TIMBER-TASTIC
At first glance you might mistake the Sansams’ estate for a restored early Austin Countryman. It’s in a 1960s colour, has those curious, function-free wood battens and 10” wheels. Looking closer, though, you might notice the internal door hinges and wind-up door glass. Neither of these features was available on original Mk1 and Mk2 ‘Woodies’ so the bodyshell must be Mk3-on. In this case it was once a Clubman Estate from 1980, the very last year of Clubman Estate production before that model was re-branded Mini HL Estate… and, incidentally, Neil’s birth year.
“I always intended for the estate to have a round nose and wood kit. I wanted to start with a Clubman Estate as I wanted wind-up windows and internal door hinges. I do like the early Countryman and Traveller but I did not want to modify an original to the car I wanted it to be. If it had been an early Clubman with the fake wood panels I would have restored it back to original.
I know others may disagree but a Snapdragon Yellow Clubby Estate isn’t the top of my list for Minis I wanted to own.”
His Mini credentials are in perfect order, right back to his first car: “A 1981 Mini HL
