Hi,

Wondering if anyone is able to please help identify this mini van, and rear seat conversion..
I was thinking possibly an ex-RAA van, I think they did some seat conversions in their vehicles but I can't find much information.

The van has '64 stamped on the wiper motor, but after 40 years I'm not sure it's the original wiper motor, is anyone able to confirm? also the seats look early to me? unless commercials got different seats. Drainage holes in the gutters are slots if that helps. Also it has an 850 on a remote box, doubt that's original. I haven't removed the floor mat or dead rats to see if there's a hole for the early gear change.

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'78 LS 1275

Looking at your drivers seat and you mention slots in the gutter I'd say it's earlier and it's a English one the passenger seat was a option for tax purposes?? what sort of id tag or numbers are on it if English it should FEXXX type numbers on radiator cowl and drivers floor pan providing that they haven't been removed

haven't checked the floor pan, (the over powering smell of dead rat was getting too much for me), but the number is on a plate attached the radiator shroud.
Engine number begins with 8amfauh, however i'd assume that's not the original.

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'78 LS 1275

My mate has a 60 mini which has the seat mount fixed to the crossmember. I have a minivan that a 62 it has the bolt on seat mounts.
i would say your van is early.

Sorry I cant help with the modified rear seat.
My van had the van floor cut out but I didnt hav a seat with it.

Could the front panel have been replaced?

Good luck with the info gathering
Cheers

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61 van
63 countryman
63 saloon
67 auto
73 auto clubman
75 1000cc clubman
77 sccr 998 clubman
NZ 79 1275gt clubman estate
79 LE
80 meanee
Racecar
Fiat 500

Well vans (as commercials) had grilles integral with the front panel..so that probably got changed along with the lower panel..

The front seat hinge looks like my 63 but the rear portion is earlier..

Early UK vans had solid sides because that defined a "commercial" vehicle - and so you didn't pay purchase tax...BUT you were then speed limited to something like 40mph ..unless you cut windows in the sides.

Cheers, Ian

ahh, thanks.. i'll pull the grill off over the weekend and see if there's any evidence of the pressed grill being cut out perhaps. The seat brackets are welded to the cross member, not sure if that makes it early?
the body number starts with AA-V7 which from what i can work out means Austin, 850, Panelvan

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'78 LS 1275

Thanks for everyones help, part of the mystery is now solved, received an email from the Heritage motor centre, The factory record records the date of manufacture of Austin Mini van, chassis number A-AV7/100XXX as the 22 March 1961.

Now to work out that rear seat conversion.. and if the engine is the original cant seem to find much info on engines starting with 8amfauh.

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'78 LS 1275

thats so awesome, wonder if they did the same seat style but with a back, i think i like this rear seat conversion over they others that sit against the rear doors

very cool would be even cooler if it turned out to be a factory demonstrator/test car

if you get a heritage certificate for it (worth doing) it'll have the original engine number

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Andy - if you Google the engine number prefix (8amfauh) you'll get a couple of hits, one for a Mini van in UK. The MiniMania hit says that is a replacement engine.

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

According to the following page from the UK Mini Van parts list (AKD3518) the engine number decodes as: 850 cc, Austin & Morris, distributor for regular fuel, centre change gearbox, high compression.

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

... and the parts list for the body components (AKD3519) confirms the car as Austin Mini Van with metal load floor:

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

awesome. thanks I didnt google well enough it appears

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'78 LS 1275