RE: My First Car: Austin A30
Discussion
tigerkoi] I think they have such character in their headlamps and their overall shape is very 'kindly uncle' [if you get what I mean!!!! said:
. Seem to have a reassuringly solid fanbase. 
I think a lot of old cars have that feel to them. Not the supercars but the everyday cars people used to drive. Graet Article Bruce much enjoyed.
Oh the memories of early driving!. First car, box standard mini, rolled it 3 months after learning to drive, took test in it 2 weeks later and had to kick passenger door open to let in examiner. After I reassured him it had an MOT he took me for test and passed me. Obviously too scared to ever want to see me again.
Oh the memories of early driving!. First car, box standard mini, rolled it 3 months after learning to drive, took test in it 2 weeks later and had to kick passenger door open to let in examiner. After I reassured him it had an MOT he took me for test and passed me. Obviously too scared to ever want to see me again.
What a brilliant recollection of driving those 'lovely' old cars. My first experience was a 1957 Morris Minor which I think had the 948 engine with a little more than 30hp ( I don't think it was bhp in those days) with no syncro on first. So learning to double declutch came in useful when racing Mini Miglias in the 1990's. But yes, some hills proved that a speedo will consistently read zero and yet you're still moving.
Your story about removing the carpets reminded me of my second car which was a real upgrade, being a mid 60's 997 Mini Cooper ( £180 worth) where air conditioning meant exactly that, although it was an absolute bu**er to start (twin carbs which needed regular tweaking - ear to the intake trying to ensure they sounded the same) and a sub frame that mysteriously snapped completely (and I mean snapped) leaving me to drive bome with a rather lopsided car one midnight after the local plod had decided to check it out.
Give them their due, they at least let me drive on.
Youngsters today, don't know they've been born!
Your story about removing the carpets reminded me of my second car which was a real upgrade, being a mid 60's 997 Mini Cooper ( £180 worth) where air conditioning meant exactly that, although it was an absolute bu**er to start (twin carbs which needed regular tweaking - ear to the intake trying to ensure they sounded the same) and a sub frame that mysteriously snapped completely (and I mean snapped) leaving me to drive bome with a rather lopsided car one midnight after the local plod had decided to check it out.
Give them their due, they at least let me drive on.
Youngsters today, don't know they've been born!
I should have added, having read some of the other comments, that a friend bought a very nice looking Morris Minor (when they were THE car to own!) but the first time it rained it started exhibiting a huge amount of soap suds. A subsequent examination of the wings found that below the immaculately adhered fibre glass were a number of the foam filled wire mesh saucepan cleaners Brillo Pads!
My Wife's mother bought her A30 new in 1954 (Posh version. Two ash trays and three yes three sunvisors!!!) and we took it over as my wife's car in 1978 when her Mum replaced it with an Austin Allegro (
). My wife used it for a couple of years as a Daily commute and we kept it on the road without much trouble. Eventually sold her on in about 1988 (55K on the clock in 34 years) when we had two kids, three cars and not enough space.
We did think the old girl (A30 not Mother in Law) had given up the ghost one day when it juddered to a hlt on the drive and wouldn't turn over on the crank handle. Took the plugs out for a look and it did turn on the crank but showered me with water, Stripped down the top end of the engine (1/2 hour job!) Feared the worst but no cracks in the block or head. Wife then noticed that the windscreen washer bottle was empty and she had filled it up the day before
. The factory fitted windscreen washer pump was vacuum assisted and the vacuum came from the inlet manifold. The seals had given way after 25 years and instantly flooded the pistons with the contents of a full water bottle.
My brother started his car ownership by cannibalising two A30s to make one runner. We towed one back from Reading to Woking with my Dad in the tow car (His brand new Austin 3 Litre) and me behind the wheel of the A30. The A30 had virtually no brakes and the hand brake did nothing but we could still get it in gear. After a couple of miles the A30 had absolutely no brakes and going downhill I started to catch up Dad in his new pride and joy!! Ignition was on! Hit the horn to warn him, but got nothing but sparks and smoke from the centre of the steering wheel. No foot brake! no hand brake! Options were getting a bit limited by now so I rammed it in gear and, and it went in! So I let out the clutch but nothing happened!! No horrible grinding noises, no engine breaking. Sod all.
