Morris Mini Minor

Invented thousands of years ago by a malicious higher being who liked to sting the legs of passing shepherds, nettles have now become such a common sight in Britain’s fields that we barely…. oh, hang on, I think there might be a car in there.

Yes, look closely and you can definitely see what look like the remains of a very early Morris Mini Minor. When the first Minis went on sale in August 1959, it is fair to say that the public were initially slightly baffled by this tiny little box with its small wheels and funny front-wheel drive. However, as word gradually leaked out about its amazing handling prowess and huge fun factor, it quickly became a cult object that came to symbolise the freedom of the Swinging Sixties.

One of the undisputed greatest car designs of all time, it had a classless appeal that made it welcome everywhere and by 1966 over a million had been sold. With go-kart handling and excellent brakes, it was a huge success in competition and literally ran rings around far larger and more expensive cars that simply could not keep up with its cheeky pace. It was to remain in production for an astonishing 41 years, still remaining recognizably the same car in 2000 as it had been at launch in 1959.

First registered in London in February 1960, this Morris Mini Minor, 714 XMT, has been in the current ownership for at least 35 years and is believed to have had just one owner prior to that. Last on the road in 1986, it has spent the last 20 years or more languishing in a Worcestershire field behind the owner’s farmhouse.

As you can see in the photos it is now in rather a sorry state but it appears to be mainly complete (even down to the original glass windscreen washer bottle) and does still have a V5 registration document. Being offered here as a major restoration project or a useful source of spares, it is hoped that it will have a Heritage Certificate by the time of the sale which may well show that it was manufactured in 1959, the first year of Mini production. It is being offered here with no reserve so the bravest bidder gets it!

AMENDMENT: This car does not have a glass washer bottle as stated in the catalogue.