The Outspan Mini - a unique historic vehicle

1972 Mini Outspan Orange

Beaulieu: National Motor Museum

Perhaps the most unusual historic commercial vehicle to be seen on the Run is the Outspan Orange car. As you can see from the photographs on this page, the Outspan car is shaped like an orange, has orange skin-textured bodywork, looks like an orange - but is, in fact a Mini! Admittedly, a highly modified Mini.

The car has a top speed of 30 mph. At more than 30 it is unstable, and can roll over. Given its shape, I expect it would roll quite far as well! I would love to have seen it on the move, but unfortunately the whole time I was there it was stationary.

As you might expect, the car is a great success with children.

The Outspan Mini lives at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, but seems to get around quite a bit. It's done the HCVS Brighton Run more than once.

Six of these customised minis were commissioned by Outspan from a company called Brian Waite Enterprise Ltd. based at Bodium in East Sussex. They were built between 1972 and 1974, and were used on advertising campaigns both in this country and in Europe. One of the six is known to live in South Africa these days.