Body from Star
I told you this would be the place for you Glen the Trucknet boys(and girls) have a uncanny knack of finding the most obscure things
dazcapri:
I told you this would be the place for you Glen the Trucknet boys(and girls) have a uncanny knack of finding the most obscure things
I’m very grateful for the tip Daz, it’s been a real help in a very short space of time. 
I’m particularly grateful to those that have posted pictures. Particularly Tidderson with this one:
That’s so close to what I’d like to do with mine. I envisage a slightly higher roofline, but not much, maybe 6" or so, and I plan to extend the cab rearwards 18" or so to incorporate a bunk and storage, with a flat or dropside rear body.
It’s great to see that Star built them up in to at least one other variant. I want mine to look like it was always like it, rather than a cut up van.
Cheers to you both!
Glen.
The last time i went up the m1 north,just past the m1 m6 split(catthorpe interchange)on the left hand side you could see one through the hedge in a bit of a farmers smallholding,you can see it on google earth,i dont know if it is still there now they are changing the junction.
Hi Rich.
I know just the one you mean. It’s been there donkey’s years! All there is is a body though, no chassis or mechanicals. Back in about 1997 I broke down just past that junction; whilst I was waiting on a recovery I took the opportunity to jump over the fence for a closer look. Even then there was precious little worth saving, so seventeen more years of weather will probably mean it’s completely knackered!
Cheers, Glen.
Hiya…that Austin (pig) at the M1/M6 junction was one of the worlds land marks, coming home from London
heading for Leek the Pig was halfway marker…i,ve been to Rush Green a few times there are no Austins pigs
in there.if all went well there,s only a bonnet you need thats a problem. all the mechanics will be FG i’d think.
I’ll go and get more photo,s of the one in wales for you today Glen.
John
That one ^^^ looks better with the box body behind it than the chassis cab did. Funny how adding the box has softened the harsh roof line and brutal angle from the roof down the rear of the cab.
I think, if I do build a cab/flat then I’ll definitely need to do something about that, just to please my own sense of proportion if nothing else. I intend to skirt the sides the same as the original vans, so as to make use of the space for storage lockers. Maybe replicating the cowl that forms the front part of the roof of the vans would give better proportioning, but not go quite so high. Radiusing the rear corner of the cab would help too, and curving the roof down to meet the back wall. My wife has informed me that she much prefers the look of the van body to the cab version, and I can see her point. The vans look “right” I think, and getting a cab to look similarly well balanced is going to be a bit of a challenge. I’ll have to do some mock-ups in photoshop or something to see if I can strike a happy medium, or if not I’ll end up rebuilding a van!
Still, all that is a million miles off yet. Hopefully John may be in touch soon with some more pics and some good news… Finger’s crossed!
Hiya whats handy Glen if you keep a van body you can fit it out for living in at shows…this makes the van MOT exempt
as you can put weight on it for test …you’ll save £120 a year on mot,s like on my AEC i only do 600 miles per year there,s
not much can go wrong doing so little mileage running empty. the hobby is expensive enough as it is. you can get a garage
to do a pre MOT for sake of mind without a test.
John
TIDDERSON:
TIDDERSON:
Body from StarJust found another
This is the sister van X727 when new
Hiya Glen…i,ve spoken to the farmer,s son today it seems the Austin might be for sale, its a case of
speaking with the other brother. the old man come out and spoke with me he,s 84. he remembered
my name from about 3 years ago…wow i’ll get more photo,s maybe later today.
John
Hi John,
That’s great news!
I am following up a lead on a pair sitting in a yard near Louth, but early days as yet on that one.
I have tentatively arranged with my mate in Wrexham for him to survey the one near you for me, if it does turn out to be for sale.
It’s one of those “how long’s a piece of string?” things though isn’t it? Until everybody’s talked amongst themselves, and the condition/price/cost to move ratio properly worked out, it’s too early to get excited!
Still, thanks so very much for taking the time to enquire on my behalf, I am truly grateful!
Glen.
I may, and as yet it is may, have found yet another. This time definitely for sale.
It’s the same year as mine, a '66, is more complete than any of the others I’ve found so far (it still has all it’s glass for instance) and, crucially, it’s on the DVLA computer.
It’s going to cost more to get home than to buy, and there’s some careful domestic negotiations to do here, so still early days.
More news as it happens.
Just thought that I would mention that there was also a 3 ton version of these with the four pot engine and a smaller (though similar) body so make sure that you get the correct version for parts!
Pete.
Hi, Glen. Have you tried the “It’s an investment” line?
Hey ROF, The only trouble with ‘It’s an investment’ is it can only ever be used once - and if it’s ever been used before and the ‘investment’ is still rotting at the back of the garden the words die on your lips!
My personal ‘Investment’ was an Amtrak Franchise…
John
Hats off to you sir; you deserve a medal as big as a dustbin lid Very best wishes towards your progress.
Retired Old ■■■■:
Hi, Glen. Have you tried the “It’s an investment” line?
Too many times to chance it again!
GCR2ERF:
Hats off to you sir; you deserve a medal as big as a dustbin lid
Thanks, I’ll keep you all posted.
windrush:
Just thought that I would mention that there was also a 3 ton version of these with the four pot engine and a smaller (though similar) body so make sure that you get the correct version for parts!Pete.
I knew they did some 3 tonners, but I was under the impression they were very early ones, '58 ish, and were soon superseded by the bigger 5 tonners like mine.
From the pics I have of the “new” one, it looks to have the eight stud axles and six-pot engine, so we should be OK!
Here’s some pics to whet your appetites:
Authority to purchase obtained.
Not that she was doing cartwheels of excitement you understand, but at least I’m safe from divorce.
Am away until Tuesday, but will get the ball rolling property once I’m home.
I Know of 2 complete ones sitting around and poss a 3rd in Essex. pm me for more info on the location, i dont know if they are for sale or not but defiantly complete in every way.