The winners of the club’s two main trophies for 2020 are John Paternoster – The Brian Maeers Claret Jug, with Chris Hipwood taking The Harry Edwards Memorial Trophy. Full citations have been posted to the website’s forum here.
Friday 5th June was to have been the date that many Network members along with their cars, assembled in Hereforshire for the start of the 2020 Marches Rally. The spread of the coronavirus across the U.K. put paid to those plans leading to the postponement of the event until the same June weekend in 2021. Until then, keep safe. (Kate Martin photo)
Network member John McDonald from Christchurch, New Zealand reports that this 1933 Minor Saloon has recently sold for $NZ300, approximately £154! John was sorely tempted to buy the car himself but the almost 2000 kilometre round trip to the Bay of Islands persuaded him otherwise! Perhaps the new owner will discover this website and forum and tell us about his new acquisition?
The 2014 Old England Rally was centred upon Cavendish in Suffolk. The weather over the weekend was changeable and included a full blown thunderstorm on the Saturday morning. By mid-afternoon the sun shone once again and here in Lavenham Stuart and Glenda Clark have folded back the Kopalapso roof of their 1930 Coachbuilt Saloon (WD 1430) while Andy Brown in his 1931 SV Minor Tourer (372 XUA) still didn’t trust the conditions and kept his hood firmly in the ‘up’ position! (Photo Ken Martin)
Robert Farnell from Yorkshire owns this red Morris Minor 5 cwt van (NSX 727) while new member Howard Annetts has recently purchased this 1929 Morris Minor Tourer (UR 4361). The car’s maiden voyage in Howard’s ownership was an inauspicious affair in that it expired with carburation issues just a mile from his Berkshire home. Both of these images are now resident in the appropriate gallery within the Members Area of the website.
Mick Robert’s restoration of the £100 Morris Minor prototype (JO 764) is now well under way. Repairs to the steel skin on the doors and scuttle have been made while some body timbers (of necessity) have been replaced and added to the frame. More images of the rebuild can be found on the website’s forum here.
Is the usage of old cars permitted following the easing of lockdown? It seems that the answer is ‘yes’, as long as they are being used to convey the individual(s) to an exercise destination. Alternatively, a trip to the post office, village food shop or supermarket also qualifies. There exist nothing in the guidelines relating to the ages of vehicles engaged in these activities.
Although lockdown has been eased slightly in England, it’s still very much in force across the rest of the U.K. If you are really keen to take a drive in your Minor, Midget or Hornet then it’s best to ensure that your car has wheels, an engine and at a stretch, a body. John Nagle doesn’t believe any of these ingrediants are vital, but making brum, brum sounds and grasping an imaginery steering wheel are definitely signs that things are getting desperate in Dorset.
The Network has had a continuous presence at the Spring Beaulieu event since 2009. In the early years Trevor Wilkinson and Chris Lambert manned the stall, even sleeping in the club gazebo on one particularly memorable, uncomfortable and very cold May weekend. From the look on stallholder Trevor Wilkinson’s face it was almost certainly the May 2010 event, the year this photo was taken. In more recent times Toby Sears has continued to fly the flag for the PWMN from his large stall in the Red field.
Mike Tebbett sent this photo of 1933 Morris Minor Saloon (VD 2631) which was taken on 8th May 2020, the 75th anniversary of the ending of the war in Europe. The car resides in Colwell, Worcs and is owned by Ian Wilson who purchased the car at a Brightwell’s auction in 2019. Meanwhile in Lymington, Hants Toby Sears had prepared his 1932 Morris Minor Two-seater (PJ 5155) for it’s VE Day Anniversary outing, by providing a suitable fine mesh mask, this despite the uncertainty around their effectiveness.
Despite being only partially rebuilt, Tony Gamble‘s Minor Arrow Special (driven by his son) is seen here attempting a passing manoeuvre along the main street in the village of Burn, North Yorkshire. In fact, this wasn’t a clandestine Minor outing at all and was a planned part of Tony (& wife Christine’s) recent property move of just a few hundred yards.
The current coronavirus lockdown means that much of our life is on ‘pause’ at the moment. That of course includes many of our leisure activities and in particular those involving our old cars – it’s difficult to justify any trip out as an essential journey when the vehicle of choice is ninety years old! So here is a reminder from 2009 of what we used to do in the early springtime. This photo was taken at the VSCC‘s Light Car Welsh Weekend on 28th March 2009. Here Sue Pimms (formerly Woodward) is about to leave section seven of the Sunday trial in her 1930 OHC engined Morris Minor Two-seater (BR 8606), but not before sharing a joke with the marshalls, one of whom is former Minor owner, Jeremy Evans. Happy days.
This Morris Minor Family Four-door Saloon (MYB 5060) left the Morris Motors Cowley plant in 1933 and was immediately exported. It’s destination was Bangalore in India where it has spent the last 87 years in the custodianship of one family. The car is now in the care of family member, Mrs Usha Devi, for whom we must thank for permitting member Kartik Lunia to pass the photographs on to us here. It’s quite possible that this is the only surving long-wheelbase Minor model in the sub-continent. The car is also an award winner as two of these photographs clearly indicate.
The PWMN’s 2012 Rally was based upon the New Forest National Park and was hosted by Toby & Linda Sears. It was also the first Network rally to be located away from the East of England. Rally HQ was situated at the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum while the rally dinner was held in the Bistro Restaurant at the Hoseason’s Shorefield Park site. Here, on an overcast day, Andrew and Sue Batey in their 1934 Morris Minor Two-seater (BPB 357), pull into the Station House Tea Rooms in Tiptoe for a cream tea around 4:00 PM on Saturday 16th June.
The FBHVC’s annual Drive-it-Day event is usually a celebration of classic and vintage motoring. Not so in 2020, with Coronavirus lock-down regulations in place across the whole of the United Kingdom. While some made at least a token gesture of driving their historic vehicles out of their garages and into the brilliant spring sunshine, others, including members Chris Healey and Andy Brown kept the dust sheets on their Minors, while awaiting the easing of the current restrictions.
The SU carburettors fitted to all Minor models were supplied without air filters attached, something that very shortly after the Minor ceased production was considered a necessity by car manufacturers. This topic is currently receiving an airing on the Network’s forum pages where practicality, innovation and what seems like quantum physics are playing out on one thread. In this photo Joe Rayner‘s innovative approach (left & middle images) go head to head with the more traditional method adopted by Trevor Wilkinson (r/h photo).
