OK,

Just found another Van and I have one already so this one may become a Ute.

I'm taking Ideas on this conversion.

Ideas? - how bout this?

I really want it to look authentic

Anyone with detailed BMC body specs? I have heaps of "maitenance and repair manuals but the Ute is always generalised in them.

Northern has [or at least had last time I was over] a genuine round nose Ute imported from UK. They had it on display at Minishow04.

Nothing like seeing it in the flesh and taking lots of pics.

On real utes, the tail gate is vertical, whereas on a van, it is sloped.

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Yeah I have seen the verticle tail gate, I intent to slit the side panel 3/4" from the corner then bevel the panel, stand it up verticle and then insert a wedge panel to simulate the correct look.
Good to see some astute minifiles with an eye for detail!

Any thoughts on the roof fininsh at the rear edge?

Looks like it slopes away with no sill on the red beast in the pic above.


dewey

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dwightgunning.com

The roof line actually levels off in the ute, where as the van keeps raising. I am considering slitting longitudinally and gathering it in marginally to pull it down.

a true ute the back of the cab looks bodgy like it is unfinnished if ya know wot i mean
makka

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Anonymous moderation means the agro that is built up towards the mods isn't aimed at an individual (fewer "Makk" attacks). Less stress for mods means less moderator "retirements".

anyone know where the rear window panel can be bought?

we had to make ours,
couldn't find any panels when doing our conversion.
there is a mini ute over here for sale... worth a look

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Miniworx Centre 0883741299
Sooperdooperminicooperexpertengineering
Online BMW Mini Shop

Make a panel up that has the same window size as something common in Oz. eg: Datto 1200 ute? That way you don't need expensive custom sized glass.

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Brett Nicholson
Greendale (near Ballan) VIC.
1971 Morris Mini Moke
1966 Austin Mini
1965 Morris Mini Traveller
1973 LR Series 3 88
2007 LR Freelander 2

Sounds like you're going to do it right at least....I've never quite liked the conversions that do pretty much everything right but still leave the back panel on an angle.

How about the roof? Is your van roof one without the ribs? Maybe you could replace it with a standard mini roof if it does have the ribs.

No need to worry about using existing glass. Flat auto glass isn't that expensive to get cut.

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72 Clubman and a 75 Van.

I need to know
what the glass spec is for the original, any ideas?

Thanks for the roof idea, it'll give a very early look and solve a lot of f_en around. Just fitted some Subaru Liberty B4 seats to my Ute to be shell. they fit really well.

Does anyone know a budget priced auto glass place in Melbourne?