Austin Mini Clubman

Ten years after the launch of its Mini, the management at BLMC decided it was time to freshen the design with a new look. They decided to consolidate the line up by using a new single upmarket replacement to fill a gap in the market left by the demise of the Wolseley Hornet and Riley Elf.

The new ‘Clubman’ range was styled by Roy Haynes, an ex-Ford employee who raided the parts bin and squared off the front of the car. It wasn’t until early in 1970 that deliveries got underway, the first cars still using cross-ply tyres. As late as 1973 you could still have cross-plies to special order saving £8 – why would you do that? The Clubman was also offered in estate form, complete with fake wood trim, a nod to the previous Traveller which came with an external ash frame.

This highly original example was first registered in 1972 having been purchased through Denbigh Smithfield Garage in Denbigh. It was used until 1980, by which time the mileage on the odometer had accumulated to just over 36,000 miles. The vendor believes this to be correct, although there is no documentary evidence to support this. It was then put into a garage and covered by a sheet, having only very recently seen the light of day again after 33 years of storage. With a new battery and some fresh petrol it fired up and now runs sweetly and starts as it should. The vendor advises us that it currently has no brakes or clutch and will need a certain amount of recommissioning before it can be used again.

The vendor has also told us that it appears to have had “no paint or bodywork repairs, and that it is in sound condition with good floors and subframes, although there are several areas of rust on the sills on both sides”. Internally everything is original including the headlining, seats and carpets.

This original example looks like a straightforward project. Rare and different, it looks good value at the suggested guide price.