14 replies to this topic

[Douglas R]

Hi. I have a 40 year old project on a mini pickup un-used shell and am considering finishing or selling.

 

Not touched for 20 years so need advice on current cost etc.

 

Live near Leeds.

 

Currently struggling to use this forum. I am much older than the car!

[PoolGuy]

Welcome, it’s a great forum with a huge amount of useful information, hamstrung by a poor search facility. I’ve found that the best way to search the forum is to put your search term into Google followed by site:www.theminiforum.co.uk

[Douglas R]

struggling to use the forum

 

I have a 40 year ongoing mini pickup rebuild onto a new shell

 

Need advice to make decision to complete or sell

 

 

[mab01uk]

You may also be interested in this thread below on Mini Pickup history.

Mini Pickup Production History:-

https://www.theminif...uction-history/

 

Edited by mab01uk, 27 October 2022 - 07:34 PM.

[KTS]

Hi. I have a 40 year old project on a mini pickup un-used shell and am considering finishing or selling.

 

Not touched for 20 years so need advice on current cost etc.

 

Live near Leeds.

 

Currently struggling to use this forum. I am much older than the car!

 

 

Hi, and welcome

 

an un-used pickup shell is a bit of a rarity.  what kind of condition is it in, and how complete, and I guess most importantly do you have a V5 for it ?

 

From a restore perspective, almost all of the parts you'd need to rebuild it are still available.  the only item you'll struggle to replace would be the headlining frame if you don't have one.

 

if you are thinking of selling, the market for pickups is quite strong at the moment, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding a buyer

[Douglas R]

I have a pickup body shell bought new in 1979, complete with doors, tailgate and bonnet. Tailgate and bonnet are not new. It was painted that year and wax oiled or zeibart treated.

 

I have a van donor vehicle, now stripped, I have v5 in my name and vin plate from donor van (1970)

 

The back end of the new shell is completed using almost all new parts (including powder coated subframe).

 

Front subframe is in and suspension and steering nearly complete, again using mostly new parts.

 

I have many other new parts to fit, (hinges, bearings, ball joints, cv's, seals, gaskets etc. I think most things that move. wear or deteriorate are here and unused.

 

The engine has been re-ringed and head reconditioned but not put together. There was a second donor vehicle so there are two of most things (or 3 sometimes?), Add 4 new Michelin tyres and an exhaust. 

 

A friend did much of the work to date. I expect (and it looks like this is true) to a high standard. I can vouch for everything except the engine but think he will have done it well.  

 

I bought it off him 20 years ago to take a lead roll as his health was causing mobility issues. I worked on the rear but he passed away, unexpectedly the same year I took over. His passing and my challenge from throat cancer meant it went the way of may projects and stood still for years. its never been wet and is in my integral garage.

 

I am 98% sure this is all accurate but I am human and its been a long time

 

 

[KTS]

I may have have misunderstood, but if the V5 is for the van, regrettably, you can't use it for the pickup.

If that is the case, and you do not have a V5 for the pickup and have no intention of restoring the van, then you may want to consider selling the donor van with it's V5 as a restoration project, and selling the pickup as a bare shell.

There may be more options that other forum users can suggest..

[mab01uk]

Link below to the dedicated home of the 'Mini Pick-up Club' who should be able to help and advise you:-
https://www.minipickup.club/

 

they are also on Facebook here:-

https://www.facebook...MiniPickupClub/

 

You may also be interested in this thread below on Mini Pickup history.

Mini Pickup Production History:-

https://www.theminif...uction-history/

Edited by mab01uk, 24 October 2022 - 07:37 AM.

[Douglas R]

Thanks for this. My now deceased friend had the paperwork to change the log book on completion to pickup. His understanding was that this was acceptable given certain criteria was met.

 

I had a quick look at current regulations for classic cars and thought changing the body from van to pickup when completed is still acceptable. Not 100% sure though, it was just a quick look around.

 

I had in mind looking out for a pickup wreck and using details of that on the shell. I know that will cost but I would then have remnants of the donor van including vin plate and v5

[KTS]

Personally, i wouldn't attempt to re-register the van as a pickup now; there is a very real risk that DVLA may decide what you are trying to do is illegal and seize the van V5

 

I'd agree; financially, the best option would be to find a pickup wreck with V5 which would give you two viable restoration projects to progress or sell on;  a van + a pickup.   Some lunatic may even want to take both off your hands at the same time.... 

 

Keep an eye out on ebay, gumtree etc to see if anything shows up....

[mab01uk]

If you contact the Pickup Club above there may be a member who has a 'live' V5 from a 'dead' pickup which was scrapped in the past but never notified as scrapped to the DVLA. Many people keep their old Mini log books in a drawer for future projects using a new shell and as you have a new bodyshell there should be no problem (in the same way as you can rebuild legally with a new BMH Mini bodyshell). However if you do take that route I would not declare anything to the DVLA unless essential, as it can be very difficult to find anyone at DVLA via phone or email these days who is up to speed on classic cars and their complex rules....they also tend to lose important documents you send in.....always retain copies of everything and register any letters sent.

Edited by mab01uk, 24 October 2022 - 02:20 PM.

[Spider]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

 

I've merged this thread and your other together and put them here in Mini Chat as given the nature of the thread, it's the most appropriate place.

Sorry to hear you are having trouble using the forum.

In what way are you having trouble ?

[Douglas R]

Just problems finding things.

 

I think I know how to find my own stuff now (hence this reply).

 

I have always thought best/easiest way forward would be remnants of another pickup with v5 and vin plate but only had a casual interest in looking over the years.

 

I'm 70 now and space and time is making me deal with the mini while I can.

 

Just completing it into a rolling shell has taken more time than I expected so am almost convinced selling would be my best option.

[mk1mark]

If you try to "re-register" your "donor" Van as a pickup after a shell swap, you stand a VERY strong chance of losing the identities of both vehicles & being left with NOTHING!  As far as the DVLA is concerned, you are not doing a conversion, you are changing the shell.  This is an ABSOLUTE NO, NO!

 

DO NOT TRY THIS!

 

The regulations have changed radically since the 1970's and once the DVLA have made their mind up there is no chance of changing it!

 

As has been suggested, sell the van as a project & sell the pickup shell as a pickup shell.

 

DO NOT UNDER ANY CURCUMSTANCES ATTEMPT TO JIG AROUND WITH THE LOGBOOKS!

Edited by mk1mark, 28 October 2022 - 07:15 AM.

[Ethel]

The regulations haven't really changed, but they are set out more clearly & enforced.

 

Every vehicle has an identity that's recorded on the V5 and can't be transferred to another vehicle. If you were to change a van in to a pickup, the DVSA could decide you've altered the van so much it's effectively a new vehicle, remove the V5 & make you put it through a regulation compliance test (IVA) in order to get a new V5, likely with a Q plate. It's not absolutely certain, but you'd be at their mercy & have to convince them it has the van's unaltered (just repaired) superstructure.

 

If you can identify them (chassis and/or registration number) you could apply for replacement V5's provided they haven't been recorded as scrapped.