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HERE is a 1971 Austin Mini van 850cc, complete with sliding windows and magic wand gear shift. SHE IS RED. RED AS RED CAN BE. AS RED AS A TOMATO. NO HINT OF ORANGE AS PER MY PHOTOS!
Granted, as you can see, she has had her metal side panels removed and windows fitted. This conversion, along with a perfectly designed pop-up rear seat arrangement, has been done with great expertise. However, the fact remains that this 51-year-old Mini was built as a van, has the ven air vent in the roof, remains a van on the V5 and could very easily - were you to opt for it - be turned back into a van. But hey ho, what has that got to do with me, the seller? Answer: nothing. The next owner will be perfectly free to do whatever.
Anyway, she has been in the same family from new, 51 years ago, and it looks as though the restoration work was carried out between 2011 and 2014 judging by the pile of receipts in the history file.
Here is just some of the information I have gleaned - and there will be more to be discovered in there I am sure.
* New sills
* New rear sub frame
* New floor pans throughout (now in immaculate body colour)
* New driver and passenger doors
* New bonnet
* New front wings
* New (I am pretty certain as they are so straight and un-damaged) rear doors
Now, on top of that, it looks to me as though the rear load bay together with the visible inner arches is also a new section. I will admit that it is feasible that gentle use by the one family (plus a low mileage of 36, 000 believed to be correct) could have preserved this area but perhaps doubtful. The load bay is in stunning unmarked condition!
There is very little to do to this gem of a van apart from maybe running some of that "Mini strip" along the lower side rims and tidying up the bumpers front and back. But the resto work has been done to an excellent standard and, if you are contemplating coming to view, then my advice would be this: First to see will buy!
My classic cars are motoring antiques. Please do not confuse them with your one-year-old Range Rover. This car, for example, is 51-years-old and so will have quirks and faults in there somewhere. These are not always apparent when buying and selling classics which is what I do. I do not restore them, nor do I pretend that they are concours cars. I am not a garage, nor am I a showroom. I do not subject them to rigorous tests and inspections. They deserve to be taken on as "family pets" and cared for through thick and then. They don't make them any more and demand now out-strips supply. The majority of these ancient motors will need degrees of restoration or re-commissioning. They are not intended to be everyday cars; they are aimed at the enthusiast, the classic car lover and the diy motor mechanic and body man. They are hobby cars; there to be tinkered with and enjoyed. Please accept them as being in their own context as context is all.
I can also deliver and so please ask for a quote. Martin. the details below.
