10 replies to this topic

[Saffron]

Hello,

 

My closest friend who passed away earlier this year was the owner of this van and we have just purchased it from his estate.  We are going to restore the Mini to excellent running condition and return the car to the road.

 

The Mini is a 1960 van shell with a 1275 S engine.  My friend personally assembled the vehicle at the rear of the Mini factory in the 1975/76-time frame.  The engine and most other driving components are 1975 vintage.  He spent four weeks assembling the Mini from a brand new 1960 shell that he purchased from the factory and then assembled the entire car before shipping it back to the United States.

 

The car has been parked in a garage, undriven, for most of the last forty-one years.  My wife and I are now going to begin restoring the van after we take delivery.  I will soon have a complete vin number and pictures available.  We are looking forward to sharing this adventure with forum members throughout the entire project.  We are also hoping to draw on members’ knowledge and experience of the Mini to help us with questions as we progress.

 

 

Last minute update.  The vin number from the van shell as it is documented on the U.S. owner’s certificate states that the complete van is listed as a 1960 Austin van with the ID/vin number. Pictures will be available shortly.

 

AAV746661

 

 

 

 

[mab01uk]

You may also find the Mk1 forum in link below helpful for such an early Mini van:-

http://mk1-forum.net/index.php

 

and Mk1 Performance website:-

https://mk1-performa...k/mk1_index.htm

 

 

 

[Saffron]

 Mini Van 3.jpg   75.23K   1 downloads  Mini Van 8.jpg   92.89K   2 downloadsThank you, mab01UK for this information.  Here are two pictures of the van.

Edited by Saffron, 20 April 2023 - 06:26 PM.

[KTS]

apart from the dent on the back end that looks very tidy.

 

i'm aware that early cars had the bonnet hinges further inboard - not sure when that changed, or if that was ever a feature on vans

 

there doesn't appear to be an engine tag present, but a check on the rear of the engine for the presence of tappet covers (on the block, below the carbs) would identify whether it is an 'S' motor 

[imack]

That's a nice van, but the shell is later than 1960. Looks like it could be a genuine S block though.
As stated above, the bonnet hinge location is wrong and it has a ribbed roof, should have a smooth roof for a 1960.
It's still a pre 1976 shell though as it has a twin bolt front sub frame.
Shell, wiring harness and electrical components currently fitted all look to be from the mid 70's when your friend built the car.

Edited by imack, 20 April 2023 - 07:00 PM.

[Saffron]

I really appreciate the information and here is another picture or two

Attached Files

•  Mini Van 1.jpg   86.23K   0 downloads
•  Mini Van 7.jpg   82.52K   0 downloads

[KTS]

At some point in its life the front panel has been replaced; originally it would have had a pressed steel grille

Still a very nice car by the looks of it. Should be fairly straightforward to recommission

[Saffron]

I do remember when the Mini first came to the states it was painted a color of orange and it was the original paint. It was resprayed the blue you see now in 1977 or there abouts.

 

 

Attached Files

•  Mini Van 5.jpg   70.39K   0 downloads

[Saffron]

 Mini Van 2.jpg   55.91K   0 downloadsDoes this help in identification or is this used on many versions?

 

 

 

 

 

[imack]

That's an FE number. There are some members on the MK1 forum who have FE number lists who can fairly accurately date a car to within a few months of production.
Orange was a colour used by the factory on 1970's mini vans, not sure it was ever a factory colour in the 60's.

[DeadSquare]

Mini Van 2.jpgDoes this help in identification or is this used on many versions?

 

In the 60s,   VIN  (Vehicle Identification Numbers) had not been invented.

 

Back then, it wasn't any use quoting that metal tag to a BMC Agency for parts identification etc:   I was told that that is a "body number", used for "in factory" identification.

 

Because of the constant Strikes, it helped someone returning to work to check what was what, such as the correct trim for a 1/2 built car. 

Edited by DeadSquare, 21 April 2023 - 08:20 AM.