My Dad had noticed me getting a bit adgitated in his rear mirror so pulled smartly into an approaching bus stop expecting me to follow but I sailed on by with the towrope snapping just in time to avoid a collision. I began to feel a bit lonely at the sight of my dad and brother disappearing behind me but I had to apply my very inexperienced driving knowledge to what to do next and the bend at the bottom of the hill was approaching fast. In the end I managed to scrub a bit of the speed off against the pavement kerb which quickly turned into a grassy bank which finally stopped me. When my old man and brother caught up My dad asked why I hadn't just put it in gear. I insisted that I had and a bit of a Father/son barney ensued. It ended with my brother admitting rather sheepishly that he was fairly sure that the propshaft had been disconnected.
Brother then went upmarket to an A40 countryman but that cars rear springs came up through the floor on the M6 one night on one fo his trips up to Liverpool Uni overloaded with student gear.
I loved these old cars they were so easy to work on, dirt cheap to run and you learned a lot. Wife skidded on ice into a wall on ice in hers one night. Couple of stones knocked off the wall and car only slightly scratched. These days the crumple zones would cost a bomb to replace.
Having said that, the last time I drove an A30 on modern roads it scared the life out of me. You had to plan everything half a mile in advance, allow for cross winds and anticipate where the road surface was going to pitch you next. It was more like sailing a boat than driving a car.
HAPPY DAYS
). My wife used it for a couple of years as a Daily commute and we kept it on the road without much trouble. Eventually sold her on in about 1988 (55K on the clock in 34 years) when we had two kids, three cars and not enough space. We did think the old girl (A30 not Mother in Law) had given up the ghost one day when it juddered to a hlt on the drive and wouldn't turn over on the crank handle. Took the plugs out for a look and it did turn on the crank but showered me with water, Stripped down the top end of the engine (1/2 hour job!) Feared the worst but no cracks in the block or head. Wife then noticed that the windscreen washer bottle was empty and she had filled it up the day before
. The factory fitted windscreen washer pump was vacuum assisted and the vacuum came from the inlet manifold. The seals had given way after 25 years and instantly flooded the pistons with the contents of a full water bottle.My brother started his car ownership by cannibalising two A30s to make one runner. We towed one back from Reading to Woking with my Dad in the tow car (His brand new Austin 3 Litre) and me behind the wheel of the A30. The A30 had virtually no brakes and the hand brake did nothing but we could still get it in gear. After a couple of miles the A30 had absolutely no brakes and going downhill I started to catch up Dad in his new pride and joy!! Ignition was on! Hit the horn to warn him, but got nothing but sparks and smoke from the centre of the steering wheel. No foot brake! no hand brake! Options were getting a bit limited by now so I rammed it in gear and, and it went in! So I let out the clutch but nothing happened!! No horrible grinding noises, no engine breaking. Sod all.
My Dad had noticed me getting a bit adgitated in his rear mirror so pulled smartly into an approaching bus stop expecting me to follow but I sailed on by with the towrope snapping just in time to avoid a collision. I began to feel a bit lonely at the sight of my dad and brother disappearing behind me but I had to apply my very inexperienced driving knowledge to what to do next and the bend at the bottom of the hill was approaching fast. In the end I managed to scrub a bit of the speed off against the pavement kerb which quickly turned into a grassy bank which finally stopped me. When my old man and brother caught up My dad asked why I hadn't just put it in gear. I insisted that I had and a bit of a Father/son barney ensued. It ended with my brother admitting rather sheepishly that he was fairly sure that the propshaft had been disconnected.
Brother then went upmarket to an A40 countryman but that cars rear springs came up through the floor on the M6 one night on one fo his trips up to Liverpool Uni overloaded with student gear.
I loved these old cars they were so easy to work on, dirt cheap to run and you learned a lot. Wife skidded on ice into a wall on ice in hers one night. Couple of stones knocked off the wall and car only slightly scratched. These days the crumple zones would cost a bomb to replace.
Having said that, the last time I drove an A30 on modern roads it scared the life out of me. You had to plan everything half a mile in advance, allow for cross winds and anticipate where the road surface was going to pitch you next. It was more like sailing a boat than driving a car.
HAPPY DAYS
My 1st car was also an A30. A 1955 2 door in light(ish)grey,reg number RLC 972 with a recon 948cc engine , and aged 16 (in July 1974 ) I bought her for £50 from an incredibly posh girl who lived in a vicarage on Chelsea Embankment. I'd convinced my dear old dad,( then an "old bloke" of 47!) that I'd "work" on the car in the drive and wouldn't drive it till I was 17.............
