Styled in Italy, built in Britain - The story of the blue Ital Van

[artdjones]

Why would it need a rag(except for aesthetic purposes)? It's not overhanging the back at all.To hit your head you'd have to climb on the back bumper and butt it.

[artdjones]

+1 for moving the front rack back,though it looks lovely anyway.

[flat4alfa]

Of course it's aesthetic purposes. It's not going out cleaning houses is it

[Paul Dupart]

Did the wheels originally have a little black trim cap that clipped on just around the nuts?  

 

I worked at BT in the early 80's and had a Bedford HA van.  These Morris vans were just coming in, they were a big step forward from a HA.

[Zelandeth]

Before committing to keeping the rack on - get it out on the road and see how much noise it makes.

 

I reckon we I'd keep the one on the Lada...until I discovered the *horrific* howling noise it caused anywhere north of 40mph. ...and this is in the Lada, which can't be much quieter than this van!

 

No way it was staying on there...it would drive me mad!

[trigger]

Yes it did, I still have the set of caps but they are held on by the nut covers and I can't find a set for love or money, they all perish with age and split and I can't find any 3/4" covers that would hold the caps on.

[trigger]

I got it out today so that i could show it off to a bunch of strangers in a field, i spent about 2 minutes typing up some kind back story to stick in the window, that will draw in the crowds i thought.

 

 

The show was in Clacton, the original home town for the van, i first got stuck behind a Hyundai i20 doing 25 mph for miles, once that turned off i then intermediately got stuck behind a Ford Pop doing 30mph all the way to the show...

 

 

When i arrived i had to explain to the marshall who wanted £4 off me that i was in fact a exhibitor and not just a random builder like she thought i was, "what year is it?", "1984" i said, "oh, i thought it was just a old builder van"...     and i then got parked up next to a modern Porsche.

 

 

But things changed once i put my piece of paper up, they were like flies around shit!

 

 

The show itself was alright, what are the chances of these three all turning up in the same coloured car...

 

 

This Lotus was HOT to trot.

 

 

90's style alloys weren't to my taste.

 

 

and this very tatty mot exempt (and also had no working brakes) Mk2 Morris Oxford was for sale for £1000.

 

 

and on the way back i got stuck behind another old heap!

 

 

and just for the hell of it i took some nicer photos of the van in a layby on the way back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Felly Magic]

Looks like it was a good show there Triggs, the thing is, these vans were once everywhere, now they've all but vanished, it's a rare beast is your Ital van, hope to see it in the metal soon, and Triggs, it couldn't have gone to a more deserving custodian, you and your mates have done it proud, cap doffed

[Guest Hooli]

My 'rents where at that show too Trig. How's that for a useless fact?

[trigger]

I didn't see them or I would have said hello!

[Guest Hooli]

LOL! If you saw a yellowish Virago for sale by a short old woman then that was my mum.

[320touring]

Oooft, any Oxford details?

 

Us sad fuckers on the oxford Facebook group would likey identify a victim to buy it;)

 

Van looks ace btw

[MarvinsMom]

almond was a very popular colour for the P6 back in the old days......

 

the van is looking fab, nice to see it out and about, especially after all your hard work!

[trigger]

LOL! If you saw a yellowish Virago for sale by a short old woman then that was my mum.

What's a Virago?.

 

Sorry no details on the Oxford, all I know if he's from Woodford Green, he uses it daily and the bodywork needed serious attention, the interior wasn't great either

[Isaac Hunt]

Genuine miss-fitting repeatage

That ladder needs a rag hanging from it at the back. Red rag maybe, so contrasting 'feature' colour for your summer fashion offering

Yeah, it needs a matching rag on the top of the dash, bit like a suit and tie with a matching handkerchief in the top pocket.

 

Damn fine nice Van, well done of the restoration, it looks mint

[Dick Cheeseburger]

It looks cleaner in every shot. I do hope you keep hold of it; the back story makes it even more endearing.

As for the knobhead marshall...

[GrumpiusMaximus]

The second picture of it in the layby.  Oof.  That's the one.

 

Add a bit of photo-effect fading as if it was film and we're back to 1984.

