Check out channel sponsor Bidding Classics! There really is something for everyone (don't blame me if you end up needing more garage space for some of those tempting motors!): http://bit.ly/BiddingClassicsIDriveAC...

For this particular van, here is the Bidding Classics link: https://www.biddingclassics.com/1970-...

____________

Morris Minor Van

Purists will be shaking their fist at the screen as I refer to this van as the Morris minor van throughout the video, as it was officially known as the Morris quarter ton van - but most simply refer to it as a Morris Minor van or a moggy van and so in this video, it’ll just be referred to as a Minor van.

By this point in production, the 70s, the Issigonis designed van had moved on from its early early days of no quarter lights and the 803cc engine and was now running a 1098 and as a commonplace in British streets as the red phone box.

From the Royal Mail to BT through to the local market trader, it seemed that everyone had a Morris minor van.

In in fact, in the August 1953 issue of Nuffield’s in house export magazine, they dubbed it invaluable to both big companies and the one van tradesman. Morris knew their market and what they wanted.

The van gave the user 78 cubic feet of space, a mere 8 cubic feet more than the Morris Z type it had replaced.

We talk a lot later about keeping costs down and how that translates in design, but another key feature was you could order these vans in primer for a few pounds less than your factory painted. For businesses this was ideal as they could be easily branded before being pressed into service.

Another van fact about these later ones is that from 1968 you could choose either an Austin badged van or a Morris badged van like the one we’ve got here.

Production line wise, there wasn’t any design or build quality difference, it was simply to plug the gap left by the A35 van ceasing production. Differences are pretty much limited to the badge on the bonnet, the steering wheel and the crinkle grille.

You’ll also notice this van has plain hubcaps, later vans went plain purely for ease: it meant the caps could go on either vans and it cut down on costs associated with the badge engineering.

This van we’re testing today is standard: it’s a 1098 engine which will easily give you a decent 70mph without too much struggle, a 4 forward speed gearbox without sychro on first which is standard and has been left as standard on drum brakes.

It’s had the arches and some bodywork done, but the hefty pile of bills suggest mechanical work has reigned supreme and it’s had a lot well spent including radiator, timing chain kit and new 8 leaf rear springs.

Let’s flip into the drivers seat and I’ll talk to you a little more about the Morris minor van and the things you may not know unless you’re a bit of an anorak like me!