Morris Minor 1000 Convertible

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The original 1948 Minor - or poached egg as Lord Nufflield delightfully called it - initially complete with side-valve engine, was a sedate performer but, thanks to delightful handling and steering, it was always a great car to drive.

The Minor came in several variants including two and four-door saloons, a wood-framed Traveller estate, a panel van and a pick-up. Most glamorous and sought-after of all was the convertible Tourer model which offered top-down motoring at a budget price. All models were gradually but subtly improved over time, gaining a one-piece windscreen, better heating and an engine that grew from a 27bhp 918cc sidevalve unit to a 1098cc ohv unit that produced 47bhp and could propel the car to a top speed of 77mph.

First registered in Radnorshire in 1958, this exceptionally smart Convertible has spent its whole life in that area and for the past 15 years has been owned by a doctor in Llantwit Major. About six years ago it was treated to a body refurbishment and full respray at a cost of £2,000 and five years ago it had a major bout of mechanical fettling including a replacement gearbox at a cost of over £970 (invoices on file).

Newspaper cuttings on file show that the car took part in a run from Monmouthshire to Blenheim Palace in June 1998 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Morris Minor, in convoy with 18 other local Moggies and joining another 2,000 at the palace.

A run of 15 old MOTs back to 1996 show that the car has covered some 23,500 miles in the current 15-year ownership, the odometer now showing some 36,000 miles. It also comes with a Morris Minor Owner’s Club Certificate of Authenticity confirming that it is a convertible made in 1958.

Only for sale because its long-term owner has now reached that age where he has had to give up driving, it now needs a caring new owner who can help ensure that it will still be around when the centenary of the model comes up in 2048.