Austin A30 -
35
It was in 1951 that the
Austin A30 Seven arrived on the scene. This car was the first
Austin model to not have a chassis, in that the body was of
unit-construction which meant that the chassis and body were
combined into one whole unit. It will be remembered also because it
had a brand new overhead-valve engine of 803cc, which became known
as the 'A' series.
There were three versions made of this model.
AS3 version that ran from May 1952 to October 1953 with the bodies
been produced by Briggs of Dagenham. The total production of this
version at Longbridge was 25,609 vehicles, with about 4,427 been
exported as CKD kits. Next came the A2S4 - AS4 so this gave the
public the option of a 2dr or a 4dr version. These ran from October
1953 to September 1956, with a production run of the Saloons been
88,513.
In August 1954 both a Van (AV4) and Countryman (AP4) were added. A
total of 29,008 were produced. In September 1956 A30 production
ceased to make way for the A35 version.
Briggs were still supplying the bodies till around May/June 1955
when the production of Fisher & Ludlow bodies started to
appear, and by September they became the sole supplier of the body
panels etc.
Briggs had been supplying panels and complete bodies for many years
after WWII, but when the Ford Motor Company bought Briggs in 1953,
Austin/BMC looked for an alternate supplier and bought Fisher &
Ludlow in the same year.
Austin A30
Seven 4dr
Austin A30
Seven 2dr
A30 Welding
lines in West Works
Date when launched late
1951 (4dr) 1953 (2dr)
Discontinued in 1956/7
Total produced 19,217
Engine
803 cc 28 bhp at 4,800 rpm Max torque 40lbs/ft at 2,200
rpm
Main measurements
Length 11ft 4.4ins Width 4ft 7.1ins Height 4ft 10.3ins
Wheelase 6ft 7.5ins Track front 3ft 9.2ins rear 3ft 8.8ins
Price ex Works
Nov 1953 A30 2 dr £475 A30
4 dr £504
Nov 1955 A30 2 dr £503 A30 4 dr £533
Austin A30 Seven
Countryman
Date when launched Oct
1953
Discontinued in Sept 1956
Total produced 29,008 Van & Countryman
Engine
803 cc 28 bhp at 4,800 rpm Max torque 40lbs/ft at 2,200
rpm
Main measurements
Length 11ft 5.9ins Width 4ft 8ins Height 5ft 3ins
Wheelbase 6ft 7.5ins Track front 3ft 9.2ins rear 3ft 8.8ins
Price ex Works
Sept 1954 £560
Nov 1955 £593
Austin A30 Seven 5cwt
Van
Date when launched
1954
Model discontinued in 1956
Total produced 29,008 Van & Countryman
Engine
803 cc 28 bhp at 4,800 rpm Max torque 40lbs/ft at 2,200
rpm
Main measurements
Length 11ft 5.9ins Width 4ft 8ins Height 5ft 3ins
Wheelbase 6ft 7.5ins Track front 3ft 9.2ins rear 3ft 8.8ins
Price ex Works standard colour
Sept 1954 £365 incl £40 Purchase Tax
Jan 1956 £372 incl £47 Purchase Tax
Total A30s produced was
223,264 (all versions) which includes 25,598 in CKD
form
Austin A35 Range
The A35 was launched at
Earls Court Motor Show on the 2nd October 1956, with a larger
engine of 948 cc and the gearbox had a remote-control gear-change.
On the body side the radiator grille was now painted with a
chrome-plated surround. The other distinguishing feature was the
enlarged wrap-round rear window.
It was available in five versions, Saloon 2dr & 4dr Countryman,
Van and Pick-up, and was known as the 5 series. Production which
had started in September 1956 continued till Spring 1959 for the
Saloons, although the Pick-up only had a production run of two
years 1956/57. The Van and Countryman continued been made to
February 1962. After this point 74 Countryman's, were made before
this model was discontinued. The Van continued in production, and
in September 1962 was upgraded with the fitting of the 1098cc
engine and stronger road springs so that the carrying capacity
became 6cwt. Also the body received a chrome strip round where the
two side panels meet. The van continued until February 1968, with
the option of the 848cc engine.
A35 Van Welding
line West Works
Austin A35 Saloon 2dr -
4dr
Date when launched
1956
Discontinued in 1959
Total produced 209,333
Price ex Works
2 dr De-luxe Jan1957 £554 incl. £185 Purchase Tax
4 dr De-luxe Jan1957 £578 incl. £193 Purchase
Tax
Engine
948 cc 34 bhp at 4,750 rpm Max torque 50lbs/ft at 2,000 rpm
Main measurements
Length 11ft 4.4ins Width 4ft 7.1ins Height 4ft 11.3ins
Wheelbase 6ft 7.5ins Track front 3ft 9.2ins rear 3ft 8.8ins
Austin A35
Countryman
Date when launched
1956
Discontinued in 1962
Total produced 144,777 Van & Countryman
Price ex Works
Standard Colour Jan 1957 £638 incl. £213 Purchase Tax
Engine
948 cc 34 bhp at 4,750 rpm Max torque 50lbs/ft at 2,000 rpm
Main measurements
Length 11ft 5.9ins Width 4ft 8ins Height 5ft 4ins
Wheelbase 6ft 7.5ins Track front 3ft 9.2ins rear 3ft 8.8ins
Austin
A35 5 cwt Van
A35 6 cwt van
showing the chrome strip
Date when launched Nov
1956
Discontinued in 1968
Total produced series 6
13.222 Vans with just 155 exported
74 Countryman with 13 exported
Total produced series 8, van only (no series 7)
14,230 - 848 cc engine
45,685 - 1098 cc engine
Price ex Works
Standard Colour Jan1957 £400 incl. £51 Purchase
Tax
Engine
948 cc Nov1956 to Oct 1962 --- 1098cc Oct 1962 to 1968
848 cc Oct 1963 to Feb 1968
848 cc 34bhp at 5,500 rpm Max torque 44lbs/ft at 2,900 rpm
948 cc 34 bhp at 4,750 rpm Max torque 50lbs/ft at 2,000 rpm
1098 cc 48 bhp at 5,100 rpm Max torque 60lbs/ft at 2,500 rpm
Main measurements
Length 11ft 5.9ins Width 4ft 8ins Height 5ft 4ins
Wheelbase 6ft 7.5ins Track front 3ft 9.2ins rear 3ft 8.8ins
Austin
A35 Pick-Up
This model was not very
successful, there were two main reasons for this. The load capacity
was very small, and in fact the two rear wheelarches were covered
in so they could be used as a bench seat. Because of this the HM
Customs & Excise decided to classify the vehicle as a car,
which meant that Purchase Tax had to be paid.
Date
when launched 1956
Discontinued in 1957
Total produced 475
Engine
948 cc 34 bhp at 4,750 rpm Max torque 50lbs/ft at 2,000 rpm
Main measurements
Length 11ft 4.4ins Width 4ft 7.1ins Height 4ft 11.3ins
Wheelbase 6ft 7.5ins Track front 3ft 9.2ins rear 3ft 8.8ins
Total A35s produced, all
versions was 354,607