1978 Mini Panel Van |

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1978 Mini Panel Van

This vehicle has now been sold - click ‘Register Similar’ below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

Sold Price

£9,010

Mileage~60,000 on clock
TransmissionManual
Engine1.1L
LocationCrystal Palace

SOLD

1978 Mini Panel Van

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Alan Stuart

Photographer

A charismatic carry-all with an endearing charm - the every popular Mini van.

Supplementing the passenger versions of the Mini, the van version was based on the longer Traveller chassis, but found itself as a popular vehicle for budget-conscious motorists, as it was classified as a commercial vehicle and not subjected to sales tax. Retaining the same cheeky character and endearing qualities as the original model, the van remained in production well into the 1980s and offered an appealing alternative to the norm. BMC, at the time, had a vast overseas reach and several countries built the Mini from kits for local consumption, including the van version.

This South African 1978 panel van has small differences from the UK spec versions, with bigger air filter housings and a radiator overflow system on its bigger 1.1-litre engine, but retains the familiar set-up that most Mini fans will recognise.

Imported from South Africa in 2020, this complete and well-presented example is a good base for improvement - it starts and drives well, with evidence of mechanical attention in recent years and is registered for use in the UK.

This auction listing was written from information supplied by Alan after meeting Sal the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

It's just such a cool vehicle - I was attracted to its fun style.

Sal imported the car directly from South Africa in 2020 and the car has since seen a level of care to enable it to look presentable.

Originally imported for use as a runabout, the potential work needed on the car means that Sal has chosen to sell it.

Sal

Vehicle Owner

Sal saved £1,620* when they
sold their Mini with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

A rare variant of a practical runabout, this example is ripe for renovation.

Wheels and Tyres

The Falken tyres fitted on the Minilite replica wheels are in very good shape with very little in terms of wear.

It has to be noted that the wheels stand proud of the bodywork, so will at least need arches to be road legal.

The original 10" wheels and trims will also come with the car.

Bodywork

First impressions appear to be positive and mostly free of dents, but the car has seen a rudimentary spruce up at some point.

The underside will need attention, with the floor pan showing significant signs of age under the underseal with fibreglass repairs noted in the driver's footwell. The engine bay has seen welding and may need further investigation but the front subframe appears to be solid.

The bodywork also appears to be straight, although the driver's door alignment is slightly out, with welding noted on the driver's door well. Both passenger inner door panels show signs of corrosion. Bubbling was noted on the lower front wings and more seriously on the base of the offside A-pillar.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our hi-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view at what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The paint has decent coverage, although there are signs of crazing and cracking throughout the bodywork, most notably on the bonnet and roof - perhaps suggesting a paint reaction. The colour match is positive.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these hi-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The chrome work is presentable, with the bumpers aligning to the age of the car with some signs of wear. The trim appears to be correct and complete. The car has been fitted with aftermarket door mirrors. The front screen has been marked.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

Well-finished with a tidy cabin, the basic utilitarian charm is part of its appeal

Seats and Carpets

The seats have been tastefully refurbished and present well with minimal wear. The carpeting and mats are clean and free of any signs of age.

The rear load area is lined with thin fabric.

The door cards and cabin headlining are good.

Dashboard

Typically there's not much to describe when it comes to a physical dashboard, but like the seats, it has seen a refurbishment to an acceptable standard. The milometer appears to be stuck on the 60,000 mark.

While this South African-assembled car is not fitted with a heater, there is an engine temperature gauge.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The aftermarket steering wheel looks like a period fitting and shows an according amount of wear and the gear lever is in line with the age of the car.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

Fitted with the more powerful 1100 engine, it has seen a good level of maintenance since arriving in the UK.

Engine and Gearbox

The engine started up with no significant issues and ran smoothly with no notable excessive smoke other than the usual condensation. The engine itself shows signs of maintenance and idles evenly.

The ancillaries and hoses appear to be good although the master cylinders and wiring clusters looked delicate. The gearbox is said to be operational, although the clutch was sticky, which impeded the length of the test drive.

Suspension and Brakes

The brakes, particularly the front calipers are in good shape and appear to stop the car without too many issues.

The suspension mounts may need investigation.

The Drive

The ride didn't reveal significant problems with the usual low-level rattles, with the decent tyres soaking up the ruts on the road.

It was only driven on a residential road at lower speeds, so a true assessment cannot be ascertained, but its mechanical hardiness by its virtues in its ability to start and run is a good starting point.

Electrics and Other

The electrics are said to all work, with the battery appearing to be a recent item.

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History and Paperwork

As a complete and presentable proposition, this Mini would make a good starting point for a light restoration project.

Other than the up-to-date V5, there's very little in terms of paperwork for the car. It was imported into the UK in 2020 from South Africa. The owner has told us that the car has seen engine servicing, clutch work and new brake pads.

The car is MOT exempt, but it would be advisable for the new owner to book an appointment with their MOT station as the first port of call to access what needs doing.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
See Paperwork

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Key Details

ModelMini Panel Van
TransmissionManual
Reg. Date01-01-1978
CC1098
Mileage60,000 (on clock)
ColourWhite
Interior ColourBlack / Grey
Interior TrimVinyl
Chassis #1110AA5009428
Engine #9AKWE6868
MOT ExemptYes
Road Tax ExemptYes
HPi ClearYes - All Clear
Former Keepers0 in UK
Tyre BrandFalken
LHD or RHDRHD
VisitedYes
Sale TypePrivate
Owned2 years
Key FeatureRarity
Auction ID1077

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All Images

History and Paperwork

All Videos

Vehicle Sold

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This vehicle has now been sold - click 'I Want One' below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

I WANT ONE

Ask Questions

Seller : SalA Sale Date 20.12.2022

Post a comment or ask the owner a question about the car.

2 Comments

SalA

Seller

1 year ago

Hi Gary
Sure its no problem to leave it for 3 – 5 weeks thanks

garymackin

1 year ago

Hi Sal, I’m very interested in your van. Thing is, I am from Northern Ireland and so I just wanted to check before I bid, if I was to finish as the highest bidder it might take me a few weeks to come and collect the vehicle, just because of the time of year etc. Would this be OK? I will pay a deposit in the meantime if that would help. Many thanks, Gary.

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Vehicle Location

Crystal Palace, London

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