Austin Mini van hauls huge amounts of character
At most auto shops, making deliveries and parts runs aren't a glamorous chore. But when Charley Rush, who owned International Auto Repair in Evanston, would head out to pick up or drop off needed components, he stirred the imagination of one youngster.
“Rush drove an Austin Mini van and I thought it the coolest little hauler,” Arnie Press said. “After seeing his, I always wanted one.”
Over the years, Press would occasionally see Rush running errands around town. Once Press reached driving age, he set out to find his own minute mover. The task proved to be quite difficult.
“There were almost none in the U.S.,” Press said. “They were never imported on mass scale.”
Mini's commercial panel van was built from 1960 all the way through 1982. It was rated at one-quarter ton load capacity and was useful to small business owners who needed to navigate crowded European city streets. Meanwhile, here in the states, Press had to wait until 2009 for an opportunity to purchase one of these tiny carriers.
After all those years, even this chance involved more waiting. Press finally spied one at the 2009 British Car Festival, held at that time in Des Plaines.
“On the way to the event, the owner blew up the powertrain,” the Vernon Hills resident said. “A problem arose and he should have pulled over but didn't. The engine and transmission were ruined.”
While the owner went home in another car to retrieve a trailer, Press and his wife Lena waited 3½ hours for him to return.
“I told him if he wanted to sell it to let me know,” Press said. However, the owner wasn't quite ready to part with the broken-down van and the two went separate ways.
Press' patience paid off and two winters later the owner called. He was ready to move the van along and said Press was “the only guy he'd sell it to.”
The 1982 model was imported in the late 2000s and Press is its second U.S. owner. The body had been restored and some “go-fast” parts had been installed.
“The car already had a personality so I just set about adding some details,” Press said.
That sporty car character was boosted with a new 1,310-cubic-centimeter engine that Press and his friend Jim Fuerstenberg built and installed. The gearbox was also replaced and new Minilite Rally wheels, front disc brakes and exterior Rally lights were bolted on the Mini.
The cabin received new carpet, a different dashboard and race seats. A sound-deadening material was added inside. The project was completed just in time for last year's British car fest, now held at Harper College in Palatine.
Driving the Austin Mini 95 is much fun and also ensures big smiles, Press said.
“It handles like a go-cart with great acceleration.”
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