1962 Morris Minor Convertible
Primrose Yellow with black trim.
Morris Minor for Classic Car Hire
Click on the image to view gallery
The revolutionary Morris Minor (originally called Mosquito) was launched at the Earls Court Motor Show on 20th September,1948. It was the work of a team led by Alec Issigonis. Sir Alec became famous for his creation of the world famous Mini, but he was really proudest of his participation in designing the Morris Minor. He considered it as being a vehicle which managed to combine many of the luxuries and conveniences of a good motor car, with a price suitable for the working classes.
Over1.6 million were eventually produced from manufacturing plants at Cowley, Oxfordshire, and exported around the world, with many variants of the original model. Production continued through to 1971 and it remains a well loved favourite with the motoring public even today.
The original Morris Minor series lasted from 1948 until 1953. It included a pair of 4-seat saloons, 2-door and 4-door, and a convertible 4-seat Tourer. Minor was originally designed to accept a Jowett flat-four engine, with four distinctive gaps in the engine bay to accommodate it, late in the development stage it was substituted for a 918 cc side-valve straight-4 producing 27.5 hp.
In 1952, the Minor line was updated with an Austin-designed 803 cc overhead valve A-Series engine replacing the original sidevalve unit. An estate version was introduced, the Traveller, along with van and pick-up versions.
The car was again updated in 1956 when the engine was increased in capacity to 948cc. The two piece split windscreen was replaced with a curved one-piece one and the rear window enlarged. In 1961 the Morris Minor became the first British car to sell over 1,000,000 units. By the late 60's, the car was beginning to seem dated and production numbers declined. The Tourer ceased production in 1969, with the saloon line going the following year. 1971 was the last year for the Traveller and commercial versions. The car was officially replaced by the Morris Marina, which never reached the popularity and sales figures of the Morris Minor.
The Morris Minor has a long and distinguished career in the film and television business. Through the 1970's Morris Minors were seen in " Some Mothers do'ave em", "Open all Hours", and "George and Mildred". The 1980's saw "Lovejoy" (Ian McShane) driving a convertile called "Miriam" around the English countryside.
Film appearances for the Morris have also been numerous "Austin Powers - International Man of Mystery", (Mike Myers, 1997), "Shadowlands" with Sir Anthony Hopkins and the 1965 film "Thunderball" even saw James Bond being driven to his hotel in a Morris Minor.
Morris Minor MM / Series II and Morris Minor 1000 Production 1948 - 1971 Body style 2-door saloon 918cc Side Valve, 803cc OHV BMC A-Series, 948cc OHV and 1100cc A-Series Straight 4 cylinder Predecessor Successor Saloon 74 inches (1.87 m) Length 148 inches (3.76 m)
1,583,619 Total Numbers
4-door saloon
2-door convertible
2-door estate
2-door pickup truck
2-door van