I think he got wind that I might be tempted onto the open roads , so he confiscated the ignition key. But not before I had a copy made........
I even registered RLC 972 with the 6th form college I attended from Sept-Dec 74. The fact I was only 16 didn't seem to bother them too much.St lunchtimes I remember going to the Breakers Yard in Colindeep Lane NW9 ( Metro I think) and picking up secondhand carbs at 2 quid a go.
As midnight struck on the 6th March 1975 I was sitting in my little A30 and, with my long suffering dad, I drove out onto the public highway, for the 1st time,legally.
She stayed with me for about 3 years, being used by my mum once I'd got a company car. She became increasingly prone to breaking down for no apparent reason (probably for the want of a recon coil?)and after one breakdown too many on the A41 , my dad decided that a breakers yard in the East End of London was where RLC 972 would be going next.
So, I ashamed to say, the last journey she and I made was being towed by my dad's Cortina 2000XL the 20 odd miles from home to what I assume to be her final resting place.
I've thought about RLC 972 from time to time. I passed the vicarage a few months ago with my youngest daughter ( now 19!), and I told her the story of my A30. I'm still car nut and I've had 100+ cars since then.
But your 1st car is like your 1st girlfriend- you still remember her name long after she has gone. And my dear old dad is 81 and he still asks me what favourite ever car was. Next time he asks, intead of saying that it's my next one, I'll tell him that it was RLC 972.
Oh happy days.
Mike Greene
I think he got wind that I might be tempted onto the open roads , so he confiscated the ignition key. But not before I had a copy made........
I even registered RLC 972 with the 6th form college I attended from Sept-Dec 74. The fact I was only 16 didn't seem to bother them too much.St lunchtimes I remember going to the Breakers Yard in Colindeep Lane NW9 ( Metro I think) and picking up secondhand carbs at 2 quid a go.
As midnight struck on the 6th March 1975 I was sitting in my little A30 and, with my long suffering dad, I drove out onto the public highway, for the 1st time,legally.
She stayed with me for about 3 years, being used by my mum once I'd got a company car. She became increasingly prone to breaking down for no apparent reason (probably for the want of a recon coil?)and after one breakdown too many on the A41 , my dad decided that a breakers yard in the East End of London was where RLC 972 would be going next.
So, I ashamed to say, the last journey she and I made was being towed by my dad's Cortina 2000XL the 20 odd miles from home to what I assume to be her final resting place.
I've thought about RLC 972 from time to time. I passed the vicarage a few months ago with my youngest daughter ( now 19!), and I told her the story of my A30. I'm still car nut and I've had 100+ cars since then.
But your 1st car is like your 1st girlfriend- you still remember her name long after she has gone. And my dear old dad is 81 and he still asks me what favourite ever car was. Next time he asks, intead of saying that it's my next one, I'll tell him that it was RLC 972.
Oh happy days.
Mike Greene
marcosal said:
. . .the last time I drove an A30 on modern roads it scared the life out of me. You had to plan everything half a mile in advance, allow for cross winds and anticipate where the road surface was going to pitch you next. It was more like sailing a boat than driving a car.
It would make driving alot safer . . . folk depend way too much on their nanny-gadgetery nowadays.Fantastic article, Bruce.
My Dad is not a petrolhead in the slightest, however, there are two cars he's always 'admired' to the point that he'd now, in his retirement, quite like to see on his drive. A Scimitar GTE and an Austin A30.
As he knows little or nothing about classic car ownership, I've suggested the Austin might be a slightly less painful introduction. I've sent him this article in the hope it may stir him further!
Just got to tell him to keep an eye out for a lumpen footwell
My Dad is not a petrolhead in the slightest, however, there are two cars he's always 'admired' to the point that he'd now, in his retirement, quite like to see on his drive. A Scimitar GTE and an Austin A30.
As he knows little or nothing about classic car ownership, I've suggested the Austin might be a slightly less painful introduction. I've sent him this article in the hope it may stir him further!