There have been very few upsides to the impact the coronavirus pandemic has made on all our lives. The current ‘lock-down’ means there are periods when time can weigh heavily, unless of course you are restoring your car. There no longer exists the need to mutter “I’m just going to spend ten minutes in the garage”, before guiltily stretching ten minutes to sixty, as all other non-garage time obstacles are probably banned for the time being. It certainly looks as if Haydon Edwards in Newcastle-upon-Tyne has been making hay, as progress on his 1932 Morris Minor Two-seater is clearly visible in this shot of XVV 334.
With cars ltucked away in garages for the duration, not too much is going-on in the PWMN world – or is that really the case? Some members are using the opportunity to press-on with long postponed updates and renovations. If you are making progress on a restoration, share the landmarks with some of the 300+ plus Discussion Forum members by joining us here.
Tony Gamble is currently building an Arrow Minor Special replica utilising a body built by Garry Waiting. In the early thirties the West London based coachbuilder, A.P. Compton & Co constructed plenty of these bodies for the Morris Minor chassis at their former tram depot works in Hanwell. Progress on Tony’s car had slowed of late as he and his wife Christine were planning on moving house this month, only for these plans to be scuppered by the coronavirus epidemic. Maybe this unfortunate setback will enable Tony to unpack some of his tools and press on with the build while he (and the rest of us) wait for calmer waters.
Member Alan Taylor submitted this great shot of his 1932 Morris ‘Eight’ Cunard Calshot special for inclusion in the updated Members’ Cars gallery. Over 120 images now reside there, many of them recently updated. Is your car among them? If not, submit a suitable (owner + car) image to chris@prewarminor.com
The Members’ Cars section of the website is long overdue an update, with vehicles having changed hands and recent members not providing a photo as yet. As most of us have plenty of enforced time on our hands at the moment it does provide us with a golden opportunity to update our car’s gallery image. An adjunct to this request is that you include yourself in the photo, which may prove to be something of a hurdle for some, but this is a task where partners truly can play a role in your passion/pastime/hobby! Andy Brown was quick off the mark and submitted this image of his recently re-registered 1931 SV Minor Tourer (GFZ 778). Thanks Andy. Please submit your new photo(s) to chris@prewarminor.com
Peter Brock from Newcastle-upon-Tyne owns this much travelled 1934 Minor Four-door Saloon (AAO 463). Sadly, Peter will not be using his car for the foreseeable future as his one per-day permitted ‘away from base’ exercise period excludes that option – unless of course he drives there? Alternatively, he could push his car up and down his drive, which would provide a very good cardio work-out!
In view of the ongoing Coronavirus emergency it has been deemed necessary to cancel the Network’s 2020 Rally which was to be held over the weekend 3rd-5th June. Plans are being made to retain the same venue for the 2021 event, thus ensuring that those entered for 2020 will eventually get to see the beautiful border country through which the rally’s tours pass.
Despite the fact that it looks like a proportion of us are about to be placed in Coronavirus isolation for an extended period there still remains some time to have fun in our cars before the doors finally clang shut! Non-qualifiers in respect of age, Janie Maeers and Geof Wilson, set the example in Janie’s 1929 Minor Tourer (VJ 1756) ‘Prudence’ recently, taking to the Leicestershire byways to enjoy the spring weather.
Following the recent heightened U.K. Government warning concerning the Coronavirus threat, those organising the Network’s June rally have discussed a number of possible resulting scenarios. These include complete cancellation or a postponement until later in the year. A final decision will be announced on 28th March.
Tony Gamble from Selby, North Yorks is to be the the new owner of award winning 1929 Minor Fabric Saloon VG 2007. Halbe Tjepkema reports that the car sold within 36 hours of its appearance on the Network’s home page and forum. DZ-50-41 will lose its Dutch identity in April when the car is shipped back across the North Sea.
Halbe Tjepkema from The Hague has placed his 1929 Morris Minor Fabric Saloon (DZ-50-41 ex VG 2007) for sale. The car was recovered from a Bungay, Suffolk barn in January 2008 and was subjected to a sympathetic and meticulous ten year restoration program. The finished car made its debut at the 2018 PWMN ‘Pacesetters’ Rally in Suffolk. Full details can be found on the website’s forum.
Networkers Martin and Jean Gregory have recently moved house from Northants to Somerset. The logistical problem of getting both the ‘modern’ and 1931 Minor Coachbuilt Saloon (UF 7090) to Somerset on the same day was resolved by the hiring of a vehicle transporter specialist who used this enclosed trailer to carry out the task.
In the July 2017 edition of Morris Monthly, Morris Register historian Tom Bourne, proved conclusively that the three known designs built around a shortened long-wheel-base Minor chassis were originally destined to become the revised Minor range for the 1934 model season. This trio of photos features the Two-seater model and illustrates clearly the repositioning (further forward) of the radiator. These non-adopted designs are now universally referred to as the ‘Ugly Duckling’ range. (Photos: Morris Register archive)
1933 (’34 season) Minor Two-seater (UD 5774) has recently appeared on the market and is currently being listed for sale by a trader in Bicester. This car underwent a complete and thorough restoration between 2012 and 2015. At that time, the owner established a thread on this website’s forum to record the car’s progress back to road-worthiness. Any prospective buyers may wish to check this out by joining our forum here.
This ‘special’ body has adorned much-modified 1930 Minor WL 9353 for at least 62 years. Morris Register member Clive Cotteral recalls buying the car in 1958, its special body already being in situ. It was used extensively throughout the sixties, although it has now been off-the-road since 1992. Clive has subsequently passed the car on to another family member and the hope is that it will eventually join the growing band of roadworthy pre-war Minors. Let’s hope so!
The VSCC’s Brooklands Driving Tests event is a firm New Year fixture in the club’s calendar. This year the day was blessed with glorious winter sunshine and as a result a much larger than usual crowd attended. They were treated to some spirited driving, particularly from David Rolfe in his Riley engined MG M Type special (VU 7908). Here he is seen at the end of a test sharing a joke with a marshall.
