Description
Direct from the personal collection of a founding member of the Morris Minor Owners’ Club, this S2 2-door Split screen from 1955 is presented in an outstanding condition and a super service history reaching back to the mid-1960’s when you could service your car for under £2.
With just four owners since new, 234 FMM was originally supplied to a Miss Maud Somerset in Southsea, Hampshire, in August 1955. It was to stay with Miss Somerset for nearly thirty years before heading along the coast a little to Eastleigh, in April 1984, to a Mr Colin Holmes.
Mr Holmes was to retain the vehicle for a further twenty-eight years and whilst in his care, the vehicle was subject to a huge programme of restoration and upgrading with much of the work undertaken by Charles Ware, with parts supplied by the Morris Minor Centre in Bath and the similarly named centre in Warley, West Midlands. One bill from Charles Ware totals over £7000 – over £13000 in today’s money (invoices on file).
In 2012, 234 FMM was sold to just its’ third owner in fifty-seven years, in the same town of Eastleigh where it further lead a most cossetted life, with just 4800 miles covered during their decade of ownership, before eventually being sold to its’ current owner in April 2022.
Whilst not perhaps one for the purists, the vehicle has received many worthwhile, and recognised, upgrades throughout the years, in order to make it more appropriate for modern traffic conditions. Firstly, there is now a 1098cc engine under the bonnet and this has been coupled to a Ford 5-speed gearbox to enable a slightly higher cruising speed. Further safety considerations have been met with the recent addition of four seatbelts, rear indicators (the trafficators are still present), a reversing light and an alternator replacing the original dynamo. The interior trim has been beautifully covered by the partner of a previous owner (an upholsterer by trade) and, I am told, the original material is still present underneath and in a well preserved condition.
Accompanying the vehicle is a folder of service information (including over £2000 invested by the current owner) and MOT certificates going way back to the first owner, three sets of keys, a small but potentially useful supply of replacement parts and the original jack and handle. Also there are previous registration documents, confirming just four owners from new, including Miss Somerset.
I have driven the vehicle 110 miles back to Norfolk, including through London and on a motorway and it bowls along most competently. Recent attention to the suspension provides arrow-like handling at cruising speed and the 5-speed gearbox means those club meetings further afield are now very much in reach. The vehicle now wants for nothing and is ready to enjoy.
For further information and to arrange a viewing, please call the details below at any time – evenings and weekends always a pleasure.
Many thanks for looking!
