The name reflected the larger and more powerful 34 hp (25 kW) A-Series inline-four engine, enabling a slightly higher top speed and better acceleration.

".....a privately-owned works-tuned A35 was driven for seven days around the Montlhéry track, near Paris, in a record-breaking run at an average speed of 75 mph, covering nearly 12500 miles...." With standard fit of drums all round, in both the A30 and the A35, the front hydraulic with rear hydro-mechanical brakes (the hydraulics acted upon the hand brake at the rear) needed regular adjustment to keep the stopping distances reasonably short.

The A35 was quite successful in 1950s saloon car racing, until supplanted by the Farina A40, but some still appear in historic events.

These cars feature sealed 1,275 cc (77.8 cu in) Marina engines, and are a restricted class, meaning that owners are limited to a specific range of parts from specified suppliers.

The A35 van features frequently in the Wallace & Gromit films, being the protagonists' main mode of transport since The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005).