RD 4648 is a 1933 registered Meredith ‘Trinity’ Wolseley Hornet Special. The pre-digital photo seen here was taken sometime prior to August 2010 at which point the DVLA placed an export marker against the registration, indicating that the car had been sold overseas. The Trinity name was adopted as the car could be configured in three differing guises viz: a Foursome Drophead Coupe, an open four-seat tourer and finally as a sports Two-seater. At least one other ‘Trinity’ Hornet Special is known to survive here in the U.K.
The Network’s 2020 ‘Marches’ Rally is now just six five months distant. If you haven’t booked as yet, now is the time to do so. The Welsh Marches in late spring is a spectacularly beautiful part of the UK and the tour routes chosen by this year’s hosts, Tony and June Adlard exploit those memorable Marches vistas to the full. To join us over the weekend of 5th-7th June go to the Rally Page here and complete an entry form – it’s as simple as that!
The Fairmile in Cobham, Surrey was the venue for a recent New Year lunch and get-together, attended by members of the Network’s Home Counties ‘chapter’. The meet was organised by Kenneth and Liz Allen, owners of DG 8657, a 1934 Minor Saloon, while completing the party were Phil Sowry, Eric and Janice Cheetham and Alister and Mollie Reed.
Here in the U.K. a tradition has developed over the Christmas holidays, this period now becoming a recognised time to exercise classic and vintage cars. Hundreds of ‘meets’, mainly on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day take place in pub car parks and on village greens all over the country, while others just take their cars out for a mid-winter spin. Plenty of Networkers’ took to the lanes and byways, proven by this compilation of photographs, all of which were taken over the last ten days.
While the post Christmas blues may be affecting some Networkers, others have blown the cobwebs away by taking to the highways – in Mike Hobson‘s case, the very high ways! Here his 1933 Hardy Hornet Special (APB 670) sits atop of Holme Moss (1719 feet ASL) after climbing the peak in 3 minutes 25 seconds. Martin Gregory‘s 1931 Coachbuilt Saloon (UF 7090) was also out on a proving run on 29th December. Martin reports that his recent gearbox and speedo work has paid dividends and that the car performed impeccably during its 60 mile outing.
Saturday 8th June 2019 Time 12:35 PM: A trio of Minor Saloons trundle into the car park of The Prince Leopold Inn at Upton Lovell, Wilts – the venue for the Network’s lunchtime ‘halt’ on the 2019 Rally’s ‘long tour’. The two 1930 Coachbuilt Saloons (WD 1430 & VX 4590) were being driven by Stuart Clark and Ken Martin, while the partly obscured 1933 Saloon (LV 975) was under the expert pilotage of Peter Yates.
Richard Hartley has recently acquired this spring 1934, Ipswich registered, Minor Two-seater (PV 1165). The car is in need of a full restoration and is also missing some key parts. Richard has joined the website and Discussion Forum where it’s hoped the membership can help him find some of the parts he requires.
I’m saddened to have to announce the passing of Network member Peter Elliott. Peter had attended our last three rallies and will be missed by all in our community who knew him. Peter had not been well for a while but did not permit this to get in the way of his enjoyment of his Minor and the new friends he made among us. Our condolences go to his family. (Chris Lambert)
Kenneth Allen‘s 1934 Minor Saloon (DG 8657 aka DouG) has suffered more than its fair share of issues in recent times, keeping it off the road for long periods. Hopefully, the recurring problems are now things of the past and Kenneth and Minor can once again enjoy the delights of rural Surrey, as in this recent festive photo taken at Send Marsh Green.
The Toby Sears owned 1932 Minor Two-seater (PJ 5155) has recently been pressed into service as his main form of transport with his ‘modern’ being temporarily out of commission. This photo was taken on a dull, wet and windswept day on the Hampshire coast where his LED illuminated headlamps ensured that his Minor was clearly visible to other road users. It’s worth repeating the mantra ‘See and be seen’.
There is something akin to a rivalry between owners of open and closed cars, each expounding the virtues of one type over the other, given the opportunity. However, there can be little doubt that when the temperature sits just a few degrees above freezing and there is the prospect of rain, or even snow in the air, the saloon car wins hands down! Here, Ken Martin‘s 1930 Minor Coachbuilt Saloon (VX 4590) was photographed in such conditions, the photographer safe in the knowledge that when he re-enters the cabin the heat generated by the engine will soon warm him up! (Photo: Ken Martin)
The Home Counties Section recently held their Christmas get-together at the salubrious RAC Club in Woodcote Park, near Epsom in Surrey. While just two pre-war cars were in attendance, nine section members made it, including Mike Gorman who is driving the 1934 Morris Ten-four Tourer (OY 9328) seen here. Just behind the 10/4 is Keith Durston‘s 1931 MG Midget (EV 433), the photograph being taken as both cars pass through the venue’s famous gates.
Dan Brockway recently took his 1932 Minor Saloon (MV 6416) on a proving run to the Haynes Motor Museum at Sparkford, Somerset. On the way he stopped at the Sturminster Newton Mill to take this photograph of a view that will be familar to those Minorists who entered the 2007 VMR Rally, as this was a planned stop on the rally’s Saturday tour.
The new Pre-war Minor Network wall-hanging calendars are now available to purchase. Price per calendar is £12 inc. UK p&p and €17 inc. p&p rest of EU. (Please contact chris@prewarminor.com for costs to other non-EU locations). The calendars are printed on 240 gsm gloss card, are wiro bound and feature the 12 winning images from our 2019 POTY Competition, as selected by the team at Motorsport Images. Payment is accepted by via PayPal, electronic money transfer or cheques drawn on UK banks. Please email chris@prewarminor.com for bank account details should you wish to transfer funds electronically.
Congratulations to Peter Brock for this superb photo, entitled ‘Northern Light’. A clear winner according to the judges. Peter hails from the North East of England and lives not too far away from St Mary’s Island near Whitley Bay where this lighthouse is located. The photo was taken on 14th November 2019 on the 321st anniversary of the opening of the Eddystone lighthouse on 14th November 1698. Peter now becomes the new custodian of the LAT Plate, the trophy donated in recognition of the competition’s sponsors.
This photo (shot on film) was taken by Ken Martin back in the early noughties at a VSCC rally near Tewkesbury, the first such event the car (1930 Minor Coachbuilt Saloon OU 6930) and its newish owner had attended. The owner was made to feel very welcome by Barry Rogers (left) – where are you now Barry and come to that where is OU 6930?
