Morris Minor Convertible

Click Here for Full Screen Image - Click Here to Download Image

The original Minor MM – or poached egg as Lord Nuffield memorably called it – initially came with a 918cc side-valve engine and had a wonderfully cheeky slatted front grille that was sadly lost on later models.

With just 28bhp on tap it was a sedate performer but thanks to delightful handling and steering, it's still a great car to drive and can top 60mph with ease. Originally sold as a two-door saloon or Tourer, with grille-mounted headlamps, a four-door version was to follow in late 1950 with the headlamps mounted in restyled front wings – a change adopted by the two-doors and Tourers from January 1951. The low-lamp Minor was replaced by the facelifted Series II in 1952 after some 250,000 had been sold, about one third of them Tourers.

According to the history file that accompanies this car, it was shipped to Sri Lanka fairly early in its life (perhaps when new) and was definitely there from at least 1971 onwards, being owned by a gentleman resident in Colombo. A fair amount of documentation survives relating to this period and it was clearly a cherished machine, with various service invoices on file.

In 2003 it was treated to a fairly major bout of fettling including a body restoration and repaint, a new hood, a brake overhaul, a general tune up and new rear springs. Shortly afterwards it was shipped back to England where it was used lightly for a couple of years before being put into storage in 2005.

Recently exhumed and recommissioned (including a new fuel pump), it is now said to run and drive very nicely. No longer requiring an MOT, it will have a new tax disc in time for the sale.