Austin Van 1971 Project

[Morris Mike]

Just a few photo`s to set the scene of this rebuild.

I will post some photo`s of the van when I first found her,the strip down,work carried out etc.

Briefly she is a genuine two owner vehicle,50,000 miles,very original bodywork,Teal Blue,lived and found in rural Lincolnshire.

The last owner emigrated abroad,drove her into a steel container and left her there for over twenty five years.
I purchased her last year.

Before the strip down I had her running and driving.

I am now after the completed respray fitting her back together with all new items and fittings.



Last year I fully restored this Almond Green Van 1969.


Morris Mike

[alexandermclaren]

looking good
keep up the good work

[Morris Mike]

Found in a steel container in rural Lincolnshire.

A genuine one lady owner from new, 56,000 miles and registered 01-09-1972.

Sold to a gentleman who primed the front wings,removed the drivers door and the rear doors,and then put it in storage.

He emigrated to live abroad for many years (25 or more ),on his return he remembered he had left the van in storage.

His son had grown up and had no interest in the van and the father was too old to start any work on her.

I heard about the van and decided to purchase it.

The rust on the bodywork was caused by being stored in this container for many years and the condensation dripping from inside the roof,had they covered the van up the paintwork would have been in far better condition.

I do like the barn fresh look of some vehicles and had they not painted the front wings in primer I was intending to carry out the mechanical work etc for an Mot and use her as she is.

That barn fresh look is quite popular at the moment.

She was very solid and although the photo`s show her a bit down at heal the van cleaned up very well after I got her home.


More photo`s to follow.

Classic Mike

[Morris Mike]

Although the original doors only had some small rust holes in the bottoms in the usual places,I fitted a pair of as new old stock doors i found whilst walking around the BMC rally last year at Peterborough.
The chap then told me he had a new pair old stock wings in the back of his van,these were purchased as well.

Every bit of paint was removed from the van down to bright shiny metal.

A new rear nearside wheel arch was fitted to the back body.

Classic Mike

[les]

Lucky man, just goes to show nothing can't be done if you've got the room! I built mine in a phone box!

[LouiseM]

I built mine in a phone box!

Was it a GPO van Les?

(Great project Mike - keep posting the photos!)

[les]

No but they let me use the box ----that's another thing I used to be able to do but can't now,--isolate and post parts of a quote!

[Morris Mike]

[orb596]

What a great project.

It's very unusual to see a Minor on an L reg! In fact I can't think that I've seen another.

[Morris Mike]

I put on the title Austin Van 1971.
In actual fact ........
The van was registered on the 01-09-1972.
It must have been in the dealers showroom for an extra 6 months or so.

So i suppose the purchaser got a good deal.

At the time more modern vans were coming onto the market so in 1972 this model was past its prime,the same as now day`s with vans etc.

Gresham Flyer

[Morris Mike]

[Morris Mike]

[Morris Mike]

I am not going to give a blow by blow account of what has been done,everyone knows the amount of cutting,fabricating,welding,grinding,filling, sanding and cleaning of mechanical parts etc involved in a restoration.

So I will just cut to the progress shots.


Classic Mike

[Morris Mike]

[alexandermclaren]

superb excellent work and great progress