Morris Minor Convertible

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Designed by Alec Issigonis, the Morris Minor made its debut at the Earls Court Motor Show in September 1948 and went on to sell over 1.3 million examples before production finally came to an end in 1971, making it one of the most successful British cars of all time.

Initially available as a 2-door saloon and convertible, the range was subsequently expanded to include a 4-door saloon in 1950 and a wood-framed Traveller estate, plus panel van and pick-up truck variants in 1952.

A really competent car, it sold at a budget price, was roomy inside and managed to combine superior handling characteristics thanks to its torsion bar front suspension, with a miserly thirst for fuel, attributes which continue to delight driving enthusiasts to this day. Most fun of all was the soft-top Tourer, which offered top-down motoring for the whole family for a very modest outlay.

This 1961 Convertible has had just three former keepers and was purchased by the vendor way back in 1990. The previous owner had acquired the vehicle in 1979 in a ‘not so’ delightful shade of pea green. He had undertaken quite a bit of restoration work, which included new ½ floor sections, rear spring hanger repairs, new inner front wings and replacement steel outers.

The new owner gave the car a fresh coat of BMC Tartan red and fitted a set of wire wheels and front disc brakes from an MG Midget. He also installed the MG’s engine and taller ratio rear axle with telescopic shock absorbers. In 1994 he replaced the front trunnions and kingpins along with the rear brake drums, covering some 17,000 miles before putting the car away in the barn in 2007. He swapped the passenger seat with a second-hand spare which folded more easily to allow his kids to clamber into the back seat for the school run, the original being included in the sale.

The car starts and runs, although will require a new water pump and some attention to the rear wings as part of the recommissioning process. In basically sound order, this genuine convertible, with its performance upgrades looks like a fun and straightforward winter project.