1957 Morris Minor 1000

Highlights

• In very original condition

• Nearly £5,000 recently spent

• Rear-wheel drive 

• MOT, ULEZ and road tax exempt

• Infinitely tuneable

Overview

Ah the Morris Minor. It conjures up bucolic images of vicars driving to church on Sunday mornings, quiet country lanes, and a slower pace of life. But also — as any seventeen-year-old who learned to drive in one will know — it has rear-wheel drive, so armed with a tyre pump and a wet roundabout you can learn the rudimentary principles of oversteer and wheelspin. We almost used the word ‘powerslides’. That would be a step too far. 

But those seventeen-year-olds soon grew up and realised that they could make better use of the Morris Minor’s cavernous engine bay. The Rover K-series was the V8 of choice for such modifications, for those who wanted to realise their ambitions of seeing smoke pouring off their rear tyres. 

The Morris Minor offered for sale here is more in the ‘vicars and afternoon tea’ camp, with its original 948 cc engine allowing nothing more than sedate motoring. But it has potential, for those willing to do a bit of mechanical fettling. A few tweaks have already been made — electronic ignition, alternator, and a slightly updated manifold and carburettor — but the A-series engine is well known for its tunability. Or you could quite easily fit a larger 1275 cc A-series, for easy-access power improvement if you don’t fancy going down the V8 route. 

Of course some purists will be covering their eyes when they read the last couple of paragraphs. This Morris remains in charmingly original condition, albeit with the handy addition of slightly larger drum brakes and a servo. So this car offers something for everyone. You could very happily run it as it is, having had nearly £5,000 spent on it in the past few years, enjoying sedate trips along verdant country lanes, past leisurely cricket matches on the village green. Or you could modify it in pursuit of speed and power. The choice is yours.

History and documentation

• Registered 9 Aug 1957

• Original buff logbook, listing the car’s early owners

• First owned by Arnold Laver & Co, timber merchants in Sheffield 

• Original BMC owner’s manual

• Original Olyslager Motor Manual 

• Significant invoice for £4,765 in parts and labour dated Apr 2020

• Exempt from MOT and Road Tax, as a historic vehicle

• London ULEZ exempt

• V5 present in owner’s name

• Four former keepers

• HPI clear

• Original, transferrable plate 2695WB included in sale

Interior

• The interior is in fabulous condition, a time-machine back to the 1950s

• Leather seat upholstery — said to be original — has built up a beautiful patina

• There are a few small rips and scuffs, but nothing major

• The matching red carpets have been replaced with a well fitted set

• Headlining said to be original

• Inertia reel seatbelts have been fitted for the driver and front passenger

• Door cards match the seats, and are in good condition for their age

• Leather door pull straps

• Large, thin-rimmed steering wheel, with chromed spokes

• Round Smiths heater, with windscreen demisting vents 

• Large, centrally-mounted speedometer 

• The black painted dashboard matches the body colour

• Auxiliary ammeter fitted 

• Tactile pull switches operate with a satisfying clunk

• Foot-operated headlight dip switch

• Comically long gearstick 

• No stereo, just the symphonic hum of the A-series engine 

• Twin front ashtrays and one in the rear — welcome to the 1950s

• Rear bench seat

• Spacious boot to the rear, with wooden floorboards

• Spare wheel stowed below the boot floor 

Exterior

• Famous ‘poached egg’ design by Alec Issigonis, who also designed the Mini

• Distinctive bulbous nose and rounded wings

• The black paintwork retains a deep shine 

• Red coach line runs the length of the car

• There are a few small chips and scratches 

• Some cracking to the paint below the coach line 

• The body panels appear to be very good, with only a few very small bubbles that we could see

• No obvious dents or damage 

• 14-inch steel wheels 

• Chrome hubcaps with additional wheel trims 

• Set of five Nankang tyres 

• Chrome trim in excellent condition 

• Chrome grille surround, bumpers and over riders 

• Lucas seven-inch headlights 

• The original trafficators still pop out and light up

• A flashing indicator system has been fitted 

• The window rubbers look well preserved 

• ‘Minor 1000’ badges on the bootlid and bonnet 

• White-on-black numberplate, with raised digits, as fitted when new

Mechanical

• 948 cc four-cylinder A-series engine, as fitted when new

• Produced 36 bhp, and 50 lb ft when new — a few mechanical upgrades have since been installed

• Top speed 75 mph, 0-60 mph in 31 seconds

• Four-speed manual transmission

• Rear-wheel drive

• Engine bay clean and tidy

• The suspension bushes were reportedly all renewed in Aug 2019

• Other work carried out at this time includes replacing the timing chain, clutch, rear leaf springs, and carburettor

• The inlet and exhaust manifold has been replaced with a later unit

• Front brake drums upgraded to eight-inch units, with a brake servo fitted 

• Electronic ignition and an alternator fitted in 2024

• The original front brakes, manifold, and carburettor are included with the car

• New battery fitted in 2023

• The seller tells us that the car starts easily first time — or second time if it’s particularly cold

Summary

This really is quaintness personified. A lovely example of a lovely little car, with excellent potential for improvement, if that’s your thing. If not, you can just enjoy it as-is.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Liphook, Hampshire.