Morris minor Camper Van

Post by **plg422d** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 4:58 pm

Does any one have any information about the Morris Minor camper Van that seem to be based on the van. who made them, how many were made and do any still survive?

Thanks

Post by **PSL184** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 9:50 am

I've always fancied one myself although I don't know too much about them. I noticed this webpage a while back. A nice picture but not too much info though.....

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/photos-c ... per_66.htm

Post by **teenoes** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 2:03 pm

the motorhome on that webpage was featured in issue 4 of minor monthly in october 1995
it is a one off and has been built by a guy called jim lambert who converted a 1968 van
in the article it has another reg but it is definitely the featured car as there will be only one such thing with the same colour of the two top lights - offside white and nearside orange - and these hubcaps - ford zephyr

Post by **teenoes** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 2:08 pm

note also the wing and door mirrors

besides as the issue is most probably not available anymore i can just try to scan it

if interested pm your email

Post by **Chadbrook** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 12:49 am

They appear on Ebay every once in a blue moon, the last one I saw there I think is quite well known as "the snail". I dont think it sold because of the price and I found this...
http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/cla ... arno/21930

almost £7000 for a morris minor even if it is a one off classic needs some thinking about

Post by **dunketh** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 12:22 pm

I'm assuming no one company did a common coach conversion, like was done with transits and the like.
However, I have seen die-cast model versions of the green one shown above so you'd think they weren't that uncommon.

Where's that chap from the LCV Reg when you need him?

Post by **teenoes** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 4:14 pm

very interesting about the die-cast models as the artcle mentions that the guy who built it made a model from a diecast model of a van and scaled that up

sorry for all the models in this

Post by **plg422d** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 7:10 pm

Well it seems like there might be a market for camper van conversions on the back of a van/pickup. It has more appeal than a Type 2 Bay VW and they fetch silly money for a very good one.

Perhaps I see the start of a business venture - next stop Dragon's Den for £100k for 10% ...........

Post by **ASL642** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:29 pm

Post by **plg422d** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 10:28 pm

Like the Travb

Post by **plg422d** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 10:30 pm

Like the Trav

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 10:58 pm

Far as I know theres only been a handful of privately done conversions. I think the Minor was too small for a commercial camper builder to get interested, though with more recent Bedford Rascal, and Fiat and Citroen based campers it makes you wonder why...

Anyway, theres the Jim Lambert built one - used to be a regular at the NAtional and other rallies, but I heard a rumour that its changed hands and now in Ireland.

Then there's 'The Snail' quite well known and well campaigned at MMOC events in the last year or so. Based on a caravan body adapted to fit. Probably one of the largest bodies fitted to an LCV. Do a search on this forum for 'The Snail' and you should find a fair bit of discussion about it when the owner was trying to sell it on eBay a while back. As far as I know it did sell, and has been seen since in a new colour scheme.

There was another blue boxy bodied one offered recently, which changed hands, got repainted and tidied up and sold again.

The only other one I've seen was based on a standard bodied van and had a lift up roof and rear awning. Supposedly built by a BMC employee, its the nearest to a factory built camper. Saw it at a Knebworth National some years ago it was very nicely restored.

Any others out there?

The Oxford Diecast camper was, as far as I know based on the Jim Lambert camper - the ultimate compliment for a home built vehicle?

Post by **bigginger** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 11:59 pm

There was definitely at least one company doing the conversion. I've got an old ad for them somewhere, and when I find it I'll post it

Post by **wanderinstar** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 8:27 am

The reg no on the first one mentioned is now on a Range Rover Vogue. Hope that doesn't mean it has been scrapped.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 9:03 am

Well it seems like there might be a market for camper van conversions on the back of a van/pickup.

I'd agree with Ian - it's too small to make a great camper. There are lots of classic campers available and not just over priced VW's.

Post by **paulhumphries** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 9:29 am

rayofleamington wrote:
Well it seems like there might be a market for camper van conversions on the back of a van/pickup.
I'd agree with Ian - it's too small to make a great camper. There are lots of classic campers available and not just over priced VW's.

Whilst I agree 100% that a Minor pickup is probably too small I must add I used to have a Romahome demountable camper fitted to the pick-up bed of a 550cc Honda Acty and it was quite spacious.
http://www.actyvan.net/Acty%20Photo%20Archive.html
There is also a demountable camper that fits on the back of a Saab hatchback http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toppola !
Barry Stimson, a fibreglass vehicle desginer als made a similar camper and I saw the demo model fitted to, I think, a Fiat Punto or it could have been a Metro.

What I'm saying is "think outside the box" and there are possibilites

Paul Humphries

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 10:01 am

bigginger wrote:There was definitely at least one company doing the conversion. I've got an old ad for them somewhere, and when I find it I'll post it

Be very interested to see that. the four I mentioned are all I've seen....

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 10:07 am

paulhumphries wrote:
rayofleamington wrote:
Well it seems like there might be a market for camper van conversions on the back of a van/pickup.
I'd agree with Ian - it's too small to make a great camper. There are lots of classic campers available and not just over priced VW's.
Whilst I agree 100% that a Minor pickup is probably too small I must add I used to have a Romahome demountable camper fitted to the pick-up bed of a 550cc Honda Acty and it was quite spacious.
http://www.actyvan.net/Acty%20Photo%20Archive.html
There is also a demountable camper that fits on the back of a Saab hatchback http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toppola !
Barry Stimson, a fibreglass vehicle desginer als made a similar camper and I saw the demo model fitted to, I think, a Fiat Punto or it could have been a Metro.

What I'm saying is "think outside the box" and there are possibilites

Paul Humphries

agreed. There's plenty of odd tiny campers around (says he as the owner of a Marina Suntor). I'd guess that when the Minor was being produced, not many companies would bother with such a small vehicle though having said that Dormobile had a go with the Bedford HA and then theres the Mini Wildgoose if you want a really mad camper, both of which are contmpory to the Minor. Yep, anythings possible

Post by **RussLCV** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 3:26 pm

Just caught with this one thre are plenty out but sadly not made a company but were mainly one-offs

Post by **plg422d** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 10:38 pm

Having watched Dragon's Den again I think I will need a good business plan and need to have done some market reasearch. so who is interested in a "new" camper? And how much would you be prepared to pay?

I'm in....