Radiator burst in '89, cost £20 from breakers.
Engine mountings needed replacing when I bought the car, cost £16 from local motor factors.
Floor needed welding when purchased, local garage charged £35.
A few minor things like bulbs, points, plugs e.t.c. when purchased. But considering I only paid £60 for the car which was almost in A1 condition.
Very reliable and cheap car which returned almost 40mpg! Very slow, but had lots of charm.
Obtaining spares was the only problem, but luckily most parts could be sourced from older BL cars such as A35s, Minis and Morris Minors.
It was probably also the World's first hatch-back!
The "secret" with all these "older" cars is to join the relevant owners club; in this case the A40 Farina Club <www.a40farinaclub.co.uk>. More information can also be obtained from <info@a40farinaclub.co.uk>.
Regards - Keith.
I had a lovely time growing up with an Austin A40 Countryman called 'Betsy' registered CE 270 in Cyprus and DHM 44 D in the UK.
My dad had me steering it before my feet could reach the pedals.
The car almost had its roof ripped of at both A pillars when we crashed into the side of a truck, my head ricocheted into the side window catch.
There is still a lumpiness to that part of my skull.
After being rebuilt, when today it would have been an insurance right off, Mum, Dad and I piled in under a heavily laden roof rack and drove from Athens to London at a leisurely pace.
Years later '72/'73 I caught a site of 'Betsy' on a roundabout in Bexleyheath, the Cypriot sea weather was getting the better of her, so much rust was frothing beneath the Grey / White paint work, she was beginning to resemble a bubble car :-)
Please note that the official site address for the A40 Farina Club Ltd is now http://www.A40farinaclub.co.uk
Peter Beattie
A40 Farina Club Member
A40 MK2 Countryman 1964.
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