Notice to bidders, the van has been put on sale by the vendor as they really need the space. To ensure you don’t miss out please make sure you are buyer verified before you try to bid - we do not want anyone to miss out on this great opportunity.
Highlights
- 2024 conversion to coffee van costing £37,000
- Fully equipped and ready-to-use with high specification
- Original 1,600cc petrol engine in fully working order
- Recently serviced engine with new components
- Professionally fitted out interior with high-quality materials
- Customisable vinyl signwriting and business name option
The Appeal
Nothing quite defines the popular ‘slow food’ movement like Citroën’s evocative HY van. Yes, it’s slow, but it also exemplifies a simpler, fuss-free and more authentic world.
No wonder that these vans are popular as mobile high-end food and coffee vans. Thanks to a comprehensive £37,000 renovation and conversion in 2024 this one, affectionately known as ‘Velma,’ must be amongst the best available. It has been little used since so arrives with the buyer fresh from all that work.
The specification and the attention to detail are impressive. It is fully ‘self reliant’ with its own electricity supply, water tank and LPG tank. The two group dual fuel espresso machine is a genuine 1965 Faema Ariete coffee machine that has been fully refurbished and serviced, and that alone is worth a small fortune. The near new coffee grinder is a Heycafe Buddy BD1 on demand machine that cost over £700.
Aside from the practical elements, we love the details like the seats and trim finished using hessian coffee bean sacks including the bespoke outside bin. In addition absolutely everything in the catering area comes with the van, so this really is ready to go.
Aside from the practical elements, we love the details like the seats and trim finished using hessian coffee bean sacks including the bespoke outside bin. In addition absolutely everything in the catering area comes with the van, so this really is ready to go.
The conversion included overhauling the mechanicals and running gear so that this classic HY drives and runs as well as it looks.
The vendor tells us that this van contains everything anyone could need to start running a coffee business straight away. It could also be converted to sell other beverages or food. Here is a commercial opportunity where someone else has done all the work - and you can enjoy a decent cup of java whilst you plan how you’ll use it.
The vendor writes:
“The van cost in excess of £37,000 including having it professionally fitted out. The work was done in October 2024. So this is an ideal opportunity to acquire one of the best H Van coffee food vans available, ready to work, without the hassle of getting one built. Obviously it can be easily used as a alcohol bar or gin bar if preferred.
“Everything in the working space is less than 6 months old as was only fitted out in October 2024 so has had very minimal use.”
The History and Paperwork
- First registered in 1971
- UK registered since January 2014
- Five registered UK keepers
- Current keeper acquired van last May and commissioned conversion
- Professionally renovated and fitted out at a cost exceeding £37,000
- All interior equipment is less than 6 months old, fitted in October 2024
- The coffee machine was professionally cleaned and serviced in October 2024
- Please note that the Hyundai 6.5kva petrol generator shown is not included but can be purchased separately.
The Condition
- Full renovated HY with work completed only a few months ago
- Cost of work was £37,000 with specification summarised below and in photos
- Finished in maroon and cream with vintage-style decals as shown
- The decals are vinyl so can be easily removed
- Bodywork and paintwork freshly renovated and presents well
- Standard HY aesthetics with steel wheels recently refurbished with good tyres
- Cab fully retrimmed with new foam and hessian coffee sack upholstery
- High specification coffee-making areas with details below
- Durable rubber matting fitted on the cab floor
- Rear workspace fitted with LVT flooring for easy cleaning and durability
- Ceiling and walls covered with UPVC sheeting and tile effect backsplash
- Smart acoustic wood panelling and discreet LED lighting in the cab and rear
- No reported electrical, switchgear or dial faults
- No dashboard warning lights advised
- Built to work fully independent with own electric supply via generator and with LPG gas supply and built in water storage tank
Specification:
- Large advertising roof board with hydraulic rams and ratchet strap system
- Cab fully retrimmed with all new seat foam
- Seats professionally covered in genuine hessian coffee sacks
- Headlining, engine cover and doors in genuine hessian coffee sacks
- Rear bulkhead soundproofed and acoustic wood panelling with LED night lighting
- Cab floor fitted with durable rubber matting
- Built in battery charger wired into 12V battery which can run off a generator
- Own electrical supply (via a generator)
- LPG gas supply
- Built-in water storage tank
- Custom fitted cupboards with lots of storage
- 240 volt mains wiring and sockets
- Fully soundproofed with Dynamat Extreme sound insulation
- Soundproofing makes van warm in winter and cool in summer and quiet when generator running
- Bright white LED lighting on both sides of interior
- Second set of independent RGB coloured mood lighting each side
- LVT flooring is easy to keep clean and very durable
- Ceiling and walls covered with UPVC sheeting
- Rear of back wall fitted with tile effect back splash
- Solid oak shelf to the rear for storage of jars etc
- Stainless steel double sink with mixer tap with spray option
- Two fridges for food or drinks
- Valuable and original 1965 two group Italian coffee barista machine
- Barista machine runs on dual fuel of either LPG gas or 240volt mains
- Hidden 80 litre built-in water tank
- Tank has 12V automatic pump with inline 240V transformer with supply to mixer tap for cold water
- Tank also supplies built-in water heater with 15L internal hot water storage tank
- This tank supplies hot water to the mixer tap
- Double sink with one for hand wash and other for food preparation/cups/glasses etc
- All 240V circuit runs in ring to a new consumer MCB fuse box then 3 pin connector for either a generator or 3 phase or single phase 240v supply
- Inline pressure water filter and softener treats water fed via 2nd water pump from the hidden water tank to the barista machine
- Water tank has hose hook up supply or can be filled via a hidden hatch
- Automatic fill shut off on the tank to stop spillages
- 240V small cabin heater and a cooling fan for summer days
- Very high quality commercial coffee grinder included
The Mechanics
- Original 1,628cc petrol 4cyl Citroën engine
- 4spd manual gearbox
- Lots of recent mechanical work detailed below
- No reported running or driving issues
- The vendor says: “The engine runs really nicely and drives so she can be driven as required”
Recent work in October 2024:
- Engine serviced with new oil and filters
- New water pump
- Carburettor fully stripped, cleaned, and rebuilt with new seals, gaskets, and jets
- New distributor, HT leads, and spark plugs
- Brakes overhauled with new master and slave cylinders and fresh brake fluid
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