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Austin A35 - cheap racing?

Started by TerryS , Nov 06 2019 06:35

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11 replies to this topic

#1 TerryS

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Joined: March 16

Posted 06 November 2019 - 06:35

Being from down under I know nothing about A35 racing I admit. But I was surprised by this ad:

For sale for GBP35,000 but it cost GBP80,000 to build

https://racecarsdire...-speedwell-1958

Is this normal?

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#2 GazChed

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698 posts
Joined: January 17

Posted 06 November 2019 - 07:09

£35k for a potential invite to Goodwood ? Sounds like a bargain to me ! Leading historic racer Michael Caine has recently put his FIA spec Mini Cooper S on racecarsdirect - cost £75k to build yours for £68k raced at just two race weekends ( Goodwood Members Meeting and Silverstone Classic ) .

Regarding the build cost it seems the sky's the limit these days . However most HRDC races ( the series most suited to the A35 ) feature packed grids so people are obviously prepared to pay the price . A few years ago , I watched an HRDC race which was won by a ' new ' Lotus Cortina built by the Jordan team ( as in BTCC racers Andrew and Mike ) . This car was later advertised for just under £130k . You pays your money , you takes your choice.....

Edited by GazChed, 06 November 2019 - 10:05.

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#3 GazChed

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Joined: January 17

Posted 06 November 2019 - 08:15

Further to my post above I recall a thread featuring an Australian car auction a few months ago . Most of the attention was focused on a certain saloon car as far as I remember , but my attention was caught by a very smart looking and rebuilt Lotus 61 Historic Formula Ford . Ready to race the guide price was about £18K IIRC but it didn't attract a bid . In the U.K. similar cars are advertised at twice the price . Therefore it could just be that prices are much higher in the U.K. . Maybe U.K. based competitors should be looking half way round the world for their next car !

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#4 ceesvdelst

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Joined: September 19

Posted 06 November 2019 - 13:04

And people wonder why it costs thousands of pounds to enter these events and ticket prices are so high. it is a very exclusive club now it seems, and you need be almost super rick to be involved, quite sad really and I mean that in a participating way, not a condescending one.

It's rather worrying, but I suppose while there are rich people desperate and prepared to pay 80 grand for a runabout, why not fleece them for all you can!! especially if you are building them

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#5 Charlieman

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Joined: October 09

Posted 06 November 2019 - 15:23

Is this a car built for the HRDC A30/A35 spec car series? I'm presuming that is the case. Reading the list of modifications (and web sites showing the approved parts for the series), I'm unsure how a car built in such a way qualifies for other races except as a heavily modified period saloon. The car comprises an A35 body shell with a roll cage, drive train and suspension parts from the racing Spridget catalogue (so almost period) and some very special bits for racing practicality -- drive shafts, pedal box, cooling, GRP wings etc.

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#6 Sterzo

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Joined: September 11

Posted 06 November 2019 - 17:21

Being from down under I know nothing about A35 racing I admit. But I was surprised by this ad:

For sale for GBP35,000 but it cost GBP80,000 to build

Is this normal?

Ah, but that is a 2019 Austin A35, not to be confused with a 1957 Austin A35, which would be

- green

- filled with pipe smoke

- driven slowly by my uncle

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#7 Dipster

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572 posts
Joined: April 10

Posted 06 November 2019 - 17:41

Ah, but that is a 2019 Austin A35, not to be confused with a 1957 Austin A35, which would be

- green

- filled with pipe smoke

- driven slowly by my uncle

Or confused with a blue 1960 A35 van my Dad owned in 1966 and let me borrow. I learned just how chuckable they were-great fun and I loved it! Note too that James Hunt loved his didn´t he?

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#8 alansart

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Joined: March 07

Posted 06 November 2019 - 18:54

Beware. These things have a habit of tipping over if provoked

Potts_A35 by Alan Raine, on Flickr

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#9 GazChed

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698 posts
Joined: January 17

Posted 06 November 2019 - 20:06

To answer Charlieman's question , this car is not constructed to the HRDC's spec Academy series , which features a standard 1275cc engine and MG Midget 4 speed gearbox but the more highly modified Speedwell class . Price wise Academy cars appear to sell for circa £15k-£20k while Speedwell class cars are , as in this case , around twice the price .