There were very few cars that could rightfully claim the right of being a legend in their own lifetime. The Morris Minor had established itself as a classic even before the last car left the production line in 1971, and has been in the minds of the public ever since. As Morris’ new baby post-war car, the unmistakable shape of the Minor soon established the benchmark for small family cars. Noted for its handling, space, economy and light controls, the car soon became ubiquitous in post-war Britain as society took to the charms of the Issigonis penned design.

The Series II models were launched in 1952 and were characterised by their raised headlamps. They combined the original design purity of the elegant symmetrical dashboard, split windscreen and cheese grater grill with the new Austin A-Series engine and running gear.

This late example of a 1954 saloon has seen a bare-metal respray as part of a comprehensive restoration in the mid-90s and has led a charmed life ever since. It retains much of its original specification, with a couple of useful concessions for the occupants. This beautifully presented example is a superb opportunity to obtain a well-established and easy-to-maintain classic, that will never fail to raise a smile.

The car's chassis number confirms that it is a genuine home market car that was originally painted in green and appears to have been first registered in North Wales. The car has documents to suggest it has received a comprehensive restoration in the mid-90s, which included a complete refurbishment of the body, new sills and treated to a bare metal respray. 

The interior was also renewed in a correct period style by the Morris Minor Centre in Birmingham. Following its restoration, it appears to have seen gentle use since then,  with the odometer reading suggesting that it has only travelled 350 or so miles since it was restored. The current owner obtained the car earlier this year and has hardly used  it since giving the car a service. He has kept on top a few issues having bought the car a new battery and some interior trim. Bought on a whim, the owner has decided to consolidate his collection of cars, mainly due to a lack of use. 

The interior retains the elegant simplicity originally envisaged by Issigonis, where the symmetrical location of the clusters provides a pleasing visual Art-deco-influenced balance to the dashboard. The interior has been very well looked after its sympathetic renewal. 

The retrimmed burgundy seats are in excellent shape, with no real suggestions of wear. The car comes with a bright red carpet set which is in tidy condition, with no suggestion of dampness. Fitted with the rare heater option, the dials and controls are in very good shape with several features that appear to be the original fitting, including the grey marble steering wheel. 

The sole concession to modernity is the addition of a JVC CD/MP3 player and footwell mounted speakers, along with a full set of front and rear inertia seat belts. The door cards are in near perfect shape, retaining their neat leather door pulls. The headlining is good with the smallest of imperfections. The boot is in good shape with no observations of heavy use.

The first impressions of the structure are positive and confirm that it is a carefully owned example of a well-restored car. The underside is solid and displays not much more than surface weathering on some metal work and components. The chassis legs, inner wings, boot floor and engine bay are all solid. The good news continues on the shell of the car, with no obvious flaws to be picked up on, other than a little corrosion developing under the paint on the bottom edge of the boot lid. The panel work is free of any everyday knocks or scuffs. The panels align up well with no trouble with the opening or closing of doors, with all of the hinges up to their task. 

The paintwork has been well applied, with a good all-over shiny lustre and no immediate suggestions of flat spots or poor colour match. The car is remarkably free of significant road chips. A carefully applied hand-painted pin strip has been added to the sides of the car as a neat finishing touch. 

A light sheen of age was noted on some of the smaller chrome parts but the key items like the bumpers and window trim are in super shape. There are no issues in regards to the glass, their seals look particularly robust. The lights are good, with no excessive signs of age on the lenses. The car is fitted with fully operational semaphore-type turn indicators. The steel wheels and hubcaps are decent with some signs of age, all are shod with Roadstone tyres which are over 10 years old but are well within the legal limits of tread. 

The 803cc A-Series engine fires up immediately, with no hints of smoke and no observations of fluid leaks, knocks or rattles. The engine idles sweetly and the owner has told us that the car runs well, with no reports of burning oil or issues with its engine temperature. The brakes are fit for purpose, with evidence that it has seen a set of new rear shoes in 2020. The owner has mentioned that there is no excessive play in the steering when in motion and he has also reported that there are no knocks from the suspension. The gearbox engages gears without issues, with the clutch said to offer a good biting point. The engine is cleanly presented, with evidence that it has seen regular maintenance, with fresh-looking leads, ancillaries and intact hoses. The silencer displays some surface corrosion and has a good pipe.

Perfect for town and country use, the Morris Minor is so easy to drive and even those with a passing interest in mechanics can maintain these cars. The Minor has built up a reputation for being reliable and affordable to keep on the road, and this very solid and beautifully restored example could be just the thing to appreciate the charms of what is often considered one of Britain’s favourite cars.