Regards NeilIn September 1960, BMC launched the Austin and Morris estate car versions of the Mini saloons, based on the floorpan of the Mini van. However, like the saloon, the fuel tank was situated on the near-side of the boot behind a trim panel and the spare wheel and battery were placed under a hinged floor panel. (Later, the tank would be put under the floor like the van, and the spare and battery would be re-positioned.) Because of the popularity of the Morris Minor Traveller, both versions were offered with a wooden frame glued to the rear section and the Morris was also given the name 'Traveller', the Austin Se7en was called 'Countryman'. Unlike on the Morris Minor, this wooden frame was purely decorative and had no structural purpose, which was shown by the all-metal versions which were launched in the UK in October 1962. All estates had a trim level equivalent to a De Luxe saloon, with the addition of wing-mounted mirrors and sliding rear side windows as standard.
bobins wrote: 27 Mar 2018, 19:06 I saw a Mini van hurtling up the A3 on Sunday afternoon. Not seen one of those on the road in years
CitroJim wrote: 27 Mar 2018, 18:45 Lovely but not quite as lovely as the half-timbered MK1 Mini Traveller... Dad had one for several years. It looked lovely Island Blue... I loved that car
(as one of the leading actors may have said!)
van ordinaire wrote: 28 Mar 2018, 01:45 It was a Minivan that finally made me decide I'd never work on a Mini again - it was not having a separate (&, therefor, removable) grille that did it!
CitroJim wrote: 28 Mar 2018, 05:42 . . . . . . . . . Ahh but that masterstroke by BMC was done on purpose - to prepare you for working on Citroens in later life
myglaren wrote: 30 Mar 2018, 07:53 I have barely touched Minis but the 'doughnut' joints on Imps were a challenge the first few times.
NewcastleFalcon wrote: 30 Mar 2018, 09:30 One good thing about the my first mini......didn't have a "brain" of its own
