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chriswilliams782
Posts: 11
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 3:58 pm
Location: Lowestoft, Suffolk.

New member

Post by chriswilliams782 »

Hi all.
I have just joined the owners club and forum due to making the mistake of taking my wife along to a classic car auction.
This resulted in my wife falling in love with a 1953 A30. We are now the proud owners of GNL 705.
I have restored other 50's era cars, motorcycles and boats but this is my first Austin A.
Since getting the car home on Tuesday I have done a quick run round the basics. Brakes w/screen wipers, headlights all need sorting along with the bodywork being quite poor under a poor paint job.
The car came with absolutely no history at all so if anyone recognises the reg or knows anything about the history please get in touch.
I'm looking forward to asking a lot of silly questions and learning more about this cool little car.
1953 AS3 called Gladys. Suzuki GSXR 750 based home built bobber. 1974 Sunseeker power boat. All in various stages of disrepair. :roll:
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gazza82
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Re: New member

Post by gazza82 »

Welcome Chris ... and the only silly questions are the ones you don't ask :-)
"If you're driving on the edge ... you're leaving too much room!"

Club WebEditor.

Cars: "Project 757" '59 A35 2-door bought in 1971 & Subaru BRZ SE LUX Auto plus "family fleet": Alfa MiTo, Peugeot 206, (Ex '98 Alfa Romeo 156 2.0 TS)
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philipangus
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Location: Bangor Northern Ireland
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Re: New member

Post by philipangus »

Hi Chis

It's a great club. Plenty of good advice and information both from the officials and other members.

Only one problem - this year's national club rally is in Diss just down the road from you - so no excuses get that little car all fixed up for the end of May!

Philip - owner of Biddy, 1958 2-door A35
Alan
Posts: 3511
Joined: Sat May 23, 2009 5:10 pm
Committee Role: A30 Registrar
Location: Surrey/West Sussex

Re: New member

Post by Alan »

chriswilliams782 wrote:Hi all.
I have just joined the owners club and forum due to making the mistake of taking my wife along to a classic car auction.
This resulted in my wife falling in love with a 1953 A30. We are now the proud owners of GNL 705.
I have restored other 50's era cars, motorcycles and boats but this is my first Austin A.
Since getting the car home on Tuesday I have done a quick run round the basics. Brakes w/screen wipers, headlights all need sorting along with the bodywork being quite poor under a poor paint job.
The car came with absolutely no history at all so if anyone recognises the reg or knows anything about the history please get in touch.
I'm looking forward to asking a lot of silly questions and learning more about this cool little car.
this will certainly be an AS3 which was the forerunner to the A30. is the petrol filler cap on the back drivers side wing?

does it still have the original 803cc engine?
Modified 1963 AV8 A35 Van
Modified 1972 Rover P6 3500s

Austin A30 Owners club registrar
chriswilliams782
Posts: 11
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 3:58 pm
Location: Lowestoft, Suffolk.

Re: New member

Post by chriswilliams782 »

Yes it is an AS3. Still has the original 803 engine. I think an almost completely original car although there is a round heater fitted. Am I right in saying that probably wasn't original in the AS3?
1953 AS3 called Gladys. Suzuki GSXR 750 based home built bobber. 1974 Sunseeker power boat. All in various stages of disrepair. :roll:
mark d stokes
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Location: Cardiff S Wales home of the flying dragon............

Re: New member

Post by mark d stokes »

Hi chris..
Nice to hear about another as3 found.
The heater would be correct in being round on the as3.
Yours being quite a late one at chassis no 25,000 plus, its listed as being black on dvla data, so explains the poor paint job. As3 are a different beast to later a30s, door, bulkhead, seats , steering wheel, front panel for starters! my personal fav model of all the one produced
chriswilliams782
Posts: 11
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 3:58 pm
Location: Lowestoft, Suffolk.

Re: New member

Post by chriswilliams782 »

Thanks Mark

I now have the BMIH certificate for it and it was originally Coronet cream but now black.
I have now refurbished the brakes including master cylinder rebuild and front cylinders now have new pistons and seals. I am still trying to revive the wiper motor but I think it may be too far gone, the side walls have worn through.
I will update as things progress.
1953 AS3 called Gladys. Suzuki GSXR 750 based home built bobber. 1974 Sunseeker power boat. All in various stages of disrepair. :roll:
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David Swain
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Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2012 7:08 pm
Location: Suffolk

Re: New member

Post by David Swain »

Hello and welcome Chris, sounds like you have a nice little car there, not sure on the wipers, seems that quite often the grease has hardened, and with removal and replacing with new grease they go again, Austin of England has just done a nice write up with photos on this in His thread, although His is a later model, may still be relevant to you. I am down in Leiston if you find that you need help. Would love to see some photos. :D
David Swain. Member No. A1743
Contact for 'The Suffolk Group'.
Contact Email suffolk@austina30a35ownersclub.co.uk

A30 van 55 'R.G. Swain', A35 4 Door 59 'Little Gem', A35 2 Door 59 'The Rev' '+1'
chriswilliams782
Posts: 11
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 3:58 pm
Location: Lowestoft, Suffolk.

Re: New member

Post by chriswilliams782 »

Hi David

I was hoping that would be the case with the wiper motor but the gearbox is fine once the grease was cleaned out. The motor body cylinder where the armature spins is worn through the sidewalls and I can only get the motor running for a couple of seconds before it slows to a stop.
I will post some pictures as soon as I can work out how to make them small enough to post to the forum :bash:
1953 AS3 called Gladys. Suzuki GSXR 750 based home built bobber. 1974 Sunseeker power boat. All in various stages of disrepair. :roll:
chriswilliams782
Posts: 11
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 3:58 pm
Location: Lowestoft, Suffolk.

Re: New member

Post by chriswilliams782 »

Thanks for pointing me towards Austin of England's write up. It's extremely good but unfortunately I have done everything included in his feed but still no joy.
I'm offshore working at the moment so can't play with anything for a little while.
When I get back I hope to finish sorting the wiper motor then get onto the multiple oil leaks. Got to love the A series engines.
1953 AS3 called Gladys. Suzuki GSXR 750 based home built bobber. 1974 Sunseeker power boat. All in various stages of disrepair. :roll:
chriswilliams782
Posts: 11
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 3:58 pm
Location: Lowestoft, Suffolk.

Re: New member

Post by chriswilliams782 »

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1953 AS3 called Gladys. Suzuki GSXR 750 based home built bobber. 1974 Sunseeker power boat. All in various stages of disrepair. :roll:
chriswilliams782
Posts: 11
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2018 3:58 pm
Location: Lowestoft, Suffolk.

Re: New member

Post by chriswilliams782 »

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1953 AS3 called Gladys. Suzuki GSXR 750 based home built bobber. 1974 Sunseeker power boat. All in various stages of disrepair. :roll:
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