Our Photograph of the Year Competition closes at midnight (GMT) on Monday 18th November. If you have a photograph that qualifies for entry, then go to the POTY page here, where you will find the rules and also the gallery containing the images entered to date. Please note that entry is ‘free’. (Photo: Peter Brock)
There are probably fewer than 25 Minor Sports and Special Coupes surviving across the globe. This one, a 1933 season car, has recently been unearthed in Bury, Greater Manchester. Despite losing its original registration, it comes with a current V5 and is already attracting bids on eBay here.
Dig out your favourite Minor, Midget and Hornet photographs and enter them for this year’s PWMN POTY competition. Full details can be found on this page along with the first few entries. The top twelve photos, as voted for by our panel of judges from Motor Sport Images will feature on our 2020 calendar – available early December.
Philippe Prigent from Brest, France constructed his 1929 ‘sporting’ Two-seater Minor (CR-328-EW) from the remains of a fifties homebuilt wreck he imported from the UK. For the past three years he has attended the Montlhery Classic event where he has raced the Minor on the circuit’s steep banking. This paddock shot was taken in early May 2019.
This internet sourced museum image of what is almost certainly a 1933 Minor 5 cwt van, (despite the 1934 season car front wings) is very peculiarly liveried. Zentis are a German jam manufacturer and yet the vehicle’s owner may has elected to signwrite the words Royal Mail above the Zentis logo, perhaps in acknowledgement of the van’s origins?
For those intending to enter, please note that the schedule for the forthcoming 2019 POTY competition is as follows: Entry opens – Monday 4th November. Entry closes Monday 18th November. Results declared Saturday 23rd November. (This great photo of Morris Minor Four-door Saloon AAO 463 was entered for the 2018 competition by Peter Brock and pictures the car against the backdrop of Wastwater, Wasdale in the English Lake District.)
Alan Dennison and Peter Brock both own Minor four-door saloons and have recently and quite independently, visited two interesting examples of Victorian architecture, as these images show. The buildings in question are located some 240 miles apart and exist at opposite ends of the style and functionality spectrums, despite being built within eight years of one another. The Mansion House at Old Warden Park in Bedfordshire was designed by Henry Clutton, a famous Victorian architect, for the Shuttleworth family and was completed in 1875. The coastal ‘Rocket Garage’ structure in Cullercoats, North Tyneside was built in 1867 to house hazardous materials, in this case fireworks, or more specifically rockets. The rockets were fired from the shore towards floundering shipping off the coast. Attached to each rocket was a long length of twine which in turn was attached to ropes or cables back on shore. The stranded crews, then dragged the ropes or cables on board which helped to facilitate their rescue.
When Barry Robinson was a very young man in the late fifties/early sixties he acquired his first car, a 1932 MG M Type Midget (DG 4888). His new pride and joy had originally been built as a Sportsman’s Coupe but at some point in the intervening period the original body had been replaced with something closely resembling that of an MG J2, including a fuel tank at the rear. When other necessities of life got in the way the car was reluctantly sold, a fact that Barry has always regretted. A while ago he shared his story (and some photos) with M Type guru Sam Christie. Sam archived the photos on his hard drive and the story to his grey matter. On the 8th October a ‘Buy-it-now’ advertisement for an MG M Type appeared on eBay and was subsequently reported on the network’s ‘Cars for sale’ sub-forum. Sam immediately recognised the car as that owned by Barry some 60 years previously and rang him to pass on the news, the end result being that the surprisingly little changed DG 4888 now has a new home in the West Midlands. Congratulations Barry!
The Jolvial Sailor, Ripley was the venue for the Home Counties group pub meet recently. The occasion was marked by the welcome arrival of Philip Butland in his newly recommissioned 1934 Eustace Watkins Wolseley Hornet Special (AXC 115). The recomissioning road has been a long and bumpy one but the car proved its credentials with an uneventful run from deepest Sussex to leafy Surrey and back. Here, the eight attendees gather round the Hornet for the mandatory pub-meet photo.
Vintage motoring is not always a fine weather, wind-in-the-hair experience (for those lucky enough to have some!), as can be seen by this photo of Bob Howden‘s beautiful MG M Type Midget JY 8840. The shot was taken on a very damp Saturday morning, during the 2019 Network rally weekend, just prior to the commencement of the day’s tour. Bob had driven the 20 miles from his home in Newbury to Marlborough dodging puddles along the way, his fixed tonneau testament to the threat of rain, which kept the passenger compartment dry but left him exposed to the elements. Thankfully, the weather greatly improved as the day wore on. (Photo: Louise Martin)
M12504 started life as a 1929 Minor Fabric Saloon and at some point in its history made its way to New Zealand. Here it received a new steel panelled body, perhaps from a defunct Coachbuilt Saloon. In 2009 Orchid Cars in Somerset imported the car from NZ along with the remnants of another Minor. It was then purchased by Lee Robertson who restored and rebuilt the car, registering it with the DVLA it being allocated the age-related mark BF 5452. The car passed through the hands of two further owners before being autioned by Matthewsons in March 2014 and going to ground. It transpires that the car is currently owned by a funeral director in Herefordshire, the car being spotted last July at a garden party in Bredwardine.
Tikal (pronounced Tickle) has joined a long line of Lurchers that have travelled many miles in the Maeers’ family 1929 Minor Tourer (VJ 1756), universally known as ‘Prudence‘. Seen alongside VJ, is Martin and Jean Gregory’s 1931 Coachbuilt Saloon (UF 7090), the occasion being a lunchtime meet at The Nevill Arms in Medbourne, Leics which was the Network’s Rally HQ in June 2017; the event being hosted by Janie Maeers.
Philip Butland‘s 1934 Wolseley Hornet EW Daytona Special has provided its owner with plenty to think about following its recent engine rebuild. While the power unit appears to be bedding-in nicely, the car’s steering and braking gear hasn’t followed suit. A recent trip to the Firle Hill Revival hillclimb event went without incident so perhaps things are looking-up at last.
The Morris Minor featured many times on the front covers of the three main motoring magazines making its final appearance in a Morris Motors advertisement of any type in early June 1934. This one from a year earlier points out the ‘room’ advantage to be gained by purchasing the four-door long-wheel-base Family model over the smaller swb sliding-head saloon.
With days getting shorter and the weather becoming less settled, fewer opportunities for extended runs present themselves. Recently, Peter Brock made hay (or should that be ‘straw’) while the sun shone when he took his 1934 Morris Minor Four-door Saloon for such a trip around part of rural Northumberland, seemingly at the tail-end of the local harvest.
