The Austin Seven and Morris Mini Minor burst onto the scene in 1959. BMC soon realised that with afront engine and front wheel drive, you could do pretty much what you liked at the back, making it ideal for 5cwt panel van and pickup derivatives, which were launched in June 1960 and June 1961 respectively.
The van had twin rear doors and a low floor, making it easy to load. The spare wheel, battery and fuel tank were positioned below the floor to maximise the loadspace, which was officially 46 cu. ft. or 58.5 cu. ft. without the optional-extra passenger seat.
Early vans had a smooth roof and roof-mounted ventilator, but from 1966 the ventilator was deleted and the roof gained stiffening ribs. The commercial variants all had a simple painted pressed grille, right up to the end of production in 1983 (although these were often replaced with chromed
