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A Presidential Welcome from Pete Norbury

Welcome to the website of the Austin A30/A35 Owners' Club, a resource for all enthusiasts and friends of these baby Austins.

The website contains much information about the cars and activities and events of the club but if you have a specific question please make contact via the email address.

Based in the UK, the Austin A30/A35Owners' Club was founded in 1970 and has engendered a successful and enduring family-friendly atmosphere that has acquired an international reputation. The Club has a worldwide membership with fellow enthusiasts in many places including Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Africa, USA and mainland Europe.

The Austin A30/A35 Owners' Club is administered by a National Committee of volunteer members willing to undertake certain roles and responsibilities to ensure the smooth running of the Club. This committee is supported by a network of Local Groups. Should a member find there is not a local group near where they live, contact the Group Co-ordinator who will be able to assist you in starting one. Contact details of Local Groups can be found in the Club magazines and I know you will be made most welcome.

The Club publishes four high quality magazines each year - Spotlight in summer and winter, Sidelights in spring and autumn. They contain many articles on our vehicles, historical facts and figures, technical and spares information and Local Group reports with news of local rallies and other activities. Members also receive an eighty page Spares and Services Booklet which contains a wealth of valuable information relating to our vehicles such as spares availability, modifications and alternative parts, identification details of the 13 different models that make up the A30 & A35 range, together with much other useful information.

The highlight of each year is the International Rally that is held on the last weekend of May. The venue for the Rally moves to a different part of the UK dependent on which local group organizes it. Members with or without their A30 & A35s from all over the world attend, meeting old friends probably not seen since the previous year and making new acquaintances. Vehicles may be entered in the various classes for judging and trophies are awarded. Club regalia is available and many spares change hands.

The Club hosts a stand at the NEC at the Classic Car and Restoration Show held annually in spring, and the Classic Motor Show also held annually in November where a number of members vehicles are displayed, not necessarily all showpiece vehicles, as everyday use cars and restoration projects always attract attention. Club stands are also organised at regional events such as the Bristol Classic Car Show and Beaulieu Autojumbles.

Benefits of membership include a Club spares scheme, stocking good quality components many of which are unavailable elsewhere, an approved insurance scheme and a members-only section on this website.

I have personally owned six A30 & A35s since 1984.

  • In 1984 i bought my first A30 & A35 - a 1965 A35 van conversion ("Harry") from my father-in-law, which we still own and are hoping to have ready for the Clubs 50th Anniversary in 2020. It was taken off the road to put the bodywork right!
  • So I purchased a 1954 A30 2-door saloon in its place — telling myself it wouldn’t take too long to sort out, and would be quicker than the van restoration. Later sold to a local member in Stockport.
  • I then bought "Nesta", the A35 Countryman (Van conversion) named after the late Miss Nesta Worrell. No-one argued with Nesta — what a wonderful woman with a wicked sense of humour. Used on Euro visit to Holland in 2001. Later sold to a club member in the Southampton area, and I believe now bought by a member in the Midlands.
  • I later bought a A30 2 door saloon from the local college and a A35 2 door saloon from the Stores Manager where I worked, both in the same week !! I realised the A30 would be the easiest to recommission/reassemble and drove it to the National Rally, which was being held at Beamish Museum, and where it was bought by a club member living in Nottinghamshire. The A35 Tweed Grey/Red roof 2-door saloon was then started on and became known as "Lucky 1", for obvious reasons. He was used on Euro visits in 2004 to Sweden, and again in 2008 to Norway. "Lucky 1" as also used at my Son and Daughter-in-Law's wedding. Sold to a club member in Middlewich. Now owned by a member in the Oswestry area and called Ruby.
  • I bought "Lucky 2" - a 1957 A35 2 door saloon in Tweed Grey with a Blue roof from a member in the Blackburn area in a sorry state. Used on Euro visits to both Holland and Denmark. Later sold to a Lancs group member in Blackburn.
  • Then along came "Jack" - the 1958 A35 Island Blue 2-door saloon which was bought from the late club member Jack Hardaker from Preston. Euro visit to Denmark along with a Lancs group member in his A30 saloon. Since been sold in 2018 to a Club member in Gloucestershire.
  • Presently need to finish a mini saloon (70% done).and then get stuck into the Van, and hopefully have finished in time for the next International 50th Club Anniversary Rally in 2020.

I have driven most of the cars/vans on the various Continental Club Events over the years including Holland, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark, Norway and even the Isle of Man. So with some TLC preparation and trust in your vehicle nothing is impossible. (Plus a few spares and tools) and yes I do have a modern car a 2005 Volvo ( will soon be a classic itself !!).

So please accept our invitation to join up with the hundreds of other enthusiasts in the Austin A30/A35 Owners' Club and I will look forward to meeting you at some of our club events. Return to the top of this page and click on "Join the club", I am sure you will not regret it.

Pete Norbury - Club President 2019 on

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