A40 Farina Countryman restoration

Restoration projects and Austin related chat in here please
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A40FARINAGURU
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A40 Farina Countryman restoration

Post by A40FARINAGURU »

As requested by many members here is a start to the restoration of one of my A40's, i have known the car since 1989,it was sold in 1993 & was used until 1995, i purchaced it in 2010 originally for spares but i decided to rebuild what i can only discribe as a Flintstone car, it had deteriated so much since i last saw it in 1989

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(1989)

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(1989)

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(1993)

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(1993)

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(2010)

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(2010)

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(2010)

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offside rear floor

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front passenger floor
Nick Bayliss

Club's A35 (Saloon) Registrar, South Midlands Area Contact

Email, a35@austina30a35ownersclub.co.uk

Connected with A30/A35's for 63 years

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Richard
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Re: A40 Farina Countryman restoration

Post by Richard »

Looks like the loss of the numberplate was nearly the final nail in the coffin for this A40. Good to see it being saved :)
1959 Austin A35 '640 TMP'
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A40FARINAGURU
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Re: A40 Farina Countryman restoration

Post by A40FARINAGURU »

Richard-Essex wrote:Looks like the loss of the numberplate was nearly the final nail in the coffin for this A40. Good to see it being saved :)
yes it was but these are not the worse photos
Nick Bayliss

Club's A35 (Saloon) Registrar, South Midlands Area Contact

Email, a35@austina30a35ownersclub.co.uk

Connected with A30/A35's for 63 years

A30/A35 Member A1372 (since 1981)
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A40FARINAGURU
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Re: A40 Farina Countryman restoration

Post by A40FARINAGURU »

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nearside front floor again

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upper rear tailgate

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under nearside rear corner of rear wing c/w the daily paper of the day!

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front of the offside rear spring hanger

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offside rear floor again

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a clearer view of the damage to offside rear floor/heelboard/spring hanger

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offside outer sill

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from the other side of the offside heelboard/rear floor, like the speedo!!

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same area again from a different angle
Nick Bayliss

Club's A35 (Saloon) Registrar, South Midlands Area Contact

Email, a35@austina30a35ownersclub.co.uk

Connected with A30/A35's for 63 years

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Dave Clark
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Re: A40 Farina Countryman restoration

Post by Dave Clark »

I thought that the Mk2 Countryman that I rebuilt as a daily driver was bad !

It was a hack car and carried building materials, welding bottles and all sorts of rubbish whilst I had it. I sold it to a young lady who insisted on buying it against my recomendation (!) and 12 months later it had been robbed of its registration (1323 KX) and was used by a garag on trade platesfor a while before I guess it was scrapped.

Next to an A35 van, which I also owned, it was one of the most useful small vehicles I ever had.
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A40FARINAGURU
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Re: A40 Farina Countryman restoration

Post by A40FARINAGURU »

tadge44 wrote:I thought that the Mk2 Countryman that I rebuilt as a daily driver was bad !

It was a hack car and carried building materials, welding bottles and all sorts of rubbish whilst I had it. I sold it to a young lady who insisted on buying it against my recomendation (!) and 12 months later it had been robbed of its registration (1323 KX) and was used by a garag on trade platesfor a while before I guess it was scrapped.

Next to an A35 van, which I also owned, it was one of the most useful small vehicles I ever had.
the MK2's were worse for rot & the latter ones 65on were particularly worse like the late AV8 vans

you haven't seen anything yet! & remember there isn't any real repair panels available most have got to be fabricated by hand!
Nick Bayliss

Club's A35 (Saloon) Registrar, South Midlands Area Contact

Email, a35@austina30a35ownersclub.co.uk

Connected with A30/A35's for 63 years

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A40FARINAGURU
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Re: A40 Farina Countryman restoration

Post by A40FARINAGURU »

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offside front seat support (the hinged end)

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damage revealed on offside rear passenger floor

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bottom of offside front wing & outer sill

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heelboard repairs taking shape & minus inner sill

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a closer photo of the heelboard

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bottom side of bulkhead where the inner sill has been removed

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the inner face of the offside outer sill

