"Hello, is that PistonHeads? I'm here to pick up your van." Last time this happened a panicked phone call to the BMW press office bought us a stay of execution and an extension of the loan at the 11th hour. We weren't going to get away with it again. And so farewell. But not before we had a final fling. Two missions for the Mini to accomplish before it went back for destickering and delousing. One, to get round a track. And, two, a return to Le Mans to bring our year with it full circle, it having joined us just days before last year's trip out there. First to Silverstone though and a perhaps unexpected appearance alongside the exotica attending the RMA/PistonHeads track day. If you've not done one of these yet you need to - Graham at RMA's no nonsense briefings are legendary. Unlike most events overtaking is possible on either side, the slower car sticking to its line and the faster one taking the responsibility of finding a way round safely. Graham's only real rule is, basically, 'if you're driving like an idiot you can f*** off', which is refreshingly simple and definitive. Nobody appears inclined to argue, that's for sure. More at - Mini Cooper Clubvan farewell: PH Fleet - PistonHeads
They have one of those cargo ones with no back seat like we could get here in the States for a little while. hence the Clubvan moniker.
I was just thinking about the clubvan the other day. Was thinking that it would make a great transport vehicle now that M.A.D. has become more involved in the bulldog rescue.
As long as it isn't St Bernard rescue it would fit the bill nicely. I doubt there are many club vans out there. Sort of like hens teeth.
I think it was like 37 of them in the US. They didn't sell well here. To much money. You can make your own, I've seen that done.
Old threads never die on the internets. MINI USA didn't help the cause. All they had to do was do a conversion of the Clubman to a Clubvan on US docks to get around the chicken tax. That's why Ford was importing the Transit Connect van in 5-passenger mini-van trim, and then removing the rear bench and covering the side glass after passing through Customs. I suspect the US Clubvan debacle had something to do with appeasing British Labor Unions and honoring contracts with said.
It has a factory rear seat delete kit. It's like a Clubman GP lol! Hmmm, that gives me another idea...