Genuine Tourer that appears solid with scope to improve
Desirable and popular white over burgundy colour scheme
Highly practical, very entertaining four seat convertible classic
Excellent parts supply and rugged, reliable inexpensive mechanicals
Tax and MOT exempt
‘Series V’ Minor 1000 with larger 1,098cc engine
The Appeal
Germany had the Beetle and Britain had the humble Moggy Minor, a rugged, reliable and practical car that put wheels beneath families from the 1940s to the 1970s.
These qualities plus a wind-in-the-hair experience for four has made the open top Tourer a staple of the classic car scene. It is so popular that many two door saloons have been converted to convertibles, but genuine factory built examples demand a premium.
This attractive late model Tourer, affectionately known as 'Betty', is a genuine factory model finished in the very popular combination of white over burgundy. It looks solid but with scope for improvement, but perhaps could be used as it is. It potentially provides the buyer with low cost entry to these highly useable cars and their vibrant owners scene just as summer begins. MhDJHH7MAt1noVuy16Xlprwrc7L5g4ojyPizTux6.jpg881.75 KB
The History And Paperwork
First registered on 12th January 2019
V5 correctly registers car as Morris 1000 Convertible but DVLA records incorrectly state Rover Mini
VIN’s MAT prefix confirms that this is a genuine factory Tourer
Small history file
Speedo changed and new one reads around 10,000 miles more than the car has travelled
MOT expired 10th May 2019 with minor advisories for rear anti roll bars, coolant leak and binding rear brakes
Complete interior, including the cardboard glovebox inserts
Post-1962 car with standard heater fitted
Front seatbelts
Boot floor and liners in good condition
Tonneau cover in matching dark red
Very original interior including big three-spoke factory steering wheel
Stark simplicity is the calling card of the Morris Minor’s interior, which remains largely unchanged from the original 1940s cars to the time it bowed out in the early 1970s. Today that simple functionality has an attractive charm, the big central speedo – which enabled building export models without changing the dashboard – and handful of switchgear looking practical but elegant.
The Minor is one of the few genuine four seater classic convertibles and the interior of this one demonstrates what an achievement that is within such compact dimensions. There is plenty of space for four, with leg room, making this car a very practical and useable weekend family and friends fun machine.
The appeal of this Minor lies in the originality of its interior. There is an army of parts suppliers waiting to help Minor owners personalise their cars but this one appears to remain exactly as it left the factory, right down to the big wire-spoked Bakelite steering wheel. Even the vulnerable cardboard glovebox infills remain.
The interior is in generally good condition but due to the originality inevitably has some signs of age. The red vinyl seats have discoloured and the webbing on the base of the driver’s seat appears to have loosened and sagged. A small tear in the base of the rear seat detracts. Seatbelts are fitted for the front seats.
There are some light scuffs and scrapes to the painted dashboard, which add a patina of age. The small array of switchgear is complete and as a post-1962 car this one was fitted with a heater as standard.
The carpets look in good condition but would benefit from a clean. The vinyl door trims, complete with their pull handles, look good and the fittings are complete.
The boot is in good condition with its painted plywood base and side trims complete and aged but generally presentable. There is a dark red tonneau for the roof in the boot, spare wheel and what appears to be the factory took roll and jack.
The Seller, who has owned Betty for over 10 years, states that the speedometer was changed some years ago but he has the original along with a box of spares. The replacement speedo reads around 10,000 miles more than the car has travelled he says. TE2zQpRbEpI4vnp5KWs7siq8I3un7StM9say7qon.jpg341.56 KB
The Exterior
Old English White bodywork appears factory correct
Solid condition but with scope to improve
Chrome and badging appears complete but with age-related patina
Attractive rear luggage rack fitted
Dark red roof and body colour roof mechanism in good condition
Radial tyres fitted of indeterminate age
Genuine factory Tourer
Undersealed and looks structurally solid
There is no mistaking the Morris Minor shape. Derided on its launch as looking like a fried egg, this once-cutting edge design has matured into iconic status, its curvaceous lines at once stylish and practical, enabling great visibility and interior space.
The bodywork on this 1968 car is generally presentable and the structure appears to be solid, but up close there are various signs of age. It would perhaps be best to approach this car as a rolling restoration, one that can be used and enjoyed whilst gradually improving the cosmetics. We have highlighted the main issues from the photographs.
Moving around the car from the nearside there is a shallow dent in the front wing and the passenger door edge follows a different line to the rest of the body. There is also a small dent in the door. This door also has chips around the door lock and signs of corrosion at the base.
The nearside rear wing is corroded along the seam where it meets the arch and there are a number of scratches on its top where it meets the boot. At the rear end of the wing there appears to be light corrosion on the stone guard paint.
There is an attractive period-correct luggage rack fitted to the boot.
On the offside there are various marks on the rear arch. The driver’s door has chips on both edges, poor paintwork at the base and chips on the base edge. The sill beneath the door also appears to have been poorly painted in the past. of the driver’s door. The front wing has two dents, one above the arch and one on the leading edge.
The front valance, bonnet and screen surround look in good condition with no visible corrosion.
The chrome work is complete and presentable but carries a patina of age, including the bumpers, chrome grille surround and bonnet emblem.
The dark red vinyl roof is in good condition, with just some age related sun leaching on the seams. The hood mechanism is body colours with some marks but appears to work correctly and the roof sits in line with the frame and body.
The VIN confirms that this car is a genuine factory Tourer rather than a conversion. This is also reinforced by the spot welds at the base of the A-posts above the dashboard and there are no holes for a courtesy interior light.
Parts are very easy and relatively cheap to obtain for the Morris Minor.
The car sits on factory correct painted body colour steel wheels with chrome hub caps. All are complete. The tyres are radial of indeterminate age.
Last MOT in May 2018 contained minor advisories for rear anti-roll bar linkages, binding rear brakes and coolant leak
The final Minors like this one were designated Series V, the main change being the enlargement of the A-Series engine to 1,098cc. This brought useful extra performance and these later cars are sought after because of their extra useability on modern roads.
The mechanicals, including the four speed manual gearbox and suspension, are very simple and robust, requiring only routine ongoing maintenance to remain reliable over high mileages. Parts are also easy to obtain and there is an excellent network of specialist repairers.
This car has only a very limited history file so the buyer may wish to factor in a thorough mechanical check and service. The MOT history file indicates that the mileage is genuine, the car having covered only 1,500 miles in the last 10 years and just 150 miles since the last MOT in May 2018. That MOT contained advisories for a coolant leak, two rear anti-roll bar linkages and binding rear brakes. SRgrflnDFbevKFeQgERTfPlCFLdIjxGI3yBPTzvP.jpg762.43 KB
Summary
With summer peeking its head around the corner, there can be few cars more suited to it than the cheeky and fun Morris Minor Tourer. The practical, four-seat drop top appeal of these cars has led to many saloons sacrificing their roofs but this one is a genuine factory example. It also has the later, more useable 1098cc engine.
With values of restored cars continuously rising on the back of its deep appeal, this one looks like a relatively inexpensive way into the joys of Moggy motoring. The bodywork is complete and presentable but would benefit from ongoing improvement. With a ramp check and service this solid looking Tourer looks ready to enjoy right away with family and friends.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*
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