14 replies to this topic

[sherbert]

hi i have been looking for a while now for a mini van however i dont have the money alot of them are advertised for. There are alot i watch on ebay dont come anywhere near there reserve price and i dont have anywhere to keep/work on for long periods of time so a full rebuild on a wreck is out of the question. So i am going back to a idea a guy once told me to do years ago, this was to turn a clubman estate into a van, have the front end changed and change the glass at the back im sure you get the idea and i have seen this done a couple of times

I was not too keen on the idea before as i would have liked a van however im now having a rethink so im just wondering what you guys think
Also whilst we are on the subject by changing it from a estate to a van how would i stand legally regarding the paperwork, not for selling it on as i would like to keep it for a while but i dont want to be pulled over for driving what looks like a van that is regstered as a estate (if such a thing happens)

Or would i be better off trying to save some more money and get the real thing? this will probably set me back a year and im guessing finding one will get harder as time goes by!

P.S. sorry forgot to say i only have a couple of grand at the mo to spend

Edited by sherbert, 16 May 2011 - 10:24 PM.

[Tupers]

It's certainly possible an has been done a few time before. Clicky

The main problem is finding a pair of van sides to weld into the estate. (Assuming you want proper van sides) It's also worth noting that the conversion would cost around £3k plus assuming you did the work bar the respray yourself.

[mk1leg]

Hi..and thats what I'm going to do to My sons clubby estate for him whilst he's at sea training to become a Captain........

[olds_kool_lews]

i already done it

[sherbert]

i already done it

it looks great i saw it at brighton too
i like the van rear panels rather than the square clubman ones i have seen on others
i could leave the clubman front on until i had the time/money to change it so i dont have to spend as much in one go (easier to hide from the wife!!)

[craig 1010cc]

Also whilst we are on the subject by changing it from a estate to a van how would i stand legally regarding the paperwork, not for selling it on as i would like to keep it for a while but i dont want to be pulled over for driving what looks like a van that is regstered as a estate (if such a thing happen

No problems in changing a car into a van (as long as your not chopping chunks of the car out/stretching it/moving door pillars) but technically you could be pulled for IVA if you put around nose on it.

1 question to ask your self is once its built, every time you see a 'real' van, will you regret not waiting to get one?

What I would do is get a clubby estate to rock about in until you can afford the extra to buy a van (perhaps look at a temp van conversion which can be completed/reversed for little cost). They are getting rarer and more desirable now, so will help bridge the gap to a van later on

[olds_kool_lews]

I dont regret converting my estate into a van,
1. because it was cheap
2. genuine vans are ridiculous prices even for projects
3. there are more clubman estates out there at affordable prices that are ripe for renovation/conversion
4. its got wind up windows
5. more room in the engine bay
6. i dont feel guilty in modifying it to my tastes
7. its not as rare or desirable as a genuine van but just as cool!
8. it has back seats so can carry more than 1 passenger

only a few points but im sure there are many more! as for legalities regarding turning an estate into a van, the side panels are regarded as cosmetic, non structural alterations that dont require an iva or any other such tests to be carried out. Dont get me wrong, id love a genuine van, but for the prices they go for, and the thought of it being stolen or damaged in any way after a long and extensive restoration would be soul destroying, owning a clubvan on the other hand has given me both the practicalities of a van, and an estate, so win win!

[Cooperman]

If the Estate is pre-1973, it would have had 'Purchase Tax' applied as it was pre-VAT. Purchase Tax did not apply to commercial vehicles back then, so you could make a 'tongue-in-cheek application for a refund of the Purchase Tax paid originally on the estate.
Did you know that back in the 60's the speed limit for vans was 30 mph on all roads except Motorways, where it was 50 mph. We didn't take too much notice of that!

[tieclubbyestate]

im in the process of doing it now

[sherbert]

1 question to ask your self is once its built, every time you see a 'real' van, will you regret not waiting to get one?

This was the main reason why i dismissed the estate idea a while ago and i guess there must be a bit of this in me still or i would not be wondering what to do

I dont regret converting my estate into a van,
1. because it was cheap
2. genuine vans are ridiculous prices even for projects
3. there are more clubman estates out there at affordable prices that are ripe for renovation/conversion
4. its got wind up windows
5. more room in the engine bay
6. i dont feel guilty in modifying it to my tastes
7. its not as rare or desirable as a genuine van but just as cool!
8. it has back seats so can carry more than 1 passenger

i agree with most of your points im not worried about the rear seats as we will have another mini that my good lady loves to drive so she can take the passengers! and im not going to heavily modify it so thats not really a issue but i can see where you are coming from

Thanks for the info on the legalitly of it too everyone

just in case anyone was wondering why i want one so much is i am a builder and i am planning on using it for work however i am in a great position where i dont carry tools or materials around it would only be used to get me to sites etc i use a fiesta van now and normally drive it around with the back empty

so with this in mind i guess im swaying to the estate, as i think im more likely to find one roadworthy for a better price (as i said before i need something on the road as i have no long term storage/garage solution) i could change the back panels to get it van like fairly quickley and do anything else as i go i would rather have a roundnose front end on it but if it proved tricky IVA wise perhaps i would just leave it

[Black.Ghost]

I was going to get a boring diesel thing until Oliver is back on the road. Then I was thinking a normal Van would be useful for carting stuff around and I could make a bit of cash on the side moving stuff for people etc.

And then I saw a clubby estate at the right angle and now I really want one. I think the profile of the Clubby front suits the estate better than the saloon, and the round nose suits the saloon body better. Which is why I am going down the Estate root, maybe with panels depending on whats available.

I think I want to go for a mild rat look. Certainly not full on, like the Mini Mag cover car this month, but half way there. White with black fixings could look good I reckon. Or Yukon Grey and black.

[rallycross]

if anyone is looking for a rot free clubman estate i noticed this one for 1500euros.

http://www.autoscout...id=btfknipihh1a

no idea how rust free it is but having bought older cars from italy before i know they can be so much better than what we see here, due to no salt on the roads and better weather.

might be worth bringing over to build a nice rust free example

[vtec_miniestate]

i already done it

I LOVE this clubvan!!!

[olds_kool_lews]

cheers mate, shes now living in france with her new owner! but im in the process of obtaining another clubman estate too which i might do a similar thing with, but in black

Valerie as she is known, will be featuring in miniworld magazine in the next few months, so keep an eye out for the feature!

[sebnormandy]

Hi guys!

 

my plan is a conversion as well, but i've seen on many pictures that glasses exist to fit in the midle of van panels???have you heard about that i can't find them!!

 

thanks