Transporters

Discuss all aspects of Classic Minis in Motorsport be it historic or current, the cars, the personalities & the venues
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Pete
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Re: Transporters

Post by Pete »

Tim Harber wrote: He was the one driver who never says a thing
Still..great to have on your CV though eh ?

Furniture removal vans were used by a few weren't they, British Vita and I seem to remember Bill McGovern who's family were in that line of business. Broadspeed used a nice converted coach and Britax/Downton even had their own special team caravan. Obvioiusy classic transporters aren't very practical but when you do see the odd one they really do add to the atmosphere of a historic race meeting.
coop12g295
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Re: Transporters

Post by coop12g295 »

Its got 3 axles :lol: 1 of my old tool round customers said he sold them the coach from his
fleet just outside Southampton,never proved though
fricsman
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Re: Transporters

Post by fricsman »

fricsman wrote:Thanks Rich, and Operators Licences cost how much?
Re the Brabham truck, is that Aintree with the W Watson (Liverpool) and Grosvenor Motors (Chester)
banners in the background? Watsons famous for supplying the OKD series of Liverpool Police Cooper S's in the late sixties and Grosvenor Motors a large Chester BMC dealer at that time.
Pete, any thoughts on whether it's Aintree?
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Re: Transporters

Post by su_mark »

mk1 wrote:I am even more thick!

Is it being suggested that the Brabham transporter was converted into the Italian job coach?


If it is, I have never heard of it being the case & they look totally different, or am I missing something.

Not quite. My tenuous link was purely the fact that the two coaches share the same chassis, that of the Bedford VAL. Famous, (amongst bus anoraks) for the twin steer front end. Favoured by those converting to race transporters because they had lower floor levels due to the smaller than usual wheel size. It was thought the smaller wheels would be ok because the brakes could be made smaller due to the extra axle. In truth the brakes couldn't cope. Maybe that's the reason Big William lost control....!

The brabham transporter, I believe, was coach built onto a VAL chassis from new, specifically for the team. So it was a true transporter, not a converted coach.
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rich@minispares.com
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Re: Transporters

Post by rich@minispares.com »

mk1 wrote:I am even more thick!

Is it being suggested that the Brabham transporter was converted into the Italian job coach?

Image

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If it is, I have never heard of it being the case & they look totally different, or am I missing something.
wash your mouth out mark


the brabham coach was the prototype plaxton panorama which was spotted by Denny Hulme when he went on a trip to the Vauxhall factory - it was his suggestion that it was converted into the transporter

the Italian job coach was a Harrington legionnaire
should you wish, you can contact me on rich@minispares.com

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Re: Transporters

Post by mk1 »

You see, I'll never make a Bus "Specialist"

THANK GOD!
Not that I believe in him or any other supernatural entity
Red17

Re: Transporters

Post by Red17 »

The Bedford all day for me.
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rich@minispares.com
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Re: Transporters

Post by rich@minispares.com »

coop12g295 wrote:Its got 3 axles :lol: 1 of my old tool round customers said he sold them the coach from his
fleet just outside Southampton,never proved though
he was pulling your leg


paramount films bought it from a company in potters bar
should you wish, you can contact me on rich@minispares.com

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Re: Transporters

Post by Tim Harber »

Nearly had a bit of a panic today when looking at Classic and Sportscar. Thought our mate had done another Bedford unbeknownst ......

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Re: Transporters

Post by su_mark »

Ha ha, genius!
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Re: Transporters

Post by mk1 »

So this is the secret project Rich has been working on is it!
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Re: Transporters

Post by northern monkey »

I always remember this picture from a paper showing this .....and I always wonder how/why nobody has managed to wangle it off whoever owns it
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6604KF
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Re: Transporters

Post by 6604KF »

I've seen pictures of 2 others that were used as living vehicles on travellerhomes.co.uk
Would be interesting to know what happened to them. The one at Clacket lane services in 2007 is on trade plates..

For some reason I can't add more than 1 attachment so I'll post the other picture next!
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6604KF
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Re: Transporters

Post by 6604KF »

This one!
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Re: Transporters

Post by Tim Harber »

This one went to Norway I think for not huge money and was driven back

https://www.flickr.com/photos/55190536@N03/sets
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Re: Transporters

Post by 6604KF »

Looks like 882, 883 and 885 all became traveller homes! :o At least they've been used for the last 40 years! Probably wouldn't be around at all if they hadn't.
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Re: Transporters

Post by Tim Harber »

Always look out for grandish designs of methods of transport for our toys. Cadwell at the weekend admired the Connaught bus which is helluva handsome for a late model Leyland:

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Then I noticed that one of our Imp friends had an unusually big tow vehicle:

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Turns out he realised that any motor home was going to cost a fortune so he bought a Mercedes with an Van Hool conversion for £7000 and is starting to convert it.

Rolls Royce build quality with Heating , toilet , you name it. Cabin with tasteful seat and enough gadgets for James Bond :


Image

But the crowning glory is the bedroom - quality!

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His car broke a rose joint in practice but due to the level of kit some of our bretheren have - he got it welded up in time for the next race:

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Here he is with someone who looks familiar;

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Re: Transporters

Post by mk1 »

That's better than my house!
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YMJ
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Re: Transporters

Post by YMJ »

mk1 wrote:That's better than my house!
You live in a house??
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Pete
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Re: Transporters

Post by Pete »

Those Vita trucks keep cropping up in the background ...

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