HIGHLIGHTS

Highly practical Classic Mini Van
Featured in MiniWorld Magazine May 2023
Recent restoration and respray
Presents in very nice condition

THE APPEAL

The Mini is a classic that requires very little introduction thanks to its enduring appeal ever since the first BMC Mini appeared in 1959. The Mini was the brainchild of design legend Alec Issigonis and it was his answer to the affordable micro car.

Indeed the original BMC Mini was a true car for the people and its success is measured in the amount of family and friends that have a personal connection to the plucky little car.

In 1969 the Mark III Austin Mini was unveiled which was available until 1976. By now the 4 seater family car could be bought in a highly practical 2 seat van configuration, with the Mini Van becoming a firm favourite for small businesses and trades people up and down the country.

On sale here with Car and Classic is a 1974 Austin Mini Van that has been the subject of an extensive rebuild and restoration.

THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK

V5C in owners name
First registered on 13th June 1974
9 Owners from new
Odometer shows 73,582 miles
1 set of keys
The current owner acquired the Mini as a running project in July 2019
The owner informs us that some initial mechanical work quickly lead to a full strip down restoration
This rebuild resulted in a 1293cc MG Metro Turbo 165BHP engine being installed which lead to the Mini being featured in MiniWorld Magazine in May 2023
Since the magazine feature the owner has returned the Mini to a more tame 1,000cc engine with the Metro Turbo engine retained for another project

THE INTERIOR

The Mini’s interior presents in very nice condition
The Vans seats are trimmed in black vinyl and these are in very nice shape
Black carpets are fitted which are in good condition
The owner also installed sound deadening insulation on the doors, floors, the bulkhead and on the front roof area
The dashboard is in very nice condition with all the gauges present and intact. A circular mark is noted where the turbo boost gauge used to reside.
Setting off the dashboard very nicely is a Mota Lita steering wheel which is in good condition
The owner has fitted a USB charger port just behind the front seats and a battery cut of switch is fitted down by the drivers seat
A small toolbox has been added under the drivers seat
The rear bed and load area is in very clean condition

THE EXTERIOR

The Austin Mini Van presents in Smoke Grey and is in good condition and presents very well
There are some small blemishes/cracks in the paint on the front of the grill and the front wing seams which are shown in the photos
The owner informs us that a new drivers door was fitted along with a new passenger door skin
During the bare metal strip down patches were found on the rear arches and these were cut out and replaced with new metal
The owner tells us that they believe that the floor pans had been replaced by a previous owner
The bonnet badge is missing but is something that the new owner can easily rectify

THE MECHANICS

1000cc Austin engine mated to a 4 speed gearbox
Under the bonnet the engine bay presents in very clean condition
The owner states that the engine was last serviced approximately 3 months ago when the Turbo engine was removed
To accommodate the Turbo engine the front suspension was upgraded to an adjustable one with uprated suspension arms and drive shafts. These have been retained on the car.
The owner says that a new front subframe was installed and that the rear subframe is in good condition
A new RC40 exhaust has been installed
A new fuel sender unit has also been installed
The owner goes on to say that the Mini Van drives very well and is a lot of fun with the uprated front suspension

SUMMARY

The Mini is a car that always makes people smile, it characterful face and compact size endearing it to scores of fans around the world. The fact the Mini stayed in production for an impressive 41 just goes to show how popular the design icon was. And added to that was the ever flexible practicality of the Mini Van.

This plucky commercial vehicle kept Britain moving in the 1970s and was a real work horse that punched well above its weight. This 1974 Austin Mini Van has had a lot of work done on it in the past few years and is ready to be used as a retro works van, or just something cool and fun to take to shows.