1959 AUSTIN A35 - HRDC ACADEMY SPEC

This Austin A35 is a charming and competitive classic racing car, which has been fully overhauled and was built to HRDC Academy racing specifications, presenting in excellent mechanical order. It remains road legal, and therefore also makes for a fun and head-turning classic on the public highway.

Under the bonnet, the standard 948cc motor has been substituted for a 1,275cc inline-four race engine, supplied by Classic and Modern Engine Services (CMES). This is coupled to a four-speed manual gearbox. The odometer indicates 69,725 miles from new, though this is not warranted.

Created as an affordable ‘Control Series’, the Historic Racing Drivers Club Academy Series aims to open classic racing to a wider audience, with a greater focus on friendly competition in cars that can be built and maintained on a reasonable budget.

At first only open to the Austin A35, the Academy Series now welcomes the A30 and A40, as well as pre-1959 Morris Minor two-door saloons. To keep things fair and competitive, all cars must be fitted with a sealed 1,275cc engine maintained by CMES and must adhere to strict weight limits, among other regulations.

First registered on 19 June 1959, this A35 was rebuilt by Jack Mitchell Racing between 2017 and 2018 at significant expense. As well as its race engine, it also features a lightened body with fibreglass wings and boot lid, Perspex windows, a HRDC-spec roll cage and a largely stripped-out interior.

After a change of plans, the car was not used by Jack Mitchell Racing once it was completed, and was instead sold to its current owner approximately one year ago, who is now offering it for sale. Despite its racing intention, it has not yet been exercised on track, and just 314 miles have been covered on the 1,275cc engine and the Dunlop tyres.

The bodywork presents excellently, and the lightweight fibreglass wings and boot lid fit well, with sharp, even panel gaps. Resprayed in Speedwell Blue with an Austin Old English White roof, front grille and side flashes, the paintwork is in great condition, with a smooth, glossy appearance across the entire body. The car has picked up some small marks on its bumpers and within the door jambs, but these are minor blemishes and do not detract from its overall smart appearance.

The chrome trim surrounding the front grille and headlamps is in great shape and has been polished to a mirror finish, while the brown leather straps on the bonnet and boot lid provide an extra touch of period charm, as well as helping to secure them during heated moments on track.

Protected by wire grilles, the headlight lenses are free of any chips or cracks and the tail lights are also in good order. The car rides on a set of Minilite-style 13-inch alloy wheels, which present very well indeed, with only modest signs of wear.

On stepping into the interior, you are met by the MSA-compliant roll cage and the driver’s Corbeau bucket seat, which has been trimmed in a mixture of diamond-quilted peppermint green and smooth Old English White leather.

The same green leather with white piping features throughout the cabin, covering the passenger seat, transmission tunnel, door cards and rear bench. Presented in very good condition, it displays only modest signs of wear, including a rub mark on the driver’s side of the transmission tunnel.

In keeping with the car’s period style, the original steering wheel has been replaced with a handsome Mountney Classic wood-rimmed item, and the original gear knob has been swapped out for a playful No.14 pool ball item.

Fully converted for racing use, this A35’s carpeting and headlining have both been removed and harnesses are fitted for both the driver and passenger. Accompanying the white-backed Smiths gauges are a race-spec ignition switch and starter button, while a fire extinguisher has been mounted in the passenger footwell.

Built to a high standard and maintained by racing specialists, this A35 is in fine mechanical fettle. After it was purchased by the current owner, it was fully checked over by Foxcraft Racing. Following their inspection, they embarked on a substantial strip and rebuild, tending to the brakes, electrical system and cosmetic items, as well as repositioning the exhaust and replacing the oil, coolant and suspension bushes.

The car’s wheels are fitted with Dunlop Sport L-section cross-ply tyres, which are described by the seller as being in excellent condition having covered only a few hundred miles, but are not ideally suited to road use. However, this Austin is road legal, and the seller has enjoyed the occasional trip to the pub or local café behind the wheel.

This Austin A35 racing car is a charming and impeccably finished track-focused classic. Completed in 2018 and recently overhauled, it is in fantastic aesthetic and mechanical condition and was built to the HRDC Academy regulations at that time – though it will need to be inspected before competition. If you have ever wanted to take part in historic racing, then this represents a compelling entry point. Now is your chance to get behind the wheel at a fraction of the original build cost.

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