brake lights to clear lenses. The grill and wheels will also be painted in pure white rather than the off-white/creamy colour they are now and the tyres will have the lettering painted.  What the interior (dashboard) looks like at the moment.  What it will look like in summer. Centre console expanded so it has an upright section, this will house a 7" touchscreen radio and a 12v plug, this will be behind the engraving of the 'Flying A' emblem and registraion plate. This will fold down to reveal the radio. Above this is another fold down section which covers the heater controls, and then at the bottom of the upright section is a few switches for spotlights, foglights, heated front and heated rear windows and hazard lights. The section that has been added along under the dash at the drivers side will have a few gauges in it for oil pressure etc. The section added under the passengers side of the dash will have the amplifier tucked inside it. There will also be some speakers underneath the dash in the added on section and some tweeters either side of the upright bit. This will all have inlays made from black brushed aluminium. Hope you like my ideas. |
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dbdb
Part of things
Posts: 821
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A powder blue 1959 Austin A35 was my dad's first car. He didn't get it new but by coincidence it was registered in Derby so wore his initials 'JRB'. He kept the plate when he changed cars.
He loved the A35 and would go misty eyed when he saw them on the road. He would be pleased that people are still interested in them.
David
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Nice little car with a nice history. Looks like you got lucky with the coolant. I think the norm here is to open up and find a rusty fetid sludge blocking all the cooling system- to be lain up full of antifreeze and just need a wash out? Lucky! With regard to the interior, that sounds like a good plan. Smaller Austin vehicles seem to have little in the way of usable dash space. I'd put the tweeters as far apart as you can though- they will give you much better stereo "image" if placed at either end of the dash. If you ever go to Japan, you'll find all the switches, lights, gauges etc you'll ever need to keep the interior looking retro too. They love to make it but don't like to sell it off apparently. Edit: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akihabara <-- This is the place. --Phil |
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Last Edit: Feb 3, 2012 17:14:18 GMT by PhilA
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MK2VR6
Posted a lot
Mk2 Golf GTi 90 Spec
Posts: 3,328
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I love a car with a story, and this is one of them. How lucky is your dad to still have his first car, wish I still had mine, a 77 mk1 Golf  Best of luck with the rest of the work. Looks to be a really solid little car. |
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foxy99
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,385
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Brilliant. Love the way they tackled things in the 70s/80s: roll it over, prop it up with a bit wood, patch it up and stick a Cortina fuel tank on it ;D I have been wondering recently if restoration standards have improved or is it just the digital photography is better? I remember Practical Classics articles where the body repairs looked like everything was in disarray and nowadays its more clinical. Welders haven't really changed so why should things be better now?  |
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Last Edit: Feb 4, 2012 0:54:02 GMT by foxy99
1974 Daimler Double-Six VDP
1965/67 Hillman Imp pick-up
1984 VW Polo breadvan
1970s Yamaha Twins (4)
1976 Honda SS50ZK1
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Fantastic and the photos really help set the story as well, good luck with the restoration!
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OVY871
Part of things
Owner of Austin A35 Saloon
Posts: 321
Club RR Member Number: 66
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1957 Austin A35 - "Ovy"OVY871
@ovy871
Club Retro Rides Member 66
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Looks like you got lucky with the coolant. I think the norm here is to open up and find a rusty fetid sludge blocking all the cooling system- to be lain up full of antifreeze and just need a wash out? Lucky! Yep deffo lucky but so has been most of the things on the car so far, everything regarding the engine seemed a relatively simple fix with the most annoying being the fuel pump, took that to bits and rebuilt it 3 times but worked in the end. With regard to the interior, that sounds like a good plan. Smaller Austin vehicles seem to have little in the way of usable dash space. I'd put the tweeters as far apart as you can though- they will give you much better stereo "image" if placed at either end of the dash. Thanks for the idea I never even thought of that will stick them at either end of the dash instead. If you ever go to Japan, you'll find all the switches, lights, gauges etc you'll ever need to keep the interior looking retro too. They love to make it but don't like to sell it off apparently. Edit: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akihabara <-- This is the place. --Phil Really doubt I'll be going there any time soon, I'll just find some old Smiths gauges on ebay and get some cheapish metal toggle switches from a random shop (or probably ebay like almost everything else so far). Brilliant. Love the way they tackled things in the 70s/80s: roll it over, prop it up with a bit wood, patch it up and stick a Cortina fuel tank on it ;D Its not only that which has been done, other features include a section