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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.

Roadster Pickup.

Roadster Pickup Final Specification

Vehicle
.........................Split screen Morris Minor pickup.
Body modifications......2 piece lift off roof, front hinged debadged bonnet, suicide ( rear hinging ) doors with handles and swage lines removed, larger door glass and smaller quarter lights. Pickup bed chopped 3", rolled rear pan, flush fitting tail lights. Front bumper lowered 1", wings extended to match, engine bay panelled smooth with all wires and ancillaries hidden. Front indicators in front bumper.
Paint............................ Fiat Tipo green
Engine..........................Fiat twin cam 2000cc, rebuilt with twin Weber 45 DCOE carbs. Power approx. 130 bhp.
Gearbox.......................Fiat 5 speed with Golf ball gear stick.
Cooling.........................Marina with Sherpa van core and repositioned outlets. Nissan Cherry fan. Thermostat in the head.
Axle..............................Toyota Celica Mk2
Brakes.........................Marina discs and calipers with 575 van hubs ( 4.5" PCD )
Suspension...................Marina torsion bars lowered 3", bump stop moved up. Rear leaf springs with lowering blocks. Telescopic Spax dampers all round.
Wheels....................... 6 x 14" Enkei 26 unidirectional. This means that the wheels are different on each side so the spokes go the same way.
Tyres...........................Dunlop 185 50 14
Interior.........................Smooth dash with hump removed, speedo in drop down pod, Allegro rear bench seat, door panels covered to match, Mountney steering wheel.
Performance................Standing start 1/4 mile 16.2 seconds. Top speed estimated 115mph.

Bare van cab

Smooth engine bay

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.
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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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Gearbox crossmember for Fiat Gearbox
Gearbox cover.

This was the 2nd Fiat conversion we did and we still used the Minor gearbox rubbers for the mounting of the Fiat box.
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The gearbox cover is super smooth, showing Robin`s body work skills.
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Ladder rack and ladders.
Build up of the van

The ladders are original 1950`s GPO and extremely rare. The rack is remanufactured by Robin.
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The build up continues outside as there is more room than in our compact garage.
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Finished Van on Show

Finished van side veiw.

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.
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The wheels are Austin A60 and the stickers were done at our local stationers. This made the van look original.


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Racing at Santa Pod drag strip.
Crash damage.

Drag racing at Santa Pod. The speed of the vehicle surprised many people.


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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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