Austin A35 5cwt van ‘Norman’

Key facts

Year

1961
Country

Great Britain
Capacity

948cc
Cylinders

4 cylinder
Valves

Overhead valve
Output

32bhp at 4,600rpm
Maximum speed

75mph
Performance

0-60mph 29 seconds
Price new

£368 10s (passenger seat £6 15s extra)
Owner

National Motor Museum Trust
Manufacturer

The Austin Motor Co. Ltd, Longbridge, Birmingham

This A35 van was donated to Ashington College, Northumberland by the Austin Motor Company in 1961. It was used for training young motor vehicle mechanics until 1995, clocking up just 4,700 miles. It was christened ‘Norman’ by its next owner. Sold again in 1998, at 6,610 miles, ‘Norman’ continued to live a charmed life in the ownership of a car enthusiast who used him to promote his company. He was even the subject of a limited edition Corgi model. Other than a respray, ‘Norman’ is in original condition, even the spare tyre is believed to date from 1961. ‘Norman’ has now travelled 9,400 miles.

Austin introduced the A35 in 1956, a revised and more powerful version of the earlier A30. The A35 range included two and four door saloons, Countryman estate cars, pick-ups and vans. 210,575 A35 vans were built by the time production ended in 1968.