East Anglia is famously flat and in places almost prairie like. However, there are also parts of Central England with a similar topography to that just a little further eastward. This Martin Gregory photograph of his 1931 Minor Coachbuilt Saloon (UF 7090) was taken in Northamptonshire and illustrates perfectly that similarity.
A late summer (or should that be early autumn?) run between a Suffolk and a Norfolk brewery was well attended and took place under largely blue skies. In all, ten cars and their crews took part in what was a leisurely amble through the beautiful Waveney Valley countryside. Here, a 1932 Minor Two-seater (WD 4459) exits the B1118 heading toward Weybread. (Apologies to the unnamed crew, as the note carrying this information exited the ‘cubby’ of the editor’s Semi-Sports on the return journey!) More photos at the foot of this page.
The Network’s 2020 annual rally next June (5th-7th) is to be held in and around the England- Wales border region known as the Welsh Marches. The event has been organised by Tony and June Adlard and will be based upon the Herefordshire village of Titley. Full details can be found on the new rally webpage here.
Parts of the UK and north western Europe are expecting a decent spell of late summer weather, representing a golden opportunity to make use of our cherished and much discussed Minors, Midgets and Hornets. There will be plenty of time for discussion during our long winter, so why not get out there and use them while the sun still has some warmth? After all, that’s what they were originally built to do…
While our days are definitely shorter, the grain silos are only two thirds full and hedgerow and tree foliage remain green (Apart from those on the blighted horse chestnut). Yet, if you are up early enough, there is a nip in the air that wasn’t there a week ago and the dews are heavier than of late. Harbingers of autumn? Almost certainly!
It’s said that laughter is the best medicine in which case Frank Ashley (left), Avril Ovenden (centre) and Peter Yates are in danger of overdosing! This Peter Brock photograph was taken at the recent Morris Register Thoresby Rally where both Avril and Frank were award winners. Frank’s 1929 MG M Type (PG 1045) is no stranger to winning trophies as the car competes successfully in VSCC ‘speed’ events, while Peter’s 1933 Minor Saloon (LV 975) has been a ‘regular’ at the last five Network rallies.
The recent Morris Register/MVA Rally held in the grounds of Thoresby Hall, Notts was subject to mixed weather conditions over the weekend. Saturday’s rain gave way to sunshine on Sunday while some entrants experienced appalling driving conditions on their journies home later that day. (Photo: Peter Brock)
The pre-war Morris Minor was exported to markets across the globe, the largest of these being the Dominions of the former British Empire. Perhaps the second largest (to Australia) of these markets was New Zealand where many hundreds of Minors found homes. This extract from a December 1929 Otago Times newspaper advertisement proclaims the Minor as “the world’s economy car” while further claiming later in the text that 50 mpg was not unusual. Hmm!
This internet sourced image shows Dave Cooksey at speed in his 1930 Duple dual-bodied Minor Special. This may resemble the standard 1930 Minor Tourer, in fact most would be hard pressed to spot the difference. However, those with a keen eye would pick out the dividing arc of a neat join over each rear wheel, where the tourer body can be replaced by that of a van via the simple expediant of undoing four nuts and lifting it off. The photo was taken on the Bean Car Club’s annual Daffodil Run, which this year took-in stretches of the New Forest in Hampshire.
Rasmus Larsen from Oelgod, Denmark owns this 1931 Minor Two-seater (z9489). Images appear on the internet around this time each year of Ramus and his car attending a rally, although the name of the rally and where it is held has not been established to date. Regardless of that lack of data, his car always looks to be immaculately turned out and is an excellent ambassador for the model in that part of Northern Europe.
The euphoria surrounding the excellent news that the prototype S.V. Morris Minor JO 764 has been saved should not detract from the task that lies ahead for its new owner, Mick Roberts. This image provides an indication of the condition of the car as purchased, while the term ‘nut & bolt’ restoration is totally apt in this instance.
Thanks to the intervention and purchase by London Morris enthusiast Mick Roberts, JO 764, the famous £100 Morris Minor prototype has been rescued from a North Devon theme park, where the ravages of time and the salty sea air were having a serious detrimental effect on the car’s structure. This nationally important vehicle is now safely ensconced in Mick’s workshop where a thorough and sympathetic full restoration will soon commence.
This superb internet sourced image of 1932 McEvoy Minor VK 6518 with driver Sarah Gibson and a young passenger deserves proper accreditation. If the name and contact details of the photographer are known, then please pass them onto info@prewarminor.com
Just a trio of 1932 Morris Eight Cunard Calshot specials are known to have survived, two of which are currently roadworthy. The third such car (MU 6066), owned by Network member Toby Sears, is currently undergoing restoration in a specialist coachbuilder’s workshop ‘somewhere in southern England’ where this image shows progress to date.
On 21st September next, this 1933 Morris Minor Two-seater will be offered for sale by R.M. Sotherby’s auction house in Portugal. While purists may baulk at the sight of the small wheels and large tyres, its overall condition will surely attract plenty of potential buyers. The vehicle’s history file indicates that it has spent its entire life in Portugal. View Sotherby’s listing here.
‘Blown’ 1932 McEvoy Minor VK 6518 is piloted by Sarah Gibson through the ‘Esses’ at the recent Pre-war Prescott event. Seated alongside Sarah is Simon Hodgins, the owner of a Jensen version (EC 9783) of Sarah’s car, although his model has been retro fitted with an OHC Minor engine which replaced the original SV unit.
If you weren’t watching the cricket World Cup at Lords, the men’s singles final at Wimbledon or even the British Grand Prix at Silverstone then the place to be to watch exciting live sport was Chateau Impney near Montpellier Droitwich in Worcestershire. It was here that Janie Maeers and Geof Wilson spent the weekend, displaying VJ 1756, Janie’s 1929 Minor Tourer in the grounds of the chateau while the famous Chateau Impney Hill Climb took place around them. (Photo Geof Wilson)
Brian Barling from Cumbria has owned this 1930 Minor Coachbuilt Saloon (TF 889) from the Fifties, placing it in long term storage in the early Sixties where it remained until just a few weeks ago. It has now been passed on to David Bowman who recently successfully started the car for the first time in over 50 years.
