Austin A35 fuel economy test

[mustang1]

I came across this on YouTube where the RAC tested an Austin Healey A35 to check it's fuel economy. I won't give any spoilers (and don't read the comments if you want to remain in suspense). Have at it!

Ps: IDK much about this car but wiki search shows that it was in production from 1956 for a few years.

 

[13 rider]

A jolly good show my man

 

[presta]

The guy who lived opposite me had an A35 van back in the 1960s. It was immaculate like all his cars, they only came out of the garage on Sundays, and he used to paint the underneath of them with old engine oil to prevent rust. After he swapped it for an Austin Cambridge a local garage ran his old van, and then after that a jewellers in the High Street ran it. I can't remember the last time I saw it around, but I think it might have been less than 20 years ago.

 

[Specialeyes]

An Austin Healey A35? Now that would have been something!
My brother and I competed in many classic trials (Lands End, Edinburgh etc) in a green Austin A35 in the mid-80s. Inevitably, it was called Tracey

 

[PeteXXX]

I had a 1952 A40 Devon saloon, a 1954 Devon Commercial van & a 1954 A40 Somerset during the late 70's/early 80's.
Lovely old cars but I have no idea whatsoever of the fuel consumption! Probably between 25 & 35 at a guess..

 

[siadwell]

When I was a kid, my dad bought an old A30 with a view to restoring it. He had very little mechanical knowledge and fell ill shortly after so it sat in the garage for years until he sold it on. I remember driving it up and down our drive, with an old chisel poked into the gearbox in lieu of a gearstick!
The engine was very simple and small and didn't fill the space under the bonnet, but I don't imagine the car was very economical.

 

[Cycleops]

The engine in the A35 was the ubiquitous A series that was also in the Morris Minor and later went on to power the Mini and other models, even sports cars like Austin Healy Sprite and MG Midget.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

lovely to see the clear roads on that video. Many years ago, when I was a nipper one of my Aunts had a A35, it had the big knob in the middle of the dashboard for the semaphore indicator arms that stuck out the side of the car.

 

[Grant Fondo]

quite impressive fuel economy ..... mind you its a 34hp engine

 

[gbb]

Very impressive fuel economy, 53 mpg, I thought maybe 35 when it started
The shot as it arrived in Lincoln brought back memories, we lived nearby in the late 60s, the archway looked very familiar.
Good video. Did everyone speak with that typical clipped voice you always see on TV from that time ?

 

[Juan Kog]

, it had the big knob in the middle of the dashboard

A lot of modern cars have a big knob , unfortunately it’s in the drivers seat.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

A lot of modern cars have a big knob , unfortunately it’s in the drivers seat.

I've seen a few of those over the years, both when I've been on the bike and when I've been in the car.

 

[Grant Fondo]

In real terms, petrol was quite high in the late 50's due to the Suez Crisis, around £1.70 litre in todays money, it had been less than half that 10 years earlier .... so handy that the A35 was good on petrol.
Best time to be a motorist was the 20's when tax on petrol was removed, so 50p/l in todays money.

 

[Chris S]

Very impressive fuel economy, 53 mpg, I thought maybe 35 when it started

At an average speed of 31.6mph though!

 

[tyred]

At an average speed of 31.6mph though!

That route seemed to involve a fair bit of urban driving and there were no motorways so the average speed isn't as bad as it first seems.