VIRTUALLY unused for 47 years, a ‘time warp’ 1968 Austin Mini Van is set to be auctioned.

The car will go under the hammer at Silverstone Auctions’ Practical Classics Restoration Show Sale on March 28, at the NEC in Birmingham.

The car, estimated at between £23,000 and £25,000, was first registered on the March 14, 1968. It was bought new for a mere £400 by a Miss G. Crumcott from Northern Ireland so she could learn to drive. Miss Crumcott never managed to pass her driving test however, so the car was kept unused in her garage for nearly 30 years.

The car was then bought in July 1997 by a local BMC Mini dealer, Mr T. Turkington, who placed it in the Mini centre’s showroom until 2006 before selling it onto another collector in Northamptonshire. It has now been brought back onto the market, and, with so few owners, it is no surprise the car has covered a miniscule and very desirable 302 miles.

The car is in remarkable unrestored original condition, right down to the seat protectors and rubber floor mats. Still retaining its original crossply Dunlop tyres and spare wheel, all of which are unused, the it has been so carefully stored it has also preserved its initial exhaust and sealed Lucas battery

The Northern Echo is planning a series on readers’ first cars. Contributors must be from the North-East, have a photo of their car and be willing to answer a series of questions about there vehicle. If interested email matt.westcott@nne.co.uk with brief details or call Matt on 01325-505064.