The original Morris Minor.
Visit any classic car show and you'll doubtless trip over a good number of post-war Minors, such as this mid '50s Series 2 Moggie, but go looking for the pre-war Minor, and you could have quite a search. The Austin works at Longbridge were churning out huge numbers of Austin 7s in the 1920s, so naturally William Morris and the Morris Motor Company were keen to get in on the action. In 1928 they launched their Minor, a diminutive motorcar aimed at the private motorist. Whereas the Austin, as did many makers in those days, made do with a sidevalve engine up front, Morris were able to use a modified and smaller version of an overhead cam unit first seen under the bonnet of a Wolseley (the company being part of the Morris empire by this time).
|
|
Initially, buyers could choose from a two door fabric bodied saloon, or a four seat tourer. Two years later the all-steel saloon would go on sale (as shown on this page), as would a tiny van. With braking to all four corners, and the engine producing a modest 20bhp, these Minors were for the most part fairly reliable, although there were issues with the engine, not least its complexity to build, plus some internal oil leak problems. In 1931 a revised version of the engine, this time in sidevalve form, was offered, and the OHC unit was dropped from the market shortly afterwards. A year later, in 1932, the bodyshell was given a gentle make-over, softening some of the edges and bringing things upto date. 1934 would be the final year for the Morris Minor, by which time all models had hydraulic braking (first introduced to the saloon mid-way through production), and a four speed gearbox. Later that same year, the Minor bowed out, to be replaced by the new Morris Eight range.
|
An example of all-steel 2 door Minor saloon car
|
|
|
The first photograph shows an all-steel Morris, registration PO 7554, with three people stood alongside. Note the differing tread patterns on the two front tyres, drivers didn't worry so much about mixing tyre brands in those days. The second picture shows the owner, with lady friend and faithful hound, relaxing alongside the same car.
|
|
Return to Old Vehicle Photos Page 6.
|
