Morris Minor 4 door saloon

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

The new post-war range of Morris cars was announced in 1948 and included models from the Minor MM to the Six cylinder MO.

The star however was undoubtedly the Minor, a radical replacement for the pre-war series 'E'. Codenamed ‘Mosquito’, the first mock-ups looked rather tall and narrow, Issigonis solving the problem by cutting the clay models down the centre line, moving the two halves about four inches apart and filling in the gap.

Apart from the side-valve engine, everything else was new and the Minor MM became an instant success. In 1953 the Series II came along with an OHV 803cc engine borrowed from its cousin the Austin A30. Further improvements followed in 1954 when the headlights moved out of the lower grille which was modernised with the familiar horizontal slats.

This lovely four-door model is described by the vendor as running and driving very well. It retains its original red leather upholstery and is in remarkably solid condition. Although exempt from such things, it even has an MOT which expires in January 2015.

Earlier this year it received a comprehensive brake overhaul, including new brake shoes and wheel cylinders, a new master cylinder and new hoses. It was also serviced with a new condenser, rotor arm and new plugs. It wears a new set of tyres all round, including the spare and looks particularly appealing in its period beige livery.

The Minor’s rack and pinion steering and torsion bar front suspension makes it particularly pleasant to drive. Couple that with the incredible supply of spare parts, simplicity of construction and negligible running costs and you end up with what is possibly the perfect classic motoring formula.

The icing on the cake with this one is the three-letter, two-digit number, UUC 22, which remains transferable and is included in the sale.