Description
1993. Nissan Prairie II. Wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) conversion by Brotherwood. 50K miles from new. It has power-assisted steering, a sunroof, a CD player and a 5-speed gearbox. It drives very nicely and always starts on the button.
The Prairie II is really quite a rare car, there are very few left in the UK. Most of the survivors are those that were adapted for WAV use. These vehicles rarely come onto the market.
Up until 1985 if you were a wheelchair-user you had few options for transport. There was the 3-wheeled Invacar or an equally stigmatising ‘Popemobile’ style conversion to a family hatchback or estate. In 1985 Rod Brotherwood pioneered the ‘WAV’ by adapting a car for his paraplegic neighbour. The Prairie 1 was altered internally but looked just like a standard model from the outside. Brotherwood moved onto the Prairie II and has altered very many models since.
Brotherwood Automobility has gone from strength to strength and remains the gold standard in WAVs. Their earliest conversions are now considered classic / retro cars.
Brotherwood imported a batch of Prairie II’s in the early ‘90s, they were in this special-order metallic teal blue colour and had the larger 2. 4 litre engine rather than the 2 litre engine which helped with the extra weight that had been welded into the car, (the same engine as in the Nissan 240SX). The WAV conversion nearly doubled the purchase price. The fact that Brotherwood undersealed the car after carrying out the conversion work seems to have helped with the survival of these Prairies.
We have owned this car for 4 years and named her ‘Olive’ as a nod to the original owner of 26 years. Olive spent those 26 years trundling around Windsor as the original owner conveyed her disabled son locally. We are in contact with the original owners and they tell us that the worst thing they did was to sell the Prairie to move over to a mobility car.
This car was purchased to act as a conveyance for my elderly mother, it helped her get out and about but it also helped my parents to maintain their classic car interest. They managed to attend several classic car events and the vehicle was featured in a classic car magazine, (see photos). It has covered little over a thousand miles a year in our ownership. Sadly we lost my mother in March and the vehicle is now surplus to requirements. We hope that Olive can find an enthusiastic new owner to bring her back into tip-top condition and to enjoy this remarkable and useful vehicle as she celebrates her 30th birthday in September.
It is MOT’d into September, although we would put a fresh MOT on the car at full asking price.
The bad bits:
There were a couple of light dents when we bought the car.
My Dad is 84, he has put a few scuffs in the car.
There are a few small rust scabs.
(See photos).
It isn’t very aerodynamic so only returns about 28mpg.
The ‘infill seat’ for the rear was disposed of years ago.
The good bits:
It’s very rare, when did you last see one?
It has been extremely reliable.
The ride is comfortable enough.
It qualifies for classic car insurance.
It is very useful for its core purpose of safely conveying a wheelchair-user.
It is a retro / classic and will help a wheelchair-user to participate in classic events.
There is a lot of documentation with the car.
With the appropriate qualifications, it should be possible to get the car put onto disabled (free) road tax.
It’s 10 years away from being MOT exempt.
£3, 250. 00 o. n. o.
Initial contact by email please. I will provide telephone details in due course.
The car is in Porthcawl, on the South Wales coast. Delivery could be arranged at cost.