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heelboard now repaired
Nick Bayliss

Club's A35 (Saloon) Registrar, South Midlands Area Contact

Email, a35@austina30a35ownersclub.co.uk

Connected with A30/A35's for 63 years

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Neil Evans
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Re: A40 Farina Countryman restoration

Post by Neil Evans »

I've mended some rust buckets, but that A40 deserves a medal.
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A40FARINAGURU
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Re: A40 Farina Countryman restoration

Post by A40FARINAGURU »

Neil Evans wrote:I've mended some rust buckets, but that A40 deserves a medal.
thanks Neil well the welding is almost finished now just the tail of the boot floor,bottom half of the lower tailgate panel & rear valance,these photos were taken about 12 months ago
Nick Bayliss

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Email, a35@austina30a35ownersclub.co.uk

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Chairman
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Re: A40 Farina Countryman restoration

Post by Chairman »

Nick, your efforts seem to convince us that every 'basket case' can be restored if there is a will, there is a way. Good luck with your efforts on a true survivor, now where did I leave my welder ?? :shock:
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mark d stokes
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Re: A40 Farina Countryman restoration

Post by mark d stokes »

your a brave man nick, was it really worth doing? looks very well past its sell by date, but well done in doing it!
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A40FARINAGURU
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Re: A40 Farina Countryman restoration

Post by A40FARINAGURU »

Chairman wrote:Nick, your efforts seem to convince us that every 'basket case' can be restored if there is a will, there is a way. Good luck with your efforts on a true survivor, now where did I leave my welder ?? :shock:
thanks Mark, even the worse can be done but like Neil you have to know what you are doing regarding chopping big chunks out, i have not braced the car i have just kept the door on & when things like inner sills & outer sills were removed one by one (as you can see the outer is still on) checked the door gap until the gap is right
Nick Bayliss

Club's A35 (Saloon) Registrar, South Midlands Area Contact

Email, a35@austina30a35ownersclub.co.uk

Connected with A30/A35's for 63 years

A30/A35 Member A1372 (since 1981)
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A40FARINAGURU
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Re: A40 Farina Countryman restoration

Post by A40FARINAGURU »

mark d stokes wrote:your a brave man nick, was it really worth doing? looks very well past its sell by date, but well done in doing it!
thank you too Mark, a few years it wouldn't be viable but they are going up in value slowly, it's not really costing me much to do as 90 odd % of the work i'll do myself, it's a labour of love to a wonderful 'Manufacturer', now you can see why i haven't done dads A35 van & the A30 as i have been busy on this!
Nick Bayliss

Club's A35 (Saloon) Registrar, South Midlands Area Contact

Email, a35@austina30a35ownersclub.co.uk

Connected with A30/A35's for 63 years

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A40FARINAGURU
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Re: A40 Farina Countryman restoration

Post by A40FARINAGURU »

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otherside of heelboard

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new inner sill offered up

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jacking point welded in

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offside front floor

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bottom of main bulkhead

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new front floor repair welded in

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all welded to inner sill

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damaged rear passenger footwell offside

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better view of jacking point

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rear passenger floor cut out

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new rear floor made up

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all welded in now

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new cover sill temporary fitting to modify to a complete assy

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under the front end of the offside rear wheel arch

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front of rear wing repair panel offered up to check fitment

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front of offside inner wheel arch return made & fitted
Nick Bayliss

Club's A35 (Saloon) Registrar, South Midlands Area Contact

Email, a35@austina30a35ownersclub.co.uk

Connected with A30/A35's for 63 years

A30/A35 Member A1372 (since 1981)
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A40FARINAGURU
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Re: A40 Farina Countryman restoration

Post by A40FARINAGURU »

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old outer sill now off,most importantly get plenty of paint in those box sections

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jack support to keep the door gap correct

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all outer panels fitted in

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bottom of front wing all repaired now, so all the offside mid section is now back to solid steel
Nick Bayliss

Club's A35 (Saloon) Registrar, South Midlands Area Contact

Email, a35@austina30a35ownersclub.co.uk

Connected with A30/A35's for 63 years

A30/A35 Member A1372 (since 1981)
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