Irish newbie and CKD van

[java gt]

Hi my name is Aidan and I hail from the emerald isle.I thought it would be nice to introduce myself my way of my van.I picked it up in October 2007 and as you can see it was a real barn find.It had been in the barn since 1968 and the aim was to have it ready from the IMM in 2009.It was sold new to a chimney sweep in Cork in 1961 and they owned it until 1966 when it was sold to a general merchant in Kerry who drove it up to 1968 when the head gasket blew and they put it into the barn and it stayed there until I rescued it in 2007.








It was assembled by Brittians of Dublin in early 1961 and apart from the surface rust it was really sound.It needed door skins,wings,rear valance,a floor pan and a roof skin which came from a 64 van that was too far gone to save.I have tried to save as much of the original van so all the running gear,subframes,wiring,glass and door handles are all original.The engine had already been changed so I rebuilt it as it had been in the van since 67.Here it is without its hubcaps shortly before going to Brum.



I had the seats recovered my a guy who learned his trade in O Neills of Dublin who supplied Brittians with interiors.

Here it is on the ferry to the IMM

And here it is at the IMM

Like a lot of early speedos it has stopped at 14823 but I have done Malin to Mizen twice and I have recently changed the carpets for a set of Newton Commercial but I kept the wheel arche rubbers on and I finally got the last piece to make up the set of metal wheel arch trim.Next will be to try and get an old set of rear door seals as the new type are too stiff and they fit like a glove on a chickens head.I also own a CKD 1968 MKII 850 and a CKD 1960 MKI 850.

[999 ORX]

Very nice van!

[ChrisB]

Wonderful!

Extremely jealous of those seats, my Seat doesn't look anywhere near that pretty and smells of Cat urine

[slowboy]

hello there , proper nice van, really does look right,excellent

[slowboy]

may we see the "60 850 please

[Chalkie]

Wow a proper Barn and a half find!!

looks stunning though!!

[java gt]

may we see the "60 850 please

It is in need of a total restoration but again it is a CKD Irish built one,this time by Lincoln and Nolan.I hope to start it next year and keep it as original as I can.It still has its full Irish spec interior along with a lot of Irish spec rust.
















As you can see from the photos there will be a whole lot of welding to do but it has never been bodged so that will help.

[java gt]

And this is my MKII 850 CKD Austin

[JC T ONE]

Hi & welcome

thats a really nice collection you have there love the job you did on the Van.

did you also restore your nice MK II ?




Jens Christian

[slowboy]

thanks for pics, really nice mk2 and the mk1 will make a cracker !!!, got to say though, there is somethingabout that van that is just brill, ive fallen for it , thats a disaster for my bank balance

[Number Six]

Hi,

Is this an Irish CKD door opener or a window regulator handle that has been converted ?

Nice Van BTW

André

[guru_1071]

do the early ckd ones have the shamrock glass?

[wantafaster1]

I have a mark 2 with the shamrock glass

[java gt]

Jens I did not do the bodywork on the MKII,I stripped it and put it back together myself and it turned 50k a month ago.

Andre,that it an OE handle on the door as my friend has a mid 60 MKI and it has the same handle although another friend has a late 60 build 61 reg MKI and it does not have them.

Guru,all Irish CKD Minis up to 73/74 when they stopped production had the shamrock glass.Originally supplied by Lancegaye who were bought out by Triplex later on.The seats were supplied by O Neills of Dublin,tyres by Dunlop of Cork,batteries by Exides Irish plant,paint by ICI Irish plant.The bodies and mechanical components were all shipped from the UK.Brittians put Morris Minis and Riley Elves together,Lincoln & Nolan did Austin Minis and Booth & Poole did Wolseley Hornets along with MGs togther.

[wantafaster1]

I wondered if the body pressings were assembled in Ireland, the spot welds on mine are far more aggressive on my friends unrestored mark2. If it was built on the mainland and sent over maybe they turned the welder up cos it was nightshift or something!!