An In-depth Look at the Clubvan – the Most Exclusive US MINI Ever
Everyone’s favorite car nerd Doug DeMuro got his hands on one of our favorite MINIs of all time – the ultra rare Clubvan. A combination of the first generation Clubman and a delivery van, the Clubvan was mainly intended for Europe’s small utility van market. Naturally MINI USA thought it would be interesting (and easy) to import the Clubvan for anyone who wanted a cool and space efficient work vehicle. However there was a major problem.
It’s actually a problem that we detailed before some at MINI USA even knew about it – the Chicken Tax. We won’t go into details on the history behind the tariff but the short of it is that the US taxes all imported light trucks by 25% due to a tariff Europe put on our chickens in 1964. 25% on top of the Clubman Cooper base price meant that the utilitarian Clubvan had an MSRP of $25,985.
After only *52 were sold (many to dealerships) MINI USA pulled the plug on the experiment.
* Yes the all knowing Doug DeMuro is wrong here. The final sales totaled 52 and not 50 as he mentions in the video. Also he mentions the Clubvan came in auto only – also not correct. I’ve personally seen two manual Clubvans – one I tried to buy on the spot. Nonetheless keep doing what you do Doug – MotoringFile loves you.
<p>Wouldn’t the most exclusive U.S. MINI ever be the WC50, with only 50 sold in the U.S.?</p>
<p>I hesitated not mentioning the WC50 but since the Clubvan is technically a different model altogether we were classifying it as the most rare MINI model in the US. But the WC50 has a good argument to make.</p>
<p>Are the side windows painted over or were they replaced with metal panels?</p>
<p>Edit:
Ah, answered in the video!</p>
<p>As an owner of a 2009 fJCW Clubman from new, I think complaints about visibility the rear door frames are unfounded. How many years have we been building larger vans with double doors? If you’re seeing the door frames, you’re not focused on what you should be looking at.</p>
<p>Oh, God, spare me from ever, EVER, having to listen to Doug DeMuro again. Even if someone ties his hands. Of course, all the interior things he mentions are completely familiar to anyone who’s driven more than one Mini. And I believe it wasn’t just the chicken tax that killed the Clubvan in the US.</p>