Morris Minor Pickup

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An everyday sight on our roads up until the late '80s, the Morris 1000 range of commercial vehicles served their owners largely without protest, enduring years of hard work and abuse.

A firm favourite with the Post Office, the little red vans were sorely missed when they were finally phased out, the Posties loving their simplicity, reliability, ease of access and compact dimensions. Produced alongside the Morris 1000 van was a pickup version. Although it was to be the last of the Morris Minor line to remain in production, the pickup was made in relatively small numbers and was generally used pretty hard in service, hence the low survival rate. As a consequence they are highly sought after today and make attractive, practical and economical work-horses aided by a plentiful supply of spare parts.

This January 1959 Pickup has led an unusually sheltered life and has covered only 37,300 miles in the hands of just two owners. It was bought new by Jack Humphries & Co Ltd of Mill Bank Garage, Kidderminster, and a letter in the history file states that it was only used to collect parts needed in the workshop, never venturing further than Wolverhampton and never being used for recovery work or towing.

Acquired by The Service Centre, Kidderminster, in 1996, it has been owned by the proprietor of that firm ever since. During his ownership it has been carefully maintained and restored as necessary, being recently treated to new sills, front wings, floors etc. The load area has also been decked in new timber (with the original floor remaining sound underneath), the brakes and suspension overhauled with various new parts and a new exhaust fitted. No longer requiring an MOT, it is said to be in good running order throughout.