1929/ 1930 Morris Minor Arrow Sports
This car originally left the Morris factory at Cowley, Oxford in March 1929 as a Morris Minor Tourer. It was totally rebuilt in recent times over a 12-year period by two well-known pre-war Morris Minor enthusiasts and fitted with a rebuilt MG M Type engine (MG1581A) and correct ancillaries. During its rebuild, the engine was equipped with a Phoenix crankshaft and a new Double Twelve cam. It also benefits from the installation of a four-speed ‘crash’ gearbox operated via a Wolseley Hornet remote gear change mechanism. The fabric-skinned Arrow body was constructed using traditional methods around an ash frame using a large collection of period photographs for guidance and accuracy. The Art Deco interior trim has also been faithfully reproduced. The car’s construction was completed in the spring of 2022, and it immediately went on to win an award at the Morris Register Rally at Thoresby, Notts that August. Since then, it has covered almost 1500 miles during which period the inevitable post-rebuild teething problems have been identified and resolved. It has subsequently proven to be a reliable and enjoyable mount. While several Arrow specials and replicas exist among the Austin Seven community, BF 9025 is believed to be the only such vehicle extant in the pre-war Morris Minor world.
The bodies for these cars were originally constructed by a West London coachbuilder, A. P. Compton & Co., between 1929 and 1931. Although plenty of their bodies were fitted to Morris Minor chassis during this period none are known to have survived. It was this anomaly that inspired an enthusiast to commission a replica to be constructed back in 2010. Although it had a long gestation period, BF 9025 eventually made its first public appearance in 2022.
Pre-war Morris Minors are a much-unappreciated breed. In standard trim, they are roomier, quicker and have better brakes than their period competitor, the Austin Seven. They are well supported by the following clubs, the Morris Register, Pre-war Minor Network and Vintage Minor Register along with several reputable spare part suppliers. This Morris Minor Arrow replica turns heads wherever it goes and is only being offered for sale to fund a new project.
