Morris minor Camper Van

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 11:03 pm

How about considering using the Traveller bodyshell for this. Readily obtainable, much less sought after than LCVs and you get a lower floor line in the back thus increasing headroom / lowering the required vehicle height. Not by much I admit, but inches count in campers this size..
Downside is that the body you build will need a certain amount of structural strength, to replace the wood, but may be worth a thought if you're considering building such things...

Post by **ASL642** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 6:21 pm

So a trav/van cab with a sort of caravan construction on the back - so where've I seen this before?!

Post by **plg422d** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 8:09 pm

reading minor matters and the post production trav/van made me think that this could be the way forward. A fibreglass structure replacing the wood/ roof and providing the living (sic) space. An entrance through the back doors would help to keep the structure more rigid. I wonder what the comparable weight would be and who are the right fibreglass fabricators to talk to......

Post by **rayofleamington** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 9:24 pm

says he as the owner of a Marina Suntor).

Iain - you have hidden depths...

If anyone really want's something like a Minor camper van, then look for an A60 Suntor camper.

Personally I love the sillyness of the Marina Suntour, but I won't say too much until heavily prompted.

Post by **bigginger** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 10:05 pm

Come out of the closet

I LOVE MARINAS! There, I have, and have also owned (and scrapped) a lot of them

Post by **rayofleamington** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 10:10 pm

I've only ever owned one Marina but it's a bit special...

My latest purchase! And yes, I am still taking my pills!

Post by **ASL642** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 10:57 pm

Does the top go down for when you're driving - never seen one before?

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 11:28 pm

good grief good grief good grief good grief

Post by **Cam** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 11:36 pm

Nice eh?

A member of our branch (Chris) used to have a White Suntor!

Post by **bigginger** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 12:50 am

Beautiful

Well, probably not, but you know what I mean...

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 1:57 pm

Yes - the roof goes down

It's yet another car on my wish list ticked off, although I shouldn't have bought it really! I'm getting rid of cars ready to move house in Feb!
However as I had a Minor project car bought out from under me last month (I had alread said I would buy it based on description, and had arranged to go round to give a deposit...) I was in the mood for some retail therapy.

Nice eh? A member of our branch (Chris) used to have a White Suntor!

There are still quite a few left as most were better looked after than standard vans. Although who knows - the marina world is a ver small one so it could be the same one.
I believe it is one of a very small handful of tax exempt Marina Suntors still in existance (I know there is 1 other and most liklely some exist that are not known of).
The seller was very careful to make sure that it wasn't being bought just for the tax exempt log book - these are rather desirable for marina van owners.

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:24 pm

rayofleamington wrote:I've only ever owned one Marina but it's a bit special...
My latest purchase! And yes, I am still taking my pills!

Well done that man!
Here's mine, albeit a few years ago at the Brooklands do. Its the patchy looking one on the left, though its now back to its proper Harvest Gold now... I'd just changed the doors for ones from an upmarket saloon with opening 1/4 lights and the paint was very much planned. Don't remember whos the white one was.

I bought it on a complete whim 11 years ago the day before I was going to Beaulieu Autojumble with a tent. It was on a dealers forecourt and just had to be had! Tent got left at home and I set of from Sheffield to Southampton the following day. Benn to quite a few Beaulieus and other shows with it since. Small enough to fit on the stall plots and the 'stock' that won't fit inside can be towed with a small trailer. A very useful vehicle really....

Post by **emmerson** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:09 pm

I used to have the Ford Escort version. Very useful then, but a bit cramped for us oldies now!

Post by **IaininTenbury** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:54 am

Ther's a register for the Suntors - The Torcar Register catering for the A60s, Marinas and Sherpas converted by Torcars of Torrington. Think they know of around 75 Marinas still around.
If I remember correctly, the similar looking Escort van camper was a Dormobile conversion, though not sure if they also did the really whacky Bedford HA, which had a one piece rear door that folded down with an extending fabric tent bit from roof to door top so it made a 1/4 circle enclosed area when open, if that makes sense. I think this was to extend the internal length for the beds... The Marina and, i expect the Escort, have folding front seats so you have your head against the dashboard and feet somewhere near the back end, depending how tall you are. Works very well really, though the folding dining tables in the Suntor are a bit silly really. Yes you probably could seat 4 people facing with the tables in between, but the tables are about the size for two mugs of tea and a small biscuit!

Ps: Ray, if you want a copy of the instruction leaflet for your suntor, let me know and I'll scan mine. Contains gems such as: To lower roof, stand inside, pull roof supports inwards and duck smartly All very useful advice!