Austin news

Accessible Classics No. 1 - Austin A30/A35

First book in a brand new series on 'favourite' old cars, from a fresh publishing company... In recent years much has been written about exotic sports machinery (and quite rightly so), but less has been published on 'everyday' classic models which are fondly remembered, and still enjoyed today by enthusiasts. This new 'Accessible Classics' series aims to redress the balance.

'Accessible Classics No. 1 - Austin A30/A35' - includes detailed historical aspects, but also comprehensively covers buying, running, maintaining, preserving and most of all enjoying the cars today. It is published by Classic Car Publishing Ltd., and represents the fulfilment of a dream held for 30 years by the book's author (and founder of the new company) Kim Henson, who is a passionate devotee and user of classic vehicles. Kim not only wrote the book and took nearly all the photographs used within it, but also published it, having set up the company to produce his new series.

Unusually, from the outset Kim was insistent that these books should be written, printed and published in Britain. Indeed the first in the series proudly bears the words 'Made in England' (as were the cars covered by it). These volumes have also - quite deliberately - been produced using high quality materials, to help ensure that they will survive as long as the vehicles to which they relate (and hopefully to be cherished as valuable references long into the future). These 'no compromise' approaches have added significantly to the costs of production, but at the same time every effort has been made to ensure that the books are affordable for enthusiasts.

A long time fan of classic cars, especially the diminutive post-War Austin A30/A35 models (and owner of no less than 28 examples over the last three decades), Kim explains that he would have bought this book, had it been available, but it wasn't, so he decided to write it himself! He says "The A30 and A35 were among the most highly respected and best loved British small cars of the 1950s, and many examples are still in use today around the world. I hope that this book - believed to be the first covering these models for nearly 20 years - will help owners to enjoy their Austins long into the future".

Within its 224 pages (all colour), including over 430 photographs, the new volume incorporates essential information for anyone interested in the cars - whether they used to own one, or are contemplating buying, or already possess an Austin.