Purchased in 1991 from the original owner as a project the Minor was intended to be a Father and son restoration. Having been nurtured by its first owner it had only covered 43,000 miles and was in solid condition. Unfortunately the years passed and due to unforeseen circumstances the restoration didn’t commence until 2015 when it was dismantled and prepared for new paint.  Although at that stage the Minor was blue (it had been painted by the original owner on the request of his daughter) it was found to be remarkably solid and other than wire brushing the underside little remedial work was required.  

The floor and sills were solid, probably due to the low miles covered. The underside was painted with black underseal and new brake pipes and exhaust were fitted.  The Minor then had a full service, with electronic ignition be fitted for easier starting and reliability. Further time passed, and work restarted again in 2019.  You can see in the photographs the car in its blue paint prior to receiving a fresh coat of Yukon Grey, its original colour. Once painted the Minor was reassembled with its original interior and exterior chrome.  New screen rubbers were installed, new headlights and various bolts were replaced, but essentially most of the parts are those that came from the factory.  A new handmade hood was purchased and expertly fitted to the original frame.

New 13 inch “Minilite” style with black centres were purchased, along with chunky 165 wide new tyres.  The original steels and hubcaps will come with the car, along with the original steering wheel. The restoration was completed in early 2022, but now a house move looms, and the new property doesn’t have a garage, so after all the hard work has been completed the Minor is reluctantly being offered for sale.

The interior is mainly original to the car, reinstalled during the restoration.  It appears some of the carpet may have been replaced, but the seats front and rear, door cards and trim parts are all the originals.  The seats are in fine condition with no damage.  

The steering wheel is an aftermarket replacement which suits the car, but the original larger wheel comes with the Minor and could be reinstalled. The body painted dash with its centre speedometer and switches is all as it would have been when first delivered. The seller has a correct knob for the choke on order to replace the current one that looks too modern. The odometer reads just less than 44,000 miles which is thought to be genuine.

Overall the interior is tidy and presentable, with nothing that requires immediate attention, but there is scope for improvement if desired.

The Yukon Grey paint has been nicely applied with a good shine.  We didn’t spot any areas of peel or drips, and the panel fit is good.  The colour suits the Minor with its new wheels and chunky tyres and it sits a little lower than stock which gives it a sportier stance.

 The new black hood fits surprisingly well, clamping neatly to the screen top, and with just a single popper on the top of each rear window, so it’s easy to erect and fold.  The frame is the original so it does have some age, but has no damage and it works well. The side windows crank up and own correctly and the fixed side windows are undamaged.  The windscreen is the original and we noted that it does have some stone chips.

The headlights are replacements, mounted in original chrome bezels.  At the rear there are original all red Minor tail lamps, with later Lucas amber indicators added just above.  The bumpers and overiders are all original and are straight, undented with no pitting and both have a good shine.

We like the look of the Minor as it is, but with a small adjustment to the suspension, and reinstallation of the original skinny wheels and hubcaps it could easily be returned to a more conventional look if desired.  

Under the bonnet everything looks fresh with new paint throughout and evidence of new parts and wiring.  The engine appears to be entirely original with some flaky paint but no evidence of leaks. We drove the Minor on the day we visited and can say it drives well with no rattles, and the 948cc engine does its best and sounds quite sporty.

Looking beneath we can see a good coating of black underseal and new brake pipes and exhaust.  The chassis appears to be solid, with no areas of damage, and only the slightest oxidisation here and there. Apart from a few cobwebs it is all pretty clean and fresh as few miles have been covered since the restoration was completed.

There are not many 64 year old cars that have covered less than 44,000 miles in the hands of just two owners!  This is a delightful example of all that is best about British cars of the era; charming and attractive and a convertible too! We are sure the Minors new owner will love and care for it in the same way that its two previous owners obviously have. 

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