• South African import now in the UK

• All import paperwork complete and full MOT

• Freshly recommissioned and repainted

• Engine overhauled by classic Mini specialist

The Morris 1000 is one of the most versatile and prolific classic vehicles ever made and was pretty much part of the furniture in every street in Britain throughout the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

As well as the popular saloon and ‘Traveller’ models - and the pretty convertible - the Morris 1000 (or Minor) was also sold as a commercial vehicle and offered as either a pickup truck or a panel van, which took the front of the car and mounted it to a bespoke squared off back end.

The van was popular with many customers including Royal Mail, the GPO and the AA, making it a vehicle that stirs up many memories for a great number of people.

Here's an opportunity to buy your own Morris 1000 van, which would make a brilliant promotional or advertising vehicle for small business as well as being a genuinely useful classic.

The van was imported from South Africa earlier this year and the owner has recommissioned it mechanically and had the body work repainted along with a few small repairs to remove dents and marks from the body.

Prior to that, the van was used by a small business in the Durban area and while little of its actual history is known, a vehicle log book found in the glovebox tends to corroborate its low recorded mileage. Whilst some cosmetic work was carried out on the van, it did not require any welding as life in a dry climate has been kind to it over the past 60 years.

The vendor specialises in bringing vehicles in from South Africa as he used to live there and still has many contacts in the classic car industry, where he worked both out there and in the UK.

As a result of his knowledge, all of the essential import paperwork has been carried out - and carried out properly - by somebody who knows what they're doing. That includes the NOVA declaration, all of the VAT and tax paperwork and also a UK MOT certificate. To register the vehicle, all the new owner will have to do is send these off to the DVLA with the first registration fee. The vendor is happy to help with this process but has not registered the van in the UK yet in case the eventual auction winner wishes to export it again.

It also comes with its South African registration document I but aside from the handwritten log that comes with it there is no earlier paperwork.

Although the Morris was in extremely presentable condition when it first arrived in the UK, the vendor decided that it would look much nicer with an external respray, while at the same time he took the opportunity to attend to various small dents and scrapes around the outer bodywork.

The van was repainted in its original cream colour and looks really smart. The wheels were painted to match and fitted with new wider profile radial tyres all round. The van was also put upon a ramp and undersealed underneath to protect it from British winters - a smart move as it had never been previously welded and it would be good to keep it that way.

The floors, sills and chassis rails are all in excellent order as is the front bulkhead which shows no signs of rot.
Most of the chrome and trim is in very good order and the van has been fitted with supplementary orange indicator lenses at the rear, as these were not a legal requirement in South Africa.

Starting at the business end you can tell that this is a van that has never seen a huge amount of heavy use. The van sides and wheelarches are free from damage and the floor area has been carpeted and looks very neat indeed.

Up front, the cabin is very smartly presented with the seats smartly retrimmed in brown vinyl and the dashboard finished in the same fetching shade of cream as the van’s exterior.

It's all in very smart condition, backing up the fact that this is a van this has only been used gently and sparingly throughout its life. Before it arrived in the UK, it was also fitted with new carpets and new door cards.

It's in great condition and ready to show.

The engine of the Morris 1000 has just been given a very thorough recommission and service by a well-known Norfolk mini specialist who
certainly knows his way around a BMC A-Series engine.

Unsurprisingly, it runs like clockwork firing up with very little choke and soon settles into a steady idle, responding instantly to the throttle when requested. The brakes, kingpins and trunnions have also been overhauled, meaning that mechanically the Morris is almost as good as new.

We were able to drive the vehicle a short distance and can confirm that the steering and gearbox are a delight and work exactly as they should.

Potential buyers should be aware, though, that the van retains its original drum brakes and that if it is going to be used on faster roads or over longer distances a disc brake conversion could be worthwhile at some point in the future.

As it stands, the van is delightful to drive and is an instant head turner.

Whether you're looking for an entertaining 1960s classic or a retro vehicle to promote your business, this little Minor van is a joyous delight.

It is in exceptional condition and is wonderfully solid, whilst it is also very well sorted mechanically. It's an absolute gem and one that sure to gain a lot of attention.

Notice to bidders