Peter Green hosted the annual Triple M Garden Party at his South Bucks home on 7th July. Keith Durston reports that the event was very well attended with plenty of M Type Midgets present, their owners celebrating the 90th anniversary of the commencement of Midget production in Oxford in February 1929. (Photo: Keith Durston)
London resident, Mick Roberts restored and maintains both of these beautiful cars. The award winning 1932 Minor Two-seater (RB 6357) was the smallest car in the pre-war Morris range while his six cylinder 3.5 litre Morris 25 model (JT 667) probably ranks as the largest car dimensionally ever to have left the Cowley works!
Ken Martin reports that this 1931 £100 Minor (EV 719) was spotted at a Morris Register pub meet near Marlborough recently, the female driver pulling-in having seen the collection of Morris cars in the pub car park. Unfortunately, details were not exchanged and she drove off, although not before Steve Knight had taken this photo. The Network’s archive contains just one further image of the car, copied from a DVCA auction ‘ad’ dated March 2013 where it was listed with a guide price of £5-£6K.
After a weekends rallying, a hose down and leather off is a must if vintage cars are to be maintained in a good cosmetic condition. Janie Maeers and Geof Wilson went one better with Janie’s 1929 Minor Tourer (VJ 1756), when they opted for a shampoo at their local car wash facility, having wisely decided not to take it through the fully mechanised version!
The summer solstice is upon us, with upto 19 hours of daylight available to some. There can be no better time for those who live in the northern hemisphere to remove dust sheets, fill up with fuel and make use of these great little cars – far more fun than just talking about them! (Seen here: Steve Lewsley doing just that in his 1929 MG Midget replica and appropriately registered SL 9739)
Peter Brock from Newcastle-upon-Tyne recently took part, along with his 1934 Minor Four-door Saloon (AAO 463), in the annual Beamish Trial. The field of 150 historic vehicles were tasked with completing a gruelling hilly course through Cumbria and North Yorkshire. Here, part of the field are parked up on the village green at Bainbridge in Wensleydale for their scheduled lunch stop.
Many of the Wiltshire Downs have gradients that can test 90 year old vehicles to the limit. Here Avril and Tim Ovenden in their 1932 season Minor Two-seater are approaching the summit of one such incline, safe in the knowledge that ‘what goes up…..’ Photo: Kate Martin. The 2019 Rally Galleries page is now open to view – Many more images will be added over the coming days.
The recent 2019 PWMN Rally took-in some of England’s most picturesque and unheralded villages. This unnamed gem appeared around a bend in the road and gave those taking part a very pleasant surprise. Here Chris and Sue Hipwood in their fully renovated 1934 Season Saloon follow the Morris Eight of Gary and Anne Keys along the village’s deserted main street. (Photo: Norma Lambert)
Shelsley Walsh, Worcs was the venue, when on 9th June 1934 Barbara Skinner competed in the White Minor Skinner Special for the very first time. To celebrate this important 85th anniversary, current custodian David Baldock has painted the car in its original all-white colour scheme. Next stop Shelsley?
The sun made several appearances during the course of the Network’s Saturday tour and shone continously on the righteous at the cream tea stop. Nick Jarman’s Semi-Sports and Bob Howden’s M Type enter the car park of the The Millstream pub at Marden to top up the calorific intake prior to the rally dinner just a few hours later!
Despite the worst that Storm Miguel could offer, almost all rally entrants made it to the Castle & Ball Hotel for the traditional ‘Meet & Greet’ event. Included among these intrepid motorists were the Roests from the Nederlands with their beautiful 1930 Jarvis Hornet Special, seen here alongside Peter Yate’s 1933 Minor Saloon and John Nagle’s 1934 Two-seater.
The tenth annual Pre-war Minor Network Rally commences on Friday 7th June with a record entry due to take part. The event is based upon the historic English coaching town of Marlborough, Wilts from whence news and photos from the rally will be posted on the website’s forum here. (Photo Kate Martin)
Final Network rally preparations are underway across the UK as rallyists prepare their cars for the rigours of a trip to Wiltshire on 7th June. The boot of a Minor Semi-Sports is difficult to access, (via the tilting seat back) and awkwardly shaped, with a good 40% of of its capacity being occupied by the spare wheel. A tool roll, petrol can and essential spares take-up much of what remains, so a luggage rack is almost a necessity if anything more than a change of underwear is required over the course of the weekend!
The 2019 PWMN Moonrakers’ Rally kicks off in less than a weeks time, centered upon the historic Wiltshire town of Marlborough. A record entry of 32 cars and their crews are scheduled to take part and will traverse the county’s rolling countryside using byways and lanes ideally suited for these 90 year-old vehicles. The image above was taken at the start of the Saturday tour on the 2014 ‘Olde England’ rally based in the Suffolk village of Cavendish.
1930 MG Midget WM 5429 2M/1771 has a new owner in Tony Gamble from Selby, North Yorks. It transpires that the motive behind Tony’s recent sale of his Minor projects was to clear some garage space for this, another car requiring significant work before it is ready to take to the Queen’s highway. Congratulations on your new acquisition Tony!
During the course of a long rally tour it’s not aways convenient to stop where the facilities are located, hence the reason for these abandoned Minor saloons. The photographer stumbled upon them in the Gloucestershire countryside with the occupants nowhere to be seen, although it transpired, the culprits were very close by.
Richard Hurdwell owns this 1934 Abbey bodied E.W. Wolseley Hornet special (VE 9956) and attended the VSCC’s Suffolk Tour on 19th May. However, in this photo taken deep in the Suffolk countryside to the north-east of Newmarket, it’s not Richard at the wheel but a young family member given the opportunity to taste the delights of vintage motoring.
Geof Wilson is endeavoring to finish his Wasp Minor Special in time for the Network’s rally which is now just three short weeks away. His car is seen here being loaded for a trip to his panel-beating shop for the remaining panels to be fitted, prior to the addittion of wings, radiator, instrumentation etc., plus of course some initial proving runs.
Network members, Linda & Toby Sears and Kate & Ken Martin have just returned from a Morris Register organised tour to the south west of England. Unfortunately, Ken Martin’s Minor Saloon developed an engine issue just prior to departure, necessitating the use of the family’s Vanden Plas Princess. No such issues for Toby and Linda who drove across from the New Forest in their 1933 Minor Saloon (YG 2017). Photo: Ken Martin
Les Beardmore in Lytham, Lancs has just completed a six-year restoration of this 1931 Minor Semi-Sports (EC 9689). The Westmoreland registered car has not been on the road since the 90s and will sit alongside a Stewart & Ardern registered 1931 £100 Two-seater (MU 3272), which was also restored by Les. EC 9689 joins a growing number of roadworthy (genuine and replica) Semi-Sports models, a Minor variant that until 15 years ago was a rare sight at Morris gatherings.
