13 Jul 01
The Morris Minor, designed by Alec Issigonis, was the outstanding economy car of the post-war era. The open tourer is the most collectable version and has a very nostalgic feel, straight out of a Thomas the Tank Engine book. In contemporary films, the country midwife always seemed to have one. With its rack-and-pinion steering and torsion-bar independent suspension, it had superb handling, while modern unitary construction and smooth styling made the Minor seem ultra-modern after the warmed-over pre-war cars that British motorists had been used to.
Powered by the elderly Series-E flat-head, in-line engine, early Minors were known as MM-series cars, featuring low-mounted headlights until 1950. At about the same time, the two-door and open tourer were joined by the four-door, but the most important change came in 1952 when the overhead-valve Austin A30 engine was fitted, first fruit of the BMC merger.
The next landmark in the development of the Minor was the introduction of the 948 cc engine in 1956, when the cars were badged Minor 1000. Combined with the higher final-drive ratio, this raised top speed to a respectable 70 mph. The last major update was the introduction of the 48 bhp, 1098 cc engine in 1962. The open Tourers and four-door saloons died out in the late '60s, but the two-door - and the Traveller - continued until 1971. Good convertible Minors are not that common and can be expensive, but they are still usable, everyday cars with great charm, if you're into that kind of thing.
