1968 Austin Mini Wildgoose Motor Caravan

Inspired by the Frankie Lane hit record ~'The Cry of the Wild Goose', a chap called Ted Bennett from Worthing decided to convert Mini Vans between 1964 and 1968 in to small but well built motor caravans. He built around 50 in total and even convinced HM Customs and Excise to allow the Wildgoose to qualify as a motor caravan and thus exempt it from the 30mph speed limit that applied to commercial vehicles at the time. The 'Popular' model (with hinged roof) slept 2 or 3 adults and a child and fittings included a 2 burner gas stove, a sink and a wardrobe.

All had 848cc engines and were cleverly constructed by discarding all of the bodywork behind the 'B' posts and cutting the rear subframe in half and extending it by 6 inches, thus giving the camper it's wider rear track. At the Mini's 40th birthday celebrations 5 Wildgeese were assembled for a special display where Ted Bennett attended and was heard to remark that it was the largest Wildgoose gathering ever, as he could only ever fit 3 in his workshop at one time!

This particular car, a two-berth Popular model, was built on 5-12-67 and delivered to Stringer Motors in Brighton. First registered on 15-5-68 it was finished in Willow Green and Snowberry White. It has never been welded and retains all of it's original features (including the table, cooker and kitchen sink!) and is complete with it's original engine and 'magic wand' gearbox. The Goose has covered 69,398 miles and last passed an M.O.T in 1990. Dry stored for the last 16 years, it is one of just 11 known survivors and has just been removed from a barn in North Yorkshire and is offered strictly 'as seen' on a no reserve basis.