Mini Minor

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When the first Minis went on sale in August 1959, it is fair to say that the public were initially slightly baffled by this tiny little box with its small wheels and funny front-wheel drive.

However, as word gradually leaked out about its amazing handling prowess and huge fun factor, it quickly became a cult object that came to symbolise the freedom of the Swinging Sixties. One of the great, undisputed car designs of all time, it had a classless appeal that made it welcome everywhere and by 1966 over a million had been sold.

With go-kart handling and excellent brakes, it was a huge success in competition and literally ran rings around far larger and more expensive cars that simply could not keep up with its cheeky pace. It was to remain in production for an astonishing 41 years, still remaining recognizably the same car in 2000 as it had been at launch in 1959.

This 1963 Morris Mini Minor has had just three owners from new, the second owning it for over 30 years, and is showing just 55,000 miles on the clock (unwarranted). He had bought it in 1983 for £350, about the going rate at the time, in order to teach his daughter how to drive. With that mission accomplished it was then briefly used as a family runabout before being laid up in 1988 where it was to remain until late last year.

Since acquiring the car, the vendor has treated it to a thorough refurbishment including a full repaint in its original Fiesta Yellow with an Old English White roof. New powder blue carpets have also been fitted and the interior smartened up. The braking system has also been fully overhauled and the car given a good service and check-over, the vendor reporting that the engine now runs very sweetly.

To give it a more sporting look, period Dunlop D1 alloys have also been fitted along with a roof aerial and a Morris Cooper MkI grill (although the original wheels and grill are also included in the sale if desired). Now looking very smart indeed, the car is said to drive well with an MOT until February 2017 and a V5C that still only records two owners from new.