Esmerelda
Re: Esmerelda
Sounds like an intresting history Do tell
Bryan
1957 Austin A35 2 door Deluxe "Thomas"
1958 Austin A35 4 door "Dinky" Highly commended Heap of the show 2013 still surviving despite the owner!
Member of the Southampton and New Forest Group
This is a psychic screen you will believe me to be far more important when you see it
1957 Austin A35 2 door Deluxe "Thomas"
1958 Austin A35 4 door "Dinky" Highly commended Heap of the show 2013 still surviving despite the owner!
Member of the Southampton and New Forest Group
This is a psychic screen you will believe me to be far more important when you see it
-
- Posts: 1981
- Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 9:33 am
- Location: Lincolnshire
Re: Esmerelda
That tin worm has got teeth like a PIRANHA fish...............
Good luck chaps, if anyone can do it, you can ......................
I will follow this with great interest.
David
Good luck chaps, if anyone can do it, you can ......................
I will follow this with great interest.
David
A30/A35 Club Member 2002-
Lincolnshire Group member March 2002-Dec 2010.
Member of the organizing committee for the 2008 International Rally.
Belvoir Vale Group member(Lincolnshire) 2009-
Member of the Lincolnshire Vintage Vehicle Society 2002-
Lincolnshire Group member March 2002-Dec 2010.
Member of the organizing committee for the 2008 International Rally.
Belvoir Vale Group member(Lincolnshire) 2009-
Member of the Lincolnshire Vintage Vehicle Society 2002-
- Neil Evans
- Posts: 12179
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 1:06 am
- Committee Role: Technical Officer
- Location: Boston, Lincolnshire
- x 11
- x 25
Re: Esmerelda
Not so much its history. More that it's the oldest A35 van known to survive, having been made in the first few days of A35 production....Dinky wrote:Sounds like an intresting history Do tell
Club Technical Information Officer
A30/A35 Club Member A191 (since 1972)
Father of the club's only love child
A30/A35 Club Member A191 (since 1972)
Father of the club's only love child
-
- Posts: 4933
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:03 pm
- Location: Sheffield
Re: Esmerelda
Where the hell has that van been left to get like that,..............on a sea front somewhere?
John G
John G
John (Tight Yorkshireman)
First referred to as the Tight Yorkshireman in editions of the Clubs Spotlight: Autumn 1996 Page 40 and Autumn 1997 Page 15
First referred to as the Tight Yorkshireman in editions of the Clubs Spotlight: Autumn 1996 Page 40 and Autumn 1997 Page 15
- A40FARINAGURU
- Posts: 16412
- Joined: Tue Mar 30, 2010 8:14 am
- Committee Role: A35 Registrar
- Location: Birmingham (Home of the Austin)
- x 21
Re: Esmerelda
i once saw an A40 that was used by the seaside & the roof had rotted just above the gutters on the sidesTight Yorkshireman wrote:Where the hell has that van been left to get like that,..............on a sea front somewhere?
John G
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)
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)
Re: Esmerelda
There used to be one of those Cowley things seemingly abandoned on the seafront here in Southend, it sat there for two years getting rustier and rustier, until it finally appeared on Ebay. All the door bottoms, sills, wings and boot were well 'bubbled', and the whole car (it was white) was covered in rusty streaks. Oh how I laughed. Until I found extensive rot in most of my cars that is...
1959 Austin A35 '640 TMP'
+ various other classics
+ various other classics
- Neil Evans
- Posts: 12179
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 1:06 am
- Committee Role: Technical Officer
- Location: Boston, Lincolnshire
- x 11
- x 25
Re: Esmerelda
I first knew this van almost 40 years ago and it was a nightmare of pop riveted patches and filler then, the owner winning 'Heap of the Year' award at his first National Rally attendance, which he proudly talks of to this day. The van was regular transport in those days and was kept on the road by 'fire fighting' the advancing structural issues. I'm not sure when it finally came off the road, only that it was replaced with an A35 saloon around 20 years ago, that has since been the owner's everyday car.Tight Yorkshireman wrote:Where the hell has that van been left to get like that,..............on a sea front somewhere?
John G
The intention was always to rebuild the van and to that end, he has, over the years, gathered virtually all of the outer panels now needed to bring it back to life. Early retirement a year ago, released the required time and a new garage was built with the van's restoration in mind. Workshop completed, it soon became apparent that this rebuild needed a greater skill level than the owner posessed.
Club Technical Information Officer
A30/A35 Club Member A191 (since 1972)
Father of the club's only love child
A30/A35 Club Member A191 (since 1972)
Father of the club's only love child
-
- Posts: 4933
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:03 pm
- Location: Sheffield
Re: Esmerelda
Good luck with it Neil, you will crack it on what I have seen you do on this forum! Is this your biggest challenge?