Great swathes of the UK countryside are currently splashed with bright yellow as the flowers from the vast oilseed rape crop bloom. John Paternoster spotted such a field on Romney Marsh, East Sussex while out and about in his 1929 Minor Tourer SV 9091 and took this photo on his phone. He was at pains to point out that no plants were damaged in the taking of the photo as his Minor was parked on a barren strip of soil.
Network member Ian Judd is the long-term owner of a much travelled 1930 MG Midget, registered MG 703. Like many other old car enthusiasts, Ian took his MG for an outing on Drive-it-Day last Sunday (28th April). His run from his Leeds home took him to the North Yorkshire Moors and this stunning view of the local scenery. It looks like it’s still winter up there!
Kartik Lunia, the current custodian of 1930 Minor Tourer USJ 1795 has been researching its history. As a result, he has made contact with a previous long-term owner, Mr. Virendranath (VN) Misra, a retired former officer of the Indian Police Service and the Lucknow Fire Department. It was one of Mr. Misra’s three daughters who supplied this photo, taken in the early 90’s. There now exists the real prospect of a reunion of the recently renovated car with members of the family who owned it for many years right upto 2010.
This great shot of Mike Dalby in his 1930 Southampton registered MG Midget (OU 4824) was taken by photographer Colin Murrell at the recent Kimber Classic Trial. Organised by the MG Car Club’s South Western Centre, the trial took place on 13th April in and around the Somerset/ Dorset border and was centered close to Yeovil. This photo was originally spotted on the Triple M Register’s forum which contained a link to the club’s Facebook page here. (Image courtesy Colin Murrell and Triple M Register)
A settled spell of weather across western Europe has tempted some Minorists’ and their cars out of hibernation. Joe Rayner is certainly not one of those as he uses his 1932 Minor Two-seater ZV 83851 all-year-round. This photo was taken in beautiful weather at Fourmilewater, Waterford where the road crosses the River Nire.
This 1933 model year Minor Saloon was first registered in Buckinghamshire in October 1932 and has been locked away in a garage for over 50 years. Its new owner intends to restore the car to running order. The full story can be found on the website’s forum.
The prize for Tineke Roest‘s winning entry for the 2018 POTY Competition was the selection of an image from the vast LAT collection owned by Motorsport Images. The Roest’s chose this pit scene from a 1927 Brooklands event, a huge print of which now adorns their garage wall in which rests their almost contemporary 1930 Wolsley Hornet Jarvis Special.
Almost 45 years ago Tony Gamble began his long association and passion for the pre-war Morris Minor. Back in 1975 one of his very first models was this 1931 SV scuttle tank Saloon, bought in a run-down state and partially renovated before being passed on just a few months later. Many more were to follow, mainly OHC models although at least two further SV cars passed through his hands. Next month’s (May) Morris Monthly is due to feature an article on Tony and his Minors – look out for it!
With the Network’s rally just 6 weeks away, the club’s trophies are being gathered together prior to a visit to the engravers, where the names of the 2019 winners will be inscribed on their bases. The 2018 winner of the Brian Maeers Claret Jug, Dan Brockway, took this photo of the trophy along with his 1932 Minor Two-seater (APC 484) by way of a memento of his award which was presented at last year’s rally dinner.
The MG Workshop, in The Hague suburbs, is a mecca for Dutch MG enthusiasts and particularly so for those with an interest in Triple M cars. Here Henri de Jong’s MG F1 Magna sits alongside Halbe Tjepema’s award winning Minor Fabric Saloon as their owners discuss the Nederland’s chances in the upcoming cricket world cup.
For prospective buyers of a pre-war Minor, Midget or Hornet, quite a choice are currently available. There are cars to suit most budgets from projects at just £1 or £2K, to pristine fully restored cars for upwards of £20K. Take a look on the Network’s forum for further details and comment for those shown above.
This 1934 Stewart & Arden registered Minor Two-seater (MU 8234) appeared for sale in the north of England on four separate occasions earlier this decade before subsequently going to ground once again, as so many Minors do. Its image has now re-surfaced on the internet showing the car appearing at a show. Is its current whereabouts known?
The Network’s annual rally is now just two months away. Over 30 entries have been received to date and only a few more remain available. It’s not too late to book – click here to find out more.
Although there is a signal to start the Saturday tour of a Network rally it isn’t signified by the dropping of a flag. Given the word, drivers don’t race in an undignified manner across the tarmac to scramble into their cars, they start as they mean to carry on, at a leisurely pace with a polite “After you” gesture to those entering the traffic stream. However, the Saturday rally dinner is another matter entirely… Above: The scene at the start of the 2018 Network Rally as drivers begin to leave the 100th Bomb Group Museum assembly area for a days drive through rural England. (Places still available on the 2019 Moonrakers’ Rally to be held in June.)
For 32 years the London Motor Show was held each October at Olympia, W14 before eventually moving to the newly constructed Earls Court, SW5 in 1937. The show was a huge event in the motoring calendar with all major manufacturers (bar Ford) exhibiting. The three main motoring magazines produced a series of mammoth Motor Show special editions throughout the month of October, all crammed with advertisements, reports and photographs. For the visitor , the show programme was a gargantuan, almost 500 page tome, while the cover of the publication pictured here was perhaps the most diminuitive at 4″x3″ and just 30 pages. If you wanted to know how much your 1930 Minor Coachbuilt Saloon was worth then this booklet contained the information, in much the same way that a similar sized edition of Glass’s Guide (launched 1933) would.
The Eight Bells in Bolney, West Sussex was the venue for the Home Counties spring meet. Keith Durston’s 1930 MG M Type, along with John Emmett’s 1932 D Type (WM 7500), ensured there were two Minor derived 847 cc power units flying the flag, while the other seven attendees arrived in their moderns. (Photo: Philip Butland)
Rallies are not always blessed with wall to wall sunshine. This shot of Garry Waiting’s 1930 MG M Type BF 5508 (now owned by Sam Christie) pictured alongside Halbe Tjepkema’s Aston Martin Le Mans was taken at Old Warden Airfield on a very wet Sunday lunchtime during the course of the Pre-war Minor Network rally in June 2011.
