Yes, it is very nice. When's it gunna be finished?

_________________

lil ute definately started life as a van, but Mr Moke did such a stunning job that it is better than an original ute.

I know of at least two factory utes in WA, a blue one and a green one.

_________________
Too many cars, and too little time.

Andrew at NMP has one I think.

Yes Andrew did bring a early ute in from the UK, he has it tucked away at home.

The NMP ute was built using a new John Smidt shell by Barry Devlin for his wife to do the shopping in! It was later sold to Henry and we used it as the company car. It was involved in 3 crashes ( one with me driving) and was rebuit twice before being involved in a big crash where a guy turned on a red arrow and the ute hit him doing 80ks. That stuffed it. Apprantly it is being rebuilt again.

NMP imported another one for Thorpe at the Morris Minor company. He has restored it and uses it as a work car.

Another new shell is currently in storage awaiting me to buy it. It is the last remaining John Smidt NOS shell and has been in storage all these years.

Most of the panels required to build a ute out of a van are available from the UK, its a lot of work but has been done a few times. The sides, rear of cabin & entire rear end need to be grafted onto a van, and the front panel if you want the solid front panel.

If you have ever driven a ute, ( I drove ours everyday & got to fang it around Albert Park & Winton! ) you will know that they are a pain to drive, you cant put the seat back far as it hits the rear wall, if your over 6ft your nees end up around your ears...

I still love them tho...

_________________
Have a Nice Day.
If already having a nice day please disregard.

Considering how passionate Australians are about their utes, I cant believe so few made it here.

It is a shame BMCA never sold them here, they would of been a hit.

_________________
Have a Nice Day.
If already having a nice day please disregard.

It dont 'ave a V8 mate and not enuff power to carry all them big lights and dragg them big Kenworth mudflaps

NOT 100% BUT PRETTY SURE UTE BODIES WERE LONGER THAN VANS.

The mini ute that belongs to Tim Peachy at the old school garage at wagga was built in Canberra, not by me.

I have built a 67 mini pick up with a lot of help and $$$$$ from a hot rod shop in Bright.

It was a 67 window less australian van before the conversion, it is an exact copy of the english pick ups.

So far I have spent over $16,000 it should be finished in time for the mini show in Melb this year

Les

_________________
Alpine Mountains full of Mini's and Moke's.

there were 6 genuine body shells imported in the early 80's or the late 70's and the utes were built from these bodies , Peter Jennings has the Yellow one Rocky Canto had two in the mid 80,s and I can't remember what happened to the other 3, John the Mini King probably knows , how do I know ? I had a converted van ute in the late 80's wish I knew where it is now it was never seen again after I sold it it was an orange colour 1100 s engine disk brakes.

_________________
That's why it's good to be.............ME

One of them was the NMP ute, one is in storage & the 3rd one could be anywhere.

_________________
Have a Nice Day.
If already having a nice day please disregard.

would love to get my hands on one but I think thay are a bit out of my price range but it would be nice to have one as i hope to have one of each body shape mini

_________________
Don't under estimate the power of a Mini

1975 Supercharged Blue Mokezilla
1976 Fudge Moke
1967 BRG & White 67 Morris Deluxe
1974 Clubman Mini S
2005 Red Mini Cooper S
2009 Mitsubishi Outlander VRX

Here are my old ute's













This is her on her way to tassy to live with Allan








And this is how she went

[quote="mr moke[/quote]

The blue one looks like a genuine ute. Is it still around?

_________________
Have a Nice Day.
If already having a nice day please disregard.

Yes i sold it to a friend in our mini club and he has it put away