Roadster Pickup Title Page
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There are 11 images on this page. |
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Robin`s roadster pickup is one of the most famous custom Morris Minors around. It has been featured in many magazines and won the best custom award at Morris Minors rallies more than any other vehicle. Over the 14 years that this vehicle has been in Robin`s ownership it has gone through many image changes, each one setting new standards. It started out as a van with a 1600cc Fiat engine but in GPO colours complete with ladders. When a coach wrote off the vehicle it started a 10 week rebuild into what was to be known as the pink pickup. A radical pickup with smooth body work and a lift off hard top. The vehicle was inspired by American mini trucks but this fact was not appreciated by most people. After a few years Robin was back into the garage and emerged with a vehicle that was completely updated with a new colour, suicide doors, front hinging bonnet, two piece lift off roof and an even smoother body. And this was to a vehicle that most people though was perfect before. The people of England loved it and voted it Feature Car Of The Year in Street Machine Magazine, a very high honour. Robin enjoyed his roadster often driving it everyday through the summer and took it abroad around France on holiday many times. He eventually sold it in April 2000. |
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Roadster Pickup Final
Specification |
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Robin purchased an old
van when he was 17 with the intention of restoring it and fitting a Fiat 1600cc
engine so he could drive it when he was 18 and insurance a bit cheaper. |
The engine was smoothed
out for the clean look and the front crossmember cut out so the Fiat engine
could be fitted. The front crossmember is replaced with a bolt in item. |
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This was the 2nd Fiat
conversion we did and we still used the Minor gearbox rubbers for the mounting
of the Fiat box. |
The gearbox cover is
super smooth, showing Robin`s body work skills. |
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The ladders are original
1950`s GPO and extremely rare. The rack is remanufactured by Robin. |
The build up continues
outside as there is more room than in our compact garage. |
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The van on show. Many
people were upset that a Fiat engine had been put into a historic vehicle.
These were the days when if you had a 1275cc Midget engine in your Minor you
were an outcast. However most people loved the street sleeper. |
The wheels are Austin
A60 and the stickers were done at our local stationers. This made the van
look original. |
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Drag racing at Santa
Pod. The speed of the vehicle surprised many people. |
While parked at the side
of the road a coach came past with its luggage door flapping and did this.
Robin was in the back of the van at the time clearing space for a friend he
was picking up. He was unhurt. |
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