John G
John G
John (Tight Yorkshireman)
First referred to as the Tight Yorkshireman in editions of the Clubs Spotlight: Autumn 1996 Page 40 and Autumn 1997 Page 15
First referred to as the Tight Yorkshireman in editions of the Clubs Spotlight: Autumn 1996 Page 40 and Autumn 1997 Page 15
- Neil Evans
- Posts: 12179
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 1:06 am
- Committee Role: Technical Officer
- Location: Boston, Lincolnshire
- x 11
- x 25
Re: Esmerelda
My biggest challenge, according to a former club president, is finding a woman of equal interlect who will put up with my idiosyncrasies...
As for vehicular challenges, restoration is easy. Replication of some of the pick-up panels is more of a challenge....
As for vehicular challenges, restoration is easy. Replication of some of the pick-up panels is more of a challenge....
Club Technical Information Officer
A30/A35 Club Member A191 (since 1972)
Father of the club's only love child
A30/A35 Club Member A191 (since 1972)
Father of the club's only love child
-
- Posts: 4933
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:03 pm
- Location: Sheffield
Re: Esmerelda
Does the second one apply to women too?Neil Evans wrote:My biggest challenge, according to a former club president, is finding a woman of equal interlect who will put up with my idiosyncrasies...
As for vehicular challenges, restoration is easy. Replication of some of the pick-up panels is more of a challenge....
John G
John (Tight Yorkshireman)
First referred to as the Tight Yorkshireman in editions of the Clubs Spotlight: Autumn 1996 Page 40 and Autumn 1997 Page 15
First referred to as the Tight Yorkshireman in editions of the Clubs Spotlight: Autumn 1996 Page 40 and Autumn 1997 Page 15
- Neil Evans
- Posts: 12179
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 1:06 am
- Committee Role: Technical Officer
- Location: Boston, Lincolnshire
- x 11
- x 25
Re: Esmerelda
The oddities I found on this very early A35. I've never seen either of these before....
The seat brackets have four positions rather than the later, more normal, three and are held in with countersunk screws...
The transmission tunnel is fabricated from two pieces welded together...
Noticed that the gear lever gaiter is fitted with bolts into captive nuts rather than self tappers into spring 'U' nuts and also that there are 8 (two on each side) rather than four.
The seat brackets have four positions rather than the later, more normal, three and are held in with countersunk screws...
The transmission tunnel is fabricated from two pieces welded together...
Noticed that the gear lever gaiter is fitted with bolts into captive nuts rather than self tappers into spring 'U' nuts and also that there are 8 (two on each side) rather than four.
Club Technical Information Officer
A30/A35 Club Member A191 (since 1972)
Father of the club's only love child
A30/A35 Club Member A191 (since 1972)
Father of the club's only love child
-
- Posts: 1752
- Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:19 pm
- Committee Role: Chairman
- Location: Newton Abbot, Devon
- x 1
Re: Esmerelda
An interesting beast Neil, I trust that the transmission tunnel will stay as it is along with the seat mounts. Little details like this usually mean a rewrite of the history of our vehicles from a construction and fabrication point of view. I wonder if any of the very early A35 saloons were also built like that??
Mark Bouskill
Chairman
Van and Countryman Registrar
Chairman
Van and Countryman Registrar
- Neil Evans
- Posts: 12179
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 1:06 am
- Committee Role: Technical Officer
- Location: Boston, Lincolnshire
- x 11
- x 25
Re: Esmerelda
The first day of continuous A35 production was the 2nd october 1956. A production records search revealed that this van was assembled on 25th september '56, making it a pre production model. So more than being the oldest A35 van, it's likely to also be the oldest surviving A35...Neil Evans wrote:This van will be restored whatever as it's quite an important survivor. Just how significant I'm still waiting to hear....
Club Technical Information Officer
A30/A35 Club Member A191 (since 1972)
Father of the club's only love child
A30/A35 Club Member A191 (since 1972)
Father of the club's only love child
- Countryboy
- Posts: 4377
- Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2010 11:45 pm
- Location: Leafy North Hampshire
- A40FARINAGURU
- Posts: 16412
- Joined: Tue Mar 30, 2010 8:14 am
- Committee Role: A35 Registrar
- Location: Birmingham (Home of the Austin)
- x 21
Re: Esmerelda
that has got to be done & it is what it is by the quirky construction of 'new' design components, i bet there is not another one close to that ageNeil Evans wrote:The first day of continuous A35 production was the 2nd october 1956. A production records search revealed that this van was assembled on 25th september '56, making it a pre production model. So more than being the oldest A35 van, it's likely to also be the oldest surviving A35...Neil Evans wrote:This van will be restored whatever as it's quite an important survivor. Just how significant I'm still waiting to hear....
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)
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)