Usually, when the subject of a “woodie” comes up, one thinks about the great, genuine wood-paneled station wagons from such marques as Ford, Buick, Chrysler, and others. Well, the British got in on the act too, and stayed with it a lot longer, courtesy of the Austin Mini “estate” or station wagon. Known as the Countryman, they were assembled between 1961 and 1969 according to Minnesota Minis United, across two series, Mark I (’61-’67) and II (’68-’69). Today’s find has undergone some upgrades from original, so let’s give it a proper review. Found in Jacksonville, Florida, this timber-trimmed station wagon is available here on craigslist for $17,500, OBO.

The Mini was marketed as both a Morris and an Austin Mini, while this specific car was labeled as an Austin 850 (note the rear door badge). Estimates are that 108K Austin Countryman wagons were assembled, with another 99K very similar Morris Minor Travelers seeing the light of day. The seller considers his car to be in great condition, and the images, while not close-ups, do present this wagon well. The off white finish and Ash woodwork offer a nice contrast and work well together. Good to see is the straight front bumper and undamaged grille – these, owing to the car’s ground-hugging height, always seem to either get kissed or do some kissin’ with less than optimal results.

The interior is claimed to be original, and the seller adds, “not bad, but showing its age (63 years old!)” The two interior images aren’t very revealing, but what can be spied shows well. The upholstery appears to be a vinyl and cloth combination, and its two-tone red and white combination works well with this car’s exterior. It would have been nice to get a glance at the cargo area – that’s the part of a station wagon that usually takes the most abuse.

Originally powered by a 37 HP, 848 CC, in-line four-cylinder engine, this mini has maxed up a bit with the swap to a 1275 CC prime mover. The seller claims that it’s a recent rebuild and that “A rebuilt rod change gearbox installed at the same time. New clutch, new brake, and clutch hydraulics. New Cooper S disk brakes and power brake booster.” The result? “Starts and runs good.” That rebuilt gearbox is a four-speed manual.

I think I’d put this one in the “needs nothing” department. It’s definitely a throwback to a former time, and that’s often the reason one decides to take a trip down memory lane with just such a car. Buy, drive, and enjoy, right?