So what do people know about , the production of the Suntastic Special ?

nothing till I saw it on eBay....and I want it!

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Website: www.justanothermini.com

I'd never heard of it before, so I thought I'd ask.

could be a dealer styled vehicle ?!?

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Website: www.justanothermini.com

Got an email from the guy - he is vague but he believes drum brakes and a 10 series engine number ie : a 1098 motor - not 12 plus as implied.

I thought that myself until this...

I have been told that the suntastic model is the only model with a back seat in the panel van.

I know safety laws have changed a great deal, but I don't know if dealers could modify a car to that extent. Either way it would be great if someone would restore it. I doubt that you would see another one.

I was wondering if it was a rare van version of the Sunshine ?

Might as well put the two threads on this one together .....
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20209

As mentioned in the other one there was a Melbourne company converting clubby vans into travellers with sliding rear windows but this seller doesn't give enough photo's to check the rear windows . The conversion used aluminium framed sliding windows like on the old school buses . If anyone can get some details off the seller and how many seats it's complied with (the conversion was complied as a 4 seater) we can figure more out otherwise so far it's a van with a seat in the back , a sunroof and some decals .

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I wonder how many were produced and how you would go with rego considering it was a one off ? Would you need some type of documentation from that company or would you have to modify the car to comply with today's laws ?????????

If it is from the Melbourne company then it will say 4 seats on the compliance plate (extra plate to show it was re-complied from memory , not a "blue plate" from an engineer but a second compliance plate from the converters) so no drama's on the seating , depends if A) this is one of the ones from that company and B) if it still has the plate . No idea on numbers made , I've only ever seen one and it was around 75-76 built .

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some photos here
The seller sent me the link

It appears genuinely some sort of dealer special.

http://tonyauddino.spaces.msn.com

Wow! That is very neat work with the rear seat & floor.

Far better than the factory original Countryman/Traveller setup IMHO !
Someone needs to save & restore this car

but not me - I already bought a van resto project today

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Too many cars, and too little time.

That does look like what I remember the Melbourne conversion looking like , it was certainly a professional looking job and all folded forward neatly like that . Also the side windows on this one have been enlarged at the back which might have suited a set size aluminium sliding window , I don't know if they used a ready made window or custom made , as I said , I've only seen one and it's a while ago . See if there's any chance of an engine bay shot as it's looking like the goods . I don't know the companies name that was doing the conversion , hopefully if it's got the plate with the details someone can research it further .

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If I didn't have my hands full restoring my GT, I would be down in Vic loading that onto a trailer right now!

That is EXACTLY what I want for a daily driver. A van, with a (legal) rear seat, sunroof, attractive square front....it's got it all! Even that seat trim is funky 70's stylin'.

LOTS of rust I can see in the pics........probably beyond most backyard restorers, so I wouldn't advise anyone buy it without looking at it first.

I sincerely hope a genuine restorer buys it and returns it to what is was - A RARE LEYLAND MINI VAN.

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Website: www.justanothermini.com

It's certainly VERY interesting. I hope the winning bidder restores it well.

oh my...... oh oh my........................oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh my.

oh god.

imagine my garage with a sunshine and a suntastic.....

oh geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez. do i use my savings or do i not.. i already have 2
projects though... maybe if i sell the LS