Just got to tell him to keep an eye out for a lumpen footwell
I had a 1965 Mk 1 Cortina Estate DEW 546C bought for £120 sold 4 years later for £100 with the 1200cc Anglia engine so only 3 main bearings when I bought it the man said stick to 60mph and you will be OK faster you will knock the centre bearing out. Resprayed it and rebuilt the front wings around the headlamps and filled many other holes with P38 filler. Being an estate and at Reading Uni discovered when we went out drinking towards places like Checkendon where the good pubs were could get 7 people in 2 in the front 3 on the back seat and 2 in the load space with the headlights looking for low flying aircraft.
Car did me well for 3 years until a piston broke up a triangular piece out of the side engine still ran but left clouds of oil smoke from the open breather. Rebuilt engine one WE and we were off again until rear wheel bearings went replaced them and sold it had done 120,000 cheap motoring.
Car did me well for 3 years until a piston broke up a triangular piece out of the side engine still ran but left clouds of oil smoke from the open breather. Rebuilt engine one WE and we were off again until rear wheel bearings went replaced them and sold it had done 120,000 cheap motoring.
Peppka said:
I had a 1965 Mk 1 Cortina Estate DEW 546C bought for £120 sold 4 years later for £100 with the 1200cc Anglia engine so only 3 main bearings when I bought it the man said stick to 60mph and you will be OK faster you will knock the centre bearing out. Resprayed it and rebuilt the front wings around the headlamps and filled many other holes with P38 filler. Being an estate and at Reading Uni discovered when we went out drinking towards places like Checkendon where the good pubs were could get 7 people in 2 in the front 3 on the back seat and 2 in the load space with the headlights looking for low flying aircraft.
Car did me well for 3 years until a piston broke up a triangular piece out of the side engine still ran but left clouds of oil smoke from the open breather. Rebuilt engine one WE and we were off again until rear wheel bearings went replaced them and sold it had done 120,000 cheap motoring.
We got 7 in an A40 with the rear seat down and 5 in the back sat transversely. Yes, we did get stopped by the Police.... Car did me well for 3 years until a piston broke up a triangular piece out of the side engine still ran but left clouds of oil smoke from the open breather. Rebuilt engine one WE and we were off again until rear wheel bearings went replaced them and sold it had done 120,000 cheap motoring.
LuS1fer said:
Peppka said:
I had a 1965 Mk 1 Cortina Estate. Being an estate and at Reading Uni discovered when we went out drinking towards places like Checkendon where the good pubs were could get 7 people in 2 in the front 3 on the back seat and 2 in the load space with the headlights looking for low flying aircraft.
We got 7 in an A40 with the rear seat down and 5 in the back sat transversely. Yes, we did get stopped by the Police.... marcosal said:
<snipping the rest of the wonderful story> When my old man and brother caught up My dad asked why I hadn't just put it in gear. I insisted that I had and a bit of a Father/son barney ensued. It ended with my brother admitting rather sheepishly that he was fairly sure that the propshaft had been disconnected.
An Irish friend got his first car from a "scrappy". It hadn't been there long and so was almost complete - except for the steering wheel. He drove it home using a pair of Molegrips clamped to the exposed end of the steering column!
A guy I knew years ago had a TR6 with virtually no brakes.
He used to slow down for the pub car park by rubbing it along the perimeter wall til it came to a stop.
I had a Moggy thou' in which the only reason the driver's bum wasn't in contact with the road, was that the seat was tied to the seatbelt.
Didn't stop me driving her all the way from York to London in a blizzard, as I'd sold the registration plate to someone down there, and it was worth a fortune compared to the car.
Still love all those old BMC classics though.
He used to slow down for the pub car park by rubbing it along the perimeter wall til it came to a stop.
I had a Moggy thou' in which the only reason the driver's bum wasn't in contact with the road, was that the seat was tied to the seatbelt.
Didn't stop me driving her all the way from York to London in a blizzard, as I'd sold the registration plate to someone down there, and it was worth a fortune compared to the car.
Still love all those old BMC classics though.
Back in the early 1970's my father had two and an A35 as well. One was kept in the garden. He managed to purchase that one VERY cheaply as it had been rolled and the roof was twisted and therfore it was just used for bits (engine, headlights, gearbox etc).
Great toy to play with when you are about 5 years old.
What I do remember is that it had a Bakelite twist knob arrangement on the top of the dashboard for the indicators.
Funny thing is that a forklift I spotted the other day had exactly the same!
Great toy to play with when you are about 5 years old.
What I do remember is that it had a Bakelite twist knob arrangement on the top of the dashboard for the indicators.
Funny thing is that a forklift I spotted the other day had exactly the same!
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