1969 AUSTIN QUARTER TON PICKUP                    Registrat...

Hammer

£17,000

1969 AUSTIN QUARTER TON PICKUP                   

Registration Number: UAA 710H
Chassis Number: AAUC275278
Recorded Mileage: Under 100 miles since restoration

- 2 Owners from new
- Exhaustively restored and tastefully uprated
- Invoices on file for c. £27,000 in parts/labour

Unveiled in September 1948, the Morris Minor had in fact been on the drawing board for several years before its launch shortly after the Second World War. Sir Alec Issigonis’s innovative monocoque design coupled with rack and pinion steering and small 14 inch wheels produced a well handling family car, the motoring press of the time loved it. Designed for commercial use with small businesses, closed van and open flat-bed ("pick-up") versions of the Minor were built from 1953 until the end of production. The van versions were popular with the General Post Office, and both van and the pickup differed from the monocoque construction of the Saloon and Traveller variants by having a separate chassis. They also featured telescopic rear dampers, stiffer rear leaf springs and lower-ratio differentials to cope with heavier loads. 

The commercial versions were initially marketed as the Morris Quarter Ton Van and Pick-up. Later, as BMC's policy was to provide both Austin and Morris with complete commercial vehicle ranges, Austin-badged variants of the Minor van and pick-up were sold following the end of Austin A35 production in 1968. These featured Austin badging and the corporate Austin 'crinkle-cut' radiator grille but were otherwise identical to the standard Minor commercials, and were sold as the Austin 6cwt and Austin 8cwt.

This beautifully restored example was purchased when new in 1969 by a farm owner in Hampshire. The little commercial truck was pressed into typical farm use for several years, later being stored off the road until our vendor visited the farm in 2017. He promptly acquired the pickup, proceeding to undertake a hugely comprehensive restoration. The chassis itself and many panels were replaced, including floors, inner and outer wings and sills, front panel, valance tailgate and fuel tank. The engine was re-bored and balanced and then completely rebuilt, uprated with high compression pistons, and a Mini Cooper cylinder head with a fast-road camshaft. The rebuilt engine was reinstalled with a complete new clutch, starter motor coil, SU carburettor, fuel pump and Maniflow exhaust system. The differential has been uprated to a 3.9:1 ratio.

Another useful upgrade was disc brakes to the front, with new master/slave cylinders and brake pipes. Cooling is improved with a new radiator, the suspension has also been uprated, a new loom has been fitted, as have new light fittings.

The Austin was finally finished in Almond Green with a replacement canvas tilt and hoops, and the interior retrimmed with new seats and carpets. Supporting this work is a huge file of invoices and additionally a detailed spreadsheet of the works completed. This truly fantastic little pick up looks fabulous and really does drive just as well.