1969 Morris LD Ambulance – Auction Car of the Week

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Dale Vinten

If you’re a fan of the Channel 4 TV show ‘Find it, Fix it, Drive it’ then you’ll no doubt recognise this particular Morris LD. It was fully restored and featured in Season 1, Episode 4 in 2019 to be used as the support vehicle for a 500cc vintage motorcycle land speed record, which incidentally was set at 115.6mph during the episode.

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The LD was produced between 1952 and 1968 by the commercial wing of the Morris motor company and replaced the earlier PV van. Production spanned three iterations with this particular model being a later, third generation vehicle. Initially only available with a 2.2-litre petrol engine, a diesel variant was subsequently offered in 1955, with power being transmitted to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual gearbox. The chassis featured four cross members and although rather crude in design it was robust and allowed for a wide variety of different bodies to be fitted, making the LD a versatile wagon. Nowadays they have become a popular choice for campervan conversions and have rightly earned their classic status.

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This particular van is a 1969 Morris LD Ambulance which in a previous life was indeed converted to a camper from its original medical origins before being transformed back by the TV team. The LD Ambulance was introduced with a shorter, more compact design which made the vehicle easier to manoeuvre without losing valuable space behind the driver’s seat. Being a third-gen LD it comes equipped with the more fuel efficient and powerful 2.2-litre, 4-cylinder engine. As part of the restoration process the van received a full, professional respray and the body work is in excellent condition throughout with a period paint job and motorcycle-themed, Triumph graphics. This is a rust-free example with the only real work required being the replacement of both front door retaining straps and a little bit of spit and polish to the various trim pieces. All of the windows were replaced at the time of the resto too and the rear fold-out step is perfectly functional.

The cabin is similarly well-presented and the seats and trim are all in excellent condition with only a few minor marks and scuffs to speak of, commensurate with the age of the vehicle. The rear is essentially a blank canvas for the next owner and so the possibilities are numerous as to which way to take it. Keep it original or again, go down the camper van route – there’s plenty of scope here to stamp your own, individual identity on the vehicle.

The van starts and runs but has not been in day-to-day use for the past year and a half and so some care and attention may be required, along with a full service, to see this LD back into regular service. The current owner does maintain that all of the mechanicals and electrics are fully functional, however.

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This is a wonderful example of what is a classic, British commercial vehicle and with a recent, full restoration under its belt it’s a bit of a peach. Not only that but it has an interesting history, from having it’s five minutes of fame on the small screen to its association with a record breaking land speed run. We love what the guys at Find it, Fix it, Drive it have done with this LD and if you’re a fan of Triumph or classic motorcycling in general then there is definitely a cherry on the top of this particular cake for you. It’s a gem of a thing and would make a great addition to any collection. Continue to use it as a classic support vehicle, take it to shows (where it will undoubtedly shine) or go camping. Whatever you choose to do though, you’ll have a cracking little van to cherish and show off wherever you end up.

This Morris LD Ambulance is a rare find. If you want to keep a lookout for another, here’s where you can find a Morris for sale.

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