Highlights

• A Peugeot J7 van in a road going condition and boasting a valid, advisory free MOT
• Currently retaining its original horse box configuration and featuring a professionally refitted rear cabin
• Benefiting from low indicated mileage and a fully restored and finished chassis
• A great blank-canvas, lending itself to a number of uses or to be used and enjoyed as it is

The Appeal

The History and Paperwork

• This J7 seems to have led a lightly used life in France as a horse box
• It was imported to the UK and registered here in July 2022
• Since that time the van has undergone some well-chosen improvements
• The van has even been submitted for an MOT despite being exempt
• The MOT is advisory free and valid until May 2023
• The paperwork includes the current V5 in the name of its current and first UK owner
• The MOT certificate
• The required HMRC import paperwork is also on hand
• The original handbook is present as are both UK and original French registration plates

The Interior

• The cab of the J7 appears to be in an original and untouched condition
• The widely spaced front seats are finished in hard wearing tan velour
• The seats are formed from painted tubular steel
• The passenger seat features a tubular steel, painted arm rest
• Between the seats is a removable engine cover finished in black vinyl
• The floor covering is a textured rubber item in true French utilitarian style
• The door cards are finished in tan vinyl with the driver’s side one having come partially adrift at the top
• The dashboard is finished in black and contains a lidded glovebox
• The left-hand driving position features a large, black plastic steering wheel
• The basic set of gauges are white on black Jaeger items
• A spare wheel is mounted between the front driver’s seat and the cab’s rear bulkhead
• The rear cabin is usefully sized presenting a flexible and unencumbered space
• Head height appears to be good and natural light is provided by sliding, high-level side windows
• An open aperture in the cab bulkhead also allows light from the cab to flood in
• Access to the rear cabin is afforded in two ways 
• Via a small, nearside side door and by the large rear horse ramp and side hinged top door
• The current owner has had the rear cabin professionally refitted in a charming rustic fashion
• This work was undertaken by Shred n Butta from Quest TV show “Full Metal Junkies”
• Their work features a parquet style floor and hard wood slatted sides and roof

The Exterior

• The exterior of J7 remains in full French horsebox trim complete with “Attention Chevaux” warnings
• The painted sections of the van are finished in a very French “flat beige” colourway
• The cab front presents a charming and unmistakably French “face”
• The protruding lights and small, removeable grill give the van a charming look
• The door bottoms are constructed of corrugated steel, much favoured by the French
• This material helps increase strength whilst reducing weight
• The rear body of the van consists of a painted steel frame clad with chequer plate panels
• The large rear door formed of two parts
• A lower ramp which folds down and a top door which is side hinged
• The overall condition of the body appears solid and very original
• It’s not pristine but provides a great basis for some easy improvement if required
• The underside of the van has been fully renovated and repaired
• It has been generously undersealed to provide added protection and longevity

The modular nature of these flexible vehicles would make it relatively straight forward to completely reconfigure the rear body if required of course. Originally the same rolling cab and chassis would have been finished with a varied range of rear body configurations to suit its ultimate use.

The Mechanics

• This J7 is fitted with the four cylinder, 1468cc Peugeot petrol engine 
• The engine is situated in the cab and can be easily accessed from there
• Power is fed to the front wheels via a four-speed manual transmission
• Not too much is known about the maintenance history of this J7 prior to import
• These are proven and simple engines, however, and this one seems to have been lightly used
• The owner attests to the van starting, running, driving, and stopping without apparent issue
• A valid MOT may also provide some assurance in terms of brakes and suspension condition

Whilst a diesel engine was also available in the J7, this 1468cc petrol version remains the most common iteration today. This is a well proven unit used extensively across the Peugeot range of cars and light commercials.  Originally rated at 65 hp and 75 lb ft of torque this engine should provide a decent compromise between drivability and economy.

Summary