of the floor being repaired with a road sign and the centre console being from a Hillman Hunter if I remember rightly. I have been wondering recently if restoration standards have improved or is it just the digital photography is better? I remember Practical Classics articles where the body repairs looked like everything was in disarray and nowadays its more clinical. Welders haven't really changed so why should things be better now? Don't worry, this won't be clinical, this is going very much the way of "yeah that'll do the job" although stuff that matters too make it safe are/will be done properly such as the brakes. This is until I get to the stage where I get bored of the 'character' of a slow car and decide to upgrade it to turbo 1275 like I have seen on someone elses. Then it will be done to a much higher clinical standard although will still carry various battle scars like the dent in the grill and the fact the bonnet doesn't sit straight as a result of a taxi reversing into it And also thanks to everyone for the good luck cause I might need it, just wish I could go back and get it done cause I'm at uni at the moment and when I finish for the year I have a target of 3 weeks to get it MOT'd to get it to the clubs national rally (60th anniversary of the original Austin A30) although them 3 weeks will be early starts and late finishes to get it done. There's also a 1,000 mile road trip planned for it which could be interesting in a car that's been sat for almost 30 years. |
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OVY871
Part of things
Owner of Austin A35 Saloon
Posts: 321
Club RR Member Number: 66
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1957 Austin A35 - "Ovy"OVY871
@ovy871
Club Retro Rides Member 66
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Apr 27, 2012 10:37:25 GMT
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Just cause I'm really excited that I can nearly go home (finish uni in a week and a half) and get to try and get a MOT for Ovy before 02/06/2012 I have been playing on photoshop again, my latest plans for the little car, whether I'll do all of it I'm not sure but hopefully I will. Before:  After:  Add-ons: Front bumper painted black with it flaked off again for a 'used' look. Slimline Foglights. 6" Halo-surround Spotlights (the outside edge lights up, going to make them turn on with the sidelights). Stoneguards on the headlights and tape on the spotlights. Old tatty rope looped around the spotlights. Leather Bonnet Strap. LED sidelights (plus possibly extra sidelights in the headlights as they are Land Rover ones with the hole already in them). Halogen Headlights with +60% 'Ultra Xenon Max' bulbs. Clear lenses on all indicators. Bullet mirrors (with the back of the mirror painted in the same paint as the bumper, probably satin black). Various stickers. Mudflaps. Side exit exhaust moved back a bit with a silencer and a polished tip. Hope you all like it |
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Last Edit: Apr 27, 2012 13:11:06 GMT by OVY871
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Apr 27, 2012 12:10:37 GMT
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A35's are cool, I considered buying one myself, good luck with the planned changes, I like the idea of the hidden stereo, might copy that idea on my A40 farina!  |
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OVY871
Part of things
Owner of Austin A35 Saloon
Posts: 321
Club RR Member Number: 66
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1957 Austin A35 - "Ovy"OVY871
@ovy871
Club Retro Rides Member 66
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Well an update of how things are going. Over past 2/3 weeks have been doing bits and bobs to try and get it to an MOT standard, and as I said earlier I wanted an MOT before 02/06/2012... well today's 01/06/2012 and it went to go for an MOT but...... when the DVLA switched all the details over to the new computer system in the 80's, they messed it up :/ so the MOT guy tried checking it in on the computer and it wasn't accepting the chassis number, I immediately recognised why, the start of it was A255 rather than A2S5.... great, so need to contact the DVLA to sort that out and I guess it won't be going to the 60th anniversary of the A30 International club rally this weekend, would also have been the 55th anniversary of Ovy too. Anyways, here's a few things I've done in the past 2/3 weeks: Complete rebuild of the brakes. New steel exhaust. New headlights New brake lights New indicators Old broken rear fog lights removed A temporary 'dashboard' fitted to hold the gauges and switches that were dangling down. (The old dashboard that was used) New 'aero blade' wipers fitted that I had to trim down on one side of the blade to fit the windscreen. (These were trimmed down from Mini wipers that's how small this car is ) Oil filter played with. Drivers seat fixed so its no longer collapsed (even if it did make it super comfy) Car vacuum cleaned on all of the inside. And here's some pictures of it and the various bits... everyone loves pictures  The new +60% halogen lights. (must be so much better than the sealed beams that were in it which in turn were better than the original headlights)  New rear lights and no more fog lights.  'Aero Blades'  Patina??? (nah just chemicals that have been spilt on it )  Why the oil filter was played with, there were patches everywhere it was parked.  Tucked away one night. Whilst waiting for the MOT guys I cleaned her all out.  Front  Back  Temp/Old dashboard in place.  and an Interior light I discovered whilst tidying it out... you would have though I'd noticed it exists before now considering I've been interested in this exact car all my life... |
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(May 2010)
