1954 AUSTIN A35 - HRDC ACADEMY SPEC

KEY FACTS

• A charming British classic, which has been prepared to a high standard in line with HRDC Academy Series specifications, and is presented in very good overall condition.
• Under the bonnet is a 1,275cc inline-four race engine, which was supplied by specialist Classic and Modern Engine Services (CMES) and is mated to a four-speed manual transmission.
• First registered in November 1954, this A30 was acquired by the seller in 2015, when it had only two prior keepers and its odometer displayed just 29,000 miles.
• It was then rebuilt to HRDC Academy series specifications at a cost of more than £40,000 in preparation for the 2017 racing season, but ‘DJ’ - as the car has become known - was placed into storage and never saw action on the track.
• The car remains road registered, and has covered less than 50 miles since the rebuild.

EQUIPMENT AND FEATURES

• Created as an affordable ‘Control Series’, the Historic Racing Drivers Club (HRDC) Academy Series aims to open classic car racing to a wider audience, with a focus on friendly competition at a reasonable cost.
• Open to the Austin A35, A30, A40 and pre-1959 Morris Minor two-door saloons, the series requires that all cars must be fitted with a sealed 1,275cc engine, as seen in this example.
• All HRDC Academy cars must also adhere to strict weight limits, and this A30 has been fitted with a fibreglass bonnet, boot lid and front wings.
• It is finished in a handsome maroon hue with an Austin Old English White roof, front grille and side flashes, in line with HRDC requirements.
• The cabin has been fully stripped out and fitted with a heavily bolstered Kirkey Racing bucket seat fitted with TRS harnesses, an HRDC-spec roll cage and a fire extinguisher.
• The car comes with a set of 13-inch Minilite-style alloy road wheels, and a separate set of Minilite racing wheels, which are in great shape.
• This A30 will be accompanied by a number of documents and invoices, which detail its full rebuild to Academy specifications.

CONDITION

• Having been repaired, sandblasted and seam welded, the bodywork is in great shape, with no known prior damage.
• Resprayed in its current maroon and cream colour scheme, the paintwork is in good overall condition, with a few small scratches and marks around the car, which were caused while it was in storage.
• Inside, the stripped-out cabin presents very well, as shown in the photo gallery.
• There are no known electrical or mechanical faults with the vehicle.
• This A30’s last MOT test was conducted on 16 March 2015 at an indicated 29,901 miles, resulting in a clean, first-time pass.

SERVICE HISTORY

• This A30’s mechanical components were most recently tended to during its full conversion to HRDC Academy specifications in 2016/2017.
• Carried out by Chris Snowdon Racing, this included fitting the 1275cc engine, four-speed transmission and rear differential, as well as replacing all of the car’s hoses and brake lines, fitting its aftermarket suspension components and renewing the wiring, among many other items.

SUMMARY

This Austin A30 racing car is a characterful and well-prepared British classic. Built to HRDC Academy requirements in 2017, it would benefit from light recommissioning and will need to be inspected prior to competition, but represents an excellent entry point into historic racing.

The description of this auction lot is, to the best of the seller's knowledge, accurate and not misleading. Collecting Cars requests a range of detail about the lot from the seller, and performs a level of due diligence. However, bidders must satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the description, and conduct any research they feel is necessary before committing to a bid. Please see our Terms and Conditions for full details.

All UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Collecting Cars are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and has no finance owing.