As far as I understand it is quite rare. If you look closely it was originally ordered as a pickup but the person who ordered it cancelled. The factory then bult it as a Traveller for another buyer. It retains the commercial front end (cab section) and the Estate back has been added. The B post is much thicker than it should be on a Traveler and the wood section is longer than standard. It is also built on the commercial chassis rather than monocoque. The chassis number is "OGH1" which converts to a home market chassis cab in CKD form.....??
So, have I done the right thing in buying it - Is it rare - anyone know any more details about these factory conversions - and when the wife finds out she'll go mad so how much will you give me for it ???
Actually, I do intend to tidy him up and sell on with a full MOT so offers are invited.... And before you ask, the wood is like new
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[sig]8426[/sig]
Compare the Minors - Simples !! http://mog.myfreeforum.org/index.php
I love it! Especially the little side ridges that continue from the door line. Do you get more leg room in the back? Any photos inside the back doors? It would be interesting to see where the fuel tank is etc.
I doubt it unless the wheelbase is longer, the pick up doors are shorter than traveller doors so that will explain the extra front bit.
V.v.v interesting though. I wonder why they didn't just finish it as a pick up?
Paulk
[img]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/paulk235/DSCF0807.jpg[/img]
1959 2dr Milly
Has now sat in back garden for 5 years :(
http://www.sadmog.morrisminor.com/
paulk wrote:I wonder why they didn't just finish it as a pick up?
I'm actually starting to wonder if it was a factory Traveller prototype..... I need to dig deeper into it's history and build dates as I've learnt not to trust what the V5 says..... For my own interest does anyone know when the first chassis'd commercials were built ?
[sig]8426[/sig]
Compare the Minors - Simples !! http://mog.myfreeforum.org/index.php
I've been doing a bit of 'digging'. The first production model LCV appeared in May '53.
LCV's were available in 3 options - a van, pick up or chassis/cab. The chassis/cab option could be purchased as it was, in drive away form (with or without an enclosed cab back) to enable the customer to have their own design of body placed on the back by the coachbuilder of their choice.
The 'H' in your chassis number could mean either a CKD or primer finish. As yours is designated as a home market model it's probably more likely that it was supplied in primer rather than CKD finish.
In 1953/54 a total of 520 chassis/cab options were produced, and 643 between 1960-66. The number produced between '54 and '60 is not known.
Interestingly, Paul Skilleter's book contains factory photo's of the chassis/cab option, both with the enclosed cab back and without. On both the B post does not match the one on your vehicle as it is much slimmer and ends just past the trafficator moulding.
As the chassis/cab option, denoted by your chassis number, was a factory option it would not make sense for someone to order one then ask for a pick up body to be added - why not just order a pick up in the first place? However they could have ordered the chassis with an enclosed cab back option, intending to add a pick up body themselves, but it wouldn't make sense for the factory to add a traveller body when the order was cancelled as they could have just sold the cab/chassis as it was. Skilleter's book has a comprehensive section dealing with factory prototypes and there is no mention of any lcv/traveller 'hybrid'.
As the B post on your car doesn't match the factory produced chassis/cab options it seems more likely that the traveller body was added by a coach builder after the chassis left the factory rather than built as a prototype. Interesting vehicle though - what year is it?
paulk wrote:I wonder why they didn't just finish it as a pick up?
I'm actually starting to wonder if it was a factory Traveller prototype..... I need to dig deeper into it's history and build dates as I've learnt not to trust what the V5 says..... For my own interest does anyone know when the first chassis'd commercials were built ?
i have two concerns with the story of a pick up order getting cancelled and then finished off as a traveller. the extra expense that must have been incurred would mean that it would not be worth it ( but they sold minis at a loss so you never know). I suppose there could have been a strike / lack of parts so they had to convert pick ups to travellers.. but I would have thought there would be more than one around.
secondly who would have bought it at the dealers without a very large discount? certainly if i had ordered a new traveller i would not be happy getting this.
Far more likely i would have though is the factory prototype sold off to someone in the factory ( where was it first registered and to whom might answer that question very quickly ) or someone had a pick up and got it converted to a traveller at a later date when their needs changed ( heritage certificate could answer that one I suppose).
We posted at exactly the same time but yes, I agree that it is more likely that the traveller back was added after the chassis left the factory. As the chassis number denotes a cab/chassis I expect the Heritage Certificate would show the same, although it might be useful to see who it was supplied to in order to get some more background info.
More photos and a bit more info... The V5 suggests the vehicle was first registered in 1960. However, the car is possibly older than that. It has a 948 engine in at the moment but that may not be original. The Chassis number is very low 6 digits and starts 106*** so this puts the build between 1948 & 1952. The Nuffield plate is still attached and the number matches the body tag which is 72723 (did Cam ever get anywhere with these numbers ?). Lastly the fuel tank is in the same place you would expect it to be for a Traveller.....
Be interesting what a Heritage Certificate could tell you 