Registration - CJJ 851H

Chassis No. - 276861

M.O.T. - Exempt

Odometer - 73,500

The vendor of this stunning Austin commercial describes it as ‘better than new’, and it is certainly hard to fault and surely a potential concours candidate. He informs us that he is the most recent of just five owners to date, the second of whom placed it in storage for no less than 37 years following a failed MOT test. ‘CJJ 851H’ was then inherited by his sons who sold the van to a member of the Morris Minor Owners Club, and it was he that was responsible for the body-off, bare-metal rebuild that resulted in its current condition. Rather than customise the van, he retained its original looks right down to the ‘crinkly’ radiator grille, plain hubcaps and Austin bonnet badge that distinguished the Austin version of the model from its somewhat more common Morris cousins. Indeed, the only apparent, but eminently sensible, departures from standard are the unleaded cylinder head conversion, front brake discs and related servo, superior later style seats, and a higher final drive ratio. Finished in Anthracite Brown and trimmed in red vinyl, the vehicle is now being sold complete with a large history file containing photos from the ‘80s and of the restoration, plus a selection of receipts and old MOTs.

In common with the related pickup, a van version of the ubiquitous Morris Minor was available from 1953 to the end of Minor production in 1971. Austin-badged versions were introduced following the termination of the Austin A35 range in 1968. Though unmistakably related to their saloon and estate car siblings, the commercial variants featured separate chassis rather than monocoque bodyshells. Other distinguishing features included telescopic rear dampers, stiffer leaves for the rear springs and a lower final drive ratio.

In summary:

• Considered by the vendor to be ‘better than new’
• The subject of a previous body-off, bare-metal restoration
• Just five owners and a registered 73,500 miles from new