 

Forgive my indulgence:

 

[trigger]

Funny enough here's a photo from 1983 with me and my dad's Ital van in the background.

 

[wuvvum]

What a Virago?.

A Virago is a sort of fake Harley Davidson made by Yamaha.

 

Looked like a decent show - that early Esprit is lovely.

[trigger]

Oh! I wouldn't have looked in that case, bikes don't really interest me to be honest.

[Essex V6]

I got it out today so that i could show it off to a bunch of strangers in a field, i spent about 2 minutes typing up some kind back story to stick in the window, that will draw in the crowds i thought.

 

IMG_20180520_101201.jpg

 

The show was in Clacton, the original home town for the van, i first got stuck behind a Hyundai i20 doing 25 mph for miles, once that turned off i then intermediately got stuck behind a Ford Pop doing 30mph all the way to the show...

 

IMG_20180520_101839.jpg

 

When i arrived i had to explain to the marshall who wanted £4 off me that i was in fact a exhibitor and not just a random builder like she thought i was, "what year is it?", "1984" i said, "oh, i thought it was just a old builder van"...     and i then got parked up next to a modern Porsche.

 

IMG_20180520_141409.jpg

 

But things changed once i put my piece of paper up, they were like flies around shit!

 

IMG_20180520_110947.jpg

 

The show itself was alright, what are the chances of these three all turning up in the same coloured car...

 

IMG_2843.JPG

 

This Lotus was HOT to trot.

 

IMG_2845.JPG

 

90's style alloys weren't to my taste.

 

IMG_2848.JPG

 

and this very tatty mot exempt (and also had no working brakes) Mk2 Morris Oxford was for sale for £1000.

 

IMG_20180520_143300.jpg

 

and on the way back i got stuck behind another old heap!

 

IMG_20180520_151221.jpg

 

and just for the hell of it i took some nicer photos of the van in a layby on the way back.

 

IMG_2854.JPG

 

IMG_2857.JPG

 

IMG_2859.JPG

 

IMG_2861_edited-1.jpg

 

IMG_2850.JPG

 

IMG_2863.JPG

That Manta looks absolutely rank on those rims!

[GrumpiusMaximus]

Good Lord, the P6 is a gorgeous car.  Lovely ones posted.

[oldcars]

I love this van, massive want. I also enjoy a story at a show, i am always reading them.

[timolloyd]

Old skool dogging

 

The second picture of it in the layby. Oof. That's the one.

 

Add a bit of photo-effect fading as if it was film and we're back to 1984.

 

Forgive my indulgence:

 

post-3625-0-82213200-1526840572.jpg

[Supernaut]

What's a Virago?.

 

Sorry no details on the Oxford, all I know if he's from Woodford Green, he uses it daily and the bodywork needed serious attention, the interior wasn't great either

You need to define "serious attention"

 

I've seen the state of 320t's Oxford.

 

The van is looking bloody brilliant though, Trigger! You should give yourself a huge pat on the back.

[BeEP]

Yes it did, I still have the set of caps but they are held on by the nut covers and I can't find a set for love or money, they all perish with age and split and I can't find any 3/4" covers that would hold the caps on.

 

Trigger, a friend in the Allegro club has had the wheel nut covers 3D printed.  OK, they're plastic rather than rubber, but they fit well (at the third attempt) and certainly look the part.  Not cheap at £95 for a set of 16 but as you've found, they're pretty much impossible to find in good condition.  I can put you in touch with him if you're interested; he's doing it independently of the club so you don't have to join!

[trigger]

Hi, thanks for that, £95 though! That's a lot of dosh really. I'll have a think about it and see if I get lucky first before committing that kind of money. Thanks!

[flat4alfa]

Yes but you only need 4

 

You'll have 12 left over to sell at £25 each

 

Potential earnings: 300 - 95 = £205

 

Probably.

[flat4alfa]

I have 3 of the 4 original black centre caps and most the nut covers so I'll probably just refit them once I find another centre cap

 

Sorry make that £280 as you only need one

[trigger]

We are talking about the nut covers not the actual centre caps.