1978 Austin Mini Pickup

This fabulous 1978 Mini Pick-Up simple oozes charm and character from every pore and is truly a delight to behold.

It has been thoroughly restored to a very high standard outside, inside and underneath.

The vendor bought the vehicle in 2017, since when he has lavished eye-watering amounts of time and money getting it into the remarkable condition you see before you today.

The total cost of the restoration comfortably exceeds £20,000 and the work started with the restoration of the body-shell through Old Skool Minis, who went on to play a leading role in the car’s restoration in partnership with the vendor, who is an experienced restorer of classic cars himself.

Anything that needed repairing, refurbishing, restoring or replacing has received the treatment that’s most appropriate and best preserves the car’s authenticity and originality where possible.

The engine parts were supplied by Gee’s Automotive Engines of Staffordshire in 2020 - the parts were then fited which included new cylinder liners and pistons; main, big-end and thrust bearings; Gee Automotive also re-bored the block, re-ground the crankshaft and fitted a new unleaded cylinder head set.

The result is a vehicle that starts, goes and stops as well as it looks – and it looks simply splendid.
 

The bodywork is very straight and true, and there are no dimples, dinks or dents of any note anywhere that we can see.

The shut-lines and panel gaps are at least as consistent and even as they would have been when it rolled off the production line in 1978, and the doors close with plenty of weight and precision.

The ‘Sandglow Yellow’ (also known as ‘Camel Trophy Yellow’, if it’s adorning a Land Rover) paintwork is very decent in the main and lends the vehicle an appropriately sunny and cheerful aesthetic.

When the vendor bought this vehicle, he uncovered traces of this original colour under the red paint it was then wearing.

The wheels are in fine fettle, as are the matching Dunlop tyres.

The immaculate pick-up bay has clearly not picked anything up since the restoration was completed.

There is a pick-up bay tonneau cover with the vehicle, but this would need to be matched with poppers or press studs on the bodywork, and those are not present.

We noticed a small area of micro-blistering on the paintwork beneath the driver’s door window and, to a much lesser extent, atop both front wings.

The car’s light, lenses, badging and other exterior fixtures and fittings are all present, correct, and in very good order.
 

The interior is every bit a match for the exceptional exterior.

The black vinyl covered seats are supportive and comfortable and, in our opinion, the matte finish gives them a rather classy look.

This is a simple, spartan interior, but everything in it is in very good condition.

The black carpets and mats look pretty much unused.

The door cards are fine, as is the dashboard.

So, too is the headlining.

As far as we’re aware, all dials, instruments and switches (there aren’t many of them, to be fair), do what they’re supposed to do.

There are one or two nicks and scratches on the steering wheel rim, just to remind you that this vehicle is actually 46 years old, there is a small scratch on the metal bodywork between the doors and the headlining.
 

Anything and everything mechanical (and electrical) has been overhauled, refurbished or replaced as necessary.

The jewel-like engine gleams with clean, dry, shiny good health and all components within the engine bay look either new or as good as new.

It’s the same with the car’s undersides, where everything looks solid, sound and bereft of anything that might raise an eyebrow or prompt a tut.
 

The car comes with a great deal of paperwork covering the work done to restore it, but very little that relates to its earlier life.

That doesn’t worry us – these are simple vehicles and there’s really nowhere for any bad news to hide on such a thoroughly and competently restored example as this.

There are bills, invoices and receipts aplenty, many covering parts and expertise provided by M-Machine, Old Skool Minis Ltd, and Mini Spares Centre Ltd.

We think the registration plate is a joyous coincidence. Depending on where your imagination takes you, the ‘CUP’ might refer to a shade of buttercup yellow or, perhaps, it lends itself to a ‘Pick-CUP’ interpretation.

Who knows?

It comes with an MoT certificate – with no advisories – that’s valid until 8.8.25.
 

This is an impossibly cute car.

There’s something about the diminutive scale of these old Mini Pick-Ups that makes them look almost miniaturised or toy like – and therein lies a good deal of their undoubted charm and appeal.

The vendor is only parting company with it because he’s one of a very large number of classic car aficionados whose pleasure comes more from the process of restoration than the results of the process.

He’s now ready for his next project.

This one may be showing 53,964 miles on the clock, but you’d be forgiven for thinking that it left a showroom last week.

If you’re holding out in the hope of a better one coming along any time soon, good luck.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £15,000 - £20,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am- 12pm or 2pm-4pm. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.