The car was advertised in the early 1990s, too. Back then the ad stated that it received a new body in 1984 and was then built as a camper. So I'm not too sure about it being 'Registered from new as AUSTIN MINI CLUBMAN MOTOR CARAVAN' either. And was it really built by a boat / small motorhome company on the Isle of Wight? I don't know, but did find two more pictures of 'TJU 219N' in the files, sent to me years ago by Ian Whitehead. It's still in white on these pics with 10" wheels.
It's a lovely little camper never the less of which I'd love to learn a little more and which no doubt will bring lots of fun to a new owner. See the ad here
Austin Mini Clubman campervan surely seems to be a one-off
Picture Ebay
Registered 'TJU 219N' I knew I'd seen it before
Picture Ebay
All you can wish for, including swiveling front seat, but still a classic Mini
Picture Ebay
This early 1990s ad states it was converted in 1984 with a new body shell
Picture Jeroen Booij archive
More old pictures of it were sent to me by Ian Whitehead years ago
Picture courtesy Ian Whitehead / Jeroen Booij archive
So... who built this cool motor caravan? A company on the Isle of Wight?
Picture courtesy Ian Whitehead / Jeroen Booij archive
ian whitehead worked for me. i was the owner. built buy a bespoke boat build company in isle of wight who wanted to enter the camping market with micro stuff...this was the only one they built. registered as a camper from new..and when the isle of wight company sourched it they purchased a brand new off the shelf damask red clubman estate bodyshell to start afresh. costs where too high..they made several things on bespoke vehicles..there is a rover..a big austin and i have seen a cortina base unit..
ReplyDeletein the end they went for fibreglass running citroen c15 and eventually where accepted by citroen as manufacture partner. ian whitehead photos are without my permission. taken the day i purchased it..i had driven it 240 miles to my garage..same day on the ramp..mot jobs and service all done..mot and tax and off it went fully loaded to int mini meet in germany where it launched mini magazine. we had 250 number 1 mini magazine to sell at the venue. i sold all of them and launched the magazine from this camper. later on i fitted a full front running gear off a new automatic mini 1275 and never finished it..we had 90 sales mini in stock and my projects where stored. sold it 2021 and its a feature on you tube being refreshed.
it has another life now which is fantastic.
as a manufacture and not a mini blog person. the company that built this camper had sourched an already registered mini camper..i have no details. it would make sense as if entering a market no rules of manufacture apply with an already registered mule. same as mclaren with the f1 supercar..they purchased 2x ultima sports kit vehicles as mules for their car. same job different day..
ReplyDeleteI AM NOT ANOYMOUS I AM MARK NOLAN
ReplyDeleteits lovely this camper has been refreshed once again. i actually owned it half my life. funny how people who dont have..KNOW.. and make outstanding comments of fact. i wish the futire mini camper owners great fun. its a proper thing thats for sure. and inlike the stupid 60,s stuff like the wildgoose etc..this was stable..fast..modern running gear and towed a car trailer with a mini on it..with the original small bore engine..with the rover 1275 auto out of a new 1995 unit..(we swapped the whole subframe unit..and re used the original one off the camper into a mini moke...)
ReplyDeleteand those welsh guys have done such a good job..great fun.