It can be said that some cars have a personality, especially cute ones such as this Morris 1000 Convertible. She is affectionately named ‘Miss Daisy’ to all who know and love her.
Sir Alec Issigonis had a huge influence on the British motor industry designing the Morris Minor and 1000. No one could have imagined that these cars would endure for so many years and capture the hearts of both the young and not so young.
At the design stage, Issigonis had specified uniquely small wheels for the new car, two or even three inches less in diameter than the average of the day, giving it more of a 'big-car' look and was used for both business and pleasure.
This 1000 version was produced between 1956/73 and had a host of improvements from the 1940's models such as a larger engine and improved brakes.
With many variants of the original model, a convertible is surely a popular choice.
First registered in Northern Ireland with original plate
Originally a saloon, but converted to a convertible at some stage
Original 1st owner for 40 years
Original gearbox and differential
The current owner has cherished Miss Daisy, the 1968 Morris 1000 convertible for just over a year. As the family are now putting their energy into a less mobile means of enjoyment (static caravan), this means the car doesn’t get the love and attention it should have. So, it’s time for her to go to a new home for a bit of pampering.
Miss Daisy was bought locally in Dungannon Northern Ireland from the third owner who enjoyed it for over eleven years. In that time, she was treated to a complete respray, engine rebuild and reconditioned gearbox as well as lots of new parts such as shock absorbers and cosmetic details.
As with a lot of classic cars, somewhere along the line most of the paperwork was mislaid but we have been assured the mileage is correct. By the limited amount of wear on the dials and upholstery we can see no reason to doubt the information.
Inside of the car is very presentable with very little wear showing on the seating, dials, and switches. There are some spot stains on the drivers seat and the colours front to back may be slightly different.
Morris 1000’s have a well-planned out interior, keeping everything very practical and simple. The single dial is as the centre of the dashboard and tells you everything you need to know when driving down the road.
We have been assured all the electrics work as they should with no issues.
Underneath the drivers carpet gives access to the gearbox filler cap. Metalwork on the floor on both the passenger side and drivers side show no signs of being messed with and look completely original.bMqfeB0qhJvzAwuhq4OGYzwiTuBf3WOAnlwkU3db.jpeg1.46 MB
THE EXTERIOR
New weather seals around the front and rear windows
Weld free underneath
2 new front wings fitter prior to respray
Original chrome work in good condition
5 good tyres
New convertible hood and reconditioned frame
Hood cover for when the hood is down clips into place keeping the lines tidy
Resprayed in original Morris green/grey
Careful attention was given to match the original Morris green/grey paintwork and overall is has been done to a good standard on Miss Daisy.
Some areas of paintwork on the doors have tiny bubbles underneath which could be caused when the car was being prepared for restoration. There are also a couple of areas that could benefit from a touch up.
On the passenger side rear wing we can see there has been a slight scrape which has been painted over and the colour doesn’t quite match.
The seller tells us no welding or repair work has ever been undertaken in the Miss Daisy’s life. She’s a 54-year-old car and looks as though she’s always been garaged and was undersealed from new.
The steering is light and precise when on the move and the car pulls well and goes through the gears smoothly. The engine was stripped down and rebuilt by the previous owner when undertaking the long restoration.
The simple heater works well, and we’ve been assured all the electrics are in good working order.
We drove the car and found it very lively. Issigonis sited the engine right over the front wheels instead of behind them which helped to dramatically improve stability and controllability. The front wheels themselves were given an advanced torsion-bar independent suspension, which combined with the rigidity of the body, gave a standard of ride comfort such as had never been experienced in a small British car before. Combine that with the rack-and-pinion steering (another innovation for a small car) and the result was a delight to drive, both then and now.Mn9B6BbPbEV7pq7BGhDJvRnXBmvx5OkkTLW0NTa3.jpeg1.56 MB
SUMMARY
The Morris 1000 convertible appeals to so many people, an appeal which if anything is growing as we’ve witnessed a whole new generation of youngsters enjoying the virtues of these fun classics along with the more senior admirers.
To many owners, the Morris 1000 is more than a car-it is a familiar, dependable friend that does everything asked of it, and for astonishingly little in return by way of running costs.
It is very simple, so there is not much to go wrong, the components used in its construction have been tried and tested over many years of production. There are many clubs and stockists for support, advice and parts so keeping them on the road is very easy.
They are reliable and economical, and some might even say they are a phenomenon having been so popular for so many years with no sign of that popularity waning any time soon.
The seller is happy to deliver Miss Daisy anywhere in Ireland and the UK
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