Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

gresham flyer · Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 814

I have an Austin A35 van 1965 with an identity plate in the engine bay it reads......
FISHOLOW
Fisher &Ludlow Ltd
Birmingham
Body no V54827

Did this company build the bodies for Austin.?

Also my van has fold down seats in the back and a chrome strip running around the middle of the exterior of the van.
Is this the deluxe version.?

Gresham

RUSTON · Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Posts: 122 Location: Matlock.

Google is your friend Gresham
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisher_and_Ludlow
Regarding the strip etc, I cant help you there I'm afraid, more of a Morris man! Smile

Pete.
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gresham flyer · Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 814

You might be the person to help about my Austin 6cwt van (morris Minor Van)
It was registered in 1972,one of the last made.Is there a register for these vans.?

Gresham

Roger-hatchy · Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Posts: 1710 Location: Tiptree, Essex

Hi Gresham

Just posted, well a couple of hours ago, an ebay link in the ebay thread for an A35 van.
There is a photo looking through the rear doors and not sure if it's fold down seats, there is what looks like a hinged panel towards the front.

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 1748 Location: Lancashire

Hi
Couple of possibilities, but a question first.
Does the headlining extend the whole length or just over the front seats?

An uncle had estate seats fitted in the back of a mini van so that could possibly be an option OR could it be that someone has had the rear/side windows of an estate blocked up so as to avoid purchase tax (That was before VAT for you youngsters)
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Rick · Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 8:30 pm Post subject:

Folding rear seats were an option for the A35 van, my '59 had them fitted (and it also had the thin chrome/stainless strip running around the sides and back). I can't remember offhand, but the vans went through a number of subtle evolutions over time, I think mine was an AV4 or AV5 type..

As penman hinted at, many vans were purchased to avoid the PT applicable to cars and estates (such as the A35 Countryman). Enterprising van owners then cut windows into the rear side panels, bolted in some seats, and hey presto they had an estate car and avoided the PT.

R
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Rick (Admin. oldclassiccar.co.uk)
Various 1930s-1960s relics - Austin, Morris, Bedford, Dodge etc.

Rick · Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 8:31 pm Post subject:

PS this is the one I had, a friend of mine has it now

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/a35-van.htm

RJ
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Rick (Admin. oldclassiccar.co.uk)
Various 1930s-1960s relics - Austin, Morris, Bedford, Dodge etc.

RUSTON · Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Posts: 122 Location: Matlock.

gresham flyer · Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 814

Hello,
The headlinning extends only over the cab area.
the van is totally original,i.e no widows cut or blocked up.
Perhaps the chrome strip around the exterior and the fold down seats were an option you could specify.

Gresham

JC T ONE · Joined: 30 Oct 2008 Posts: 631 Location: Denmark

Inglewood · Joined: 28 Dec 2010 Posts: 137 Location: Nottingham

Fisher & Ludlow became Pressed Steel Fisher. The factory still stands, it is now the Jaguar XK assembly building in Castle Bromwich.

Jeeves · Joined: 04 Oct 2010 Posts: 47 Location: Blandford, Dorset

Enterprising van owners then cut windows into the rear side panels, bolted in some seats, and hey presto they had an estate car and avoided the PT.

I remember a garage owner telling me years ago that this was not legal and if carried out it was to be reported to the relevant authority and the duty paid on the value of the van at the time of conversion.

In other word the duty was paid pro rata on an already registered van.

alfanut · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 2:46 pm Post subject:

Were they still making the A35 Countryman in 1965? Converted vans had a vent in the roof but Countrymen didn't. I don't think that there was a deluxe version, but the Countryman may have had more trim.

As far as conversions go, I think that you had to pay purchase tax if the vehicle was under a certain age (3 years?) but not if it was older.

Geoff

RotaryBri · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Posts: 377 Location: Warwick

The folding seats were made by a company called Restall Brothers in Smethwick, Birmingham. Now still going in West Bromwich and still making van seats! See:

http://www.restallgroup.co.uk/

A35s were very popular at that time for people changing from a motorcycle sidecar outfit.
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RotaryBri

gresham flyer · Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 814

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Some photo`s of the van. Apart from a respray in her lifetime she is totally original.
I will take some more in the morning of the interior.
With the later 1098cc engine that was fitted at this time she performs ok,I believe later vans built after this had a smaller engine fitted.
I need a better rear bumper that has a bit more shine to it,if anyone can help.

Gresham