Simon Edwards recently travelled from England to Kangaloon, New South Wales in order to finalise the purchase of this 1929 Minor special, M7490. As can be seen, the Minor’s original roadster body is beyond salvation but plans are now in hand for a new body to be constructed locally, which will reflect the car’s Ozzie roots. Watch this space for progress reports as the rebuild gets under way.
Kenneth Allen from Woking, UK met up with fellow Network member Michael Mullins while holidaying recently in New South Wales, Australia. Michael is selling his immaculate Holden bodied 1931 Minor four-seat tourer, full details of which can be found on this website’s Discussion Forum.
Precisely one year ago the editorial 1930 MG ‘M’ Type GH 6758 was paraded in the heavy snowfall to capture a few images for the website. ‘The beast from the east’ was at that point sweeping across great swathes of Britain causing travel mayhem for all those needing to be out and about. Twelve months later (to the day) the contrast couldn’t be more striking. Another highly unusual and as yet unnamed record-breaking weather event is enveloping most of the British Isles providing a very early taste of summer. (Both photos taken mid-morning on 27th February, 2018 & 2019 respectively) Drag the arrows to fully reveal each image.
Most of the United Kingdom has been basking in warm spring-like sunshine for a number of days now. Martin Gregory (and others) have been taking advantage of this unseasonal weather by exercising their cars, many of which have been holed-up under dustsheets in garages and look-ups awaiting spring’s official arrival. Here 1931 Minor Coachbuilt Saloon (UF 7090) is captured ‘paused’ alongside a quiet Northamptonshire byeway after a recent run-out.
Autocar (India) magazine are joint sponsors of one of India’s most prestigious car events. the Cartier Concours D’elegance. Held over the weekend 23rd & 24th February a 1930 Tourer (USJ 1795) is flying the flag for the pre-war Morris Minor (seen here on the assembly day Friday 22nd). Flying the flag for Cartier was HRH Prince Michael of Kent who is seen standing alongside Kartik Lunia’s recently refurbished car.
USJ 1795, Kartik Lunia’s Jaipur, India based 1930 Minor Tourer is currently undergoing a program of refurbishment which has included, new paintwork and a complete re-trim. The car has been entered for a rapidly approaching concours d’elegance event and hopefully will be completed in time for it to participate!
Entries continue to be received for the 2019 MoonrakerRally to be held next June in Wiltshire. While the common thread of a love for Minors, Midgets and Hornets bind together those entering the event, another significant factor is that it provides opportunities to renew old friendships and to make new ones. (For entry details – scroll further down this page.)
In January 1975 Paul Harris was the custodian of 1934 Minor Two-seater OW 4224. On a very frosty morning he took his car for a run around the by-ways of rural Berkshire, this shot (scanned from a 35mm slide) was taken near his home in Wokingham. To read more about Paul’s Minors follow this link to a spring 1979 article he wrote for the Morris Register Journal.
The VSCC’s annual New Year Driving Tests took place at Brooklands on 27th January in mixed weather conditions. The Minor, M Type Midget and Hornet communities all had solitary representatives among a 58 car field. Here, Andrew Lucena’s 1932 paneled Midget (GX 1047) is seen being enthusiastically driven around one of the sections positioned upon the circuit’s original Start/Finish straight. NB.Biggles would have been horrified to see an untethered flying helmet!
Tim Stubbs and his eight strong team of helpers have made a rapid start to the restoration of this Surrey registered 1932 Minor 5 cwt van (PJ 7901) in their Burton-on-Trent workshop. There are a number of other images of the van available to view on the website’s forum, most of which feature tea cups…
Barbara Skinner‘s illustrious, albeit short motor sport career ended on the 25th May 1938 when she took part in the Spring Shelsley meeting in her brother’s Red Hudson ‘Straight-eight’ powered, Skinner Special. Her sibling also competed in the same car that day gaining a class win. The White Minor page within the Member’s Area of the website has been updated with a short article describing Barbara’s extra-curricula motor sport career, which includes a gallery of images from the Network’s archive and elsewhere. This May 1938 photo of Barbara in her brother’s car appears courtesy of David Baldock.
Toby and Linda Sears both look surprised to see Avril Ovenden in her 1932 season Minor Two-seater gaining on them, while both cars race along a section of the Thorpe Abbotts perimeter track which was originally built in 1942 to handle the mighty Flying Fortresses of the 100th Bomb Group. Philip Butland’s photo was taken during the afternoon of Sunday 10th June on the final day of the Network’s 2018 rally.
Some 15 years ago Philippe Prigent from Brest, France purchased a 1929 OHC Minor special in the UK. Over the next decade Philippe rebuilt the car, disposing of the old body and creating a new one from scratch. The pleasing result can be seen in this image of the car, which was taken at the famous pre-war circuit of Montlhery in May 2017. Car and driver return to the same circuit in May this year, when once again his special will take on all comers!
Despite the brevity of daylight hours and the mucky conditions on some of our roads at this time of year, some Minorists continue to exercise their cars at every opportunity. Here, an outing by Marlborough based Ken Martin to Salisbury Plain in his 1930 Minor Coachbuilt Saloon (VX 4590) was recently captured to good effect through the lens of his digital camera.
The media traditionally uses this time of the year for reflection, peering both into the future and the past. This home page screen-snip from July 2009 may be familiar to some but it does serve to remind that 2019 represents the tenth anniversary of the fledgling website’s Image of the week (IOTW) feature, the top of that first offering being visible here. The image was an overhead view of the Minor production line, taken in either 1929 or 1930.
A Sunday highlight of the 2018 ‘Pacesetters Rally’ in Suffolk was an impromptu challenge between two tuned Minor Tourers driven by Janie Maaers and John Paternoster respectively. Having disappeared into the distance along the Thorpe Abbotts perimeter track the two adversaries can just be seen returning beyond the editorial Semi-Sports and Halbe Tjepkema’s newly restored Fabric Saloon. (Photo: Halbe Tjepkema)
Thanks to those who submitted images and reports of holiday capers, all of which can be found on the website’s Discussion Forum here.
The archive team at Motor Sport Images Ltd have ajudged that the winner of the 2018 PWMN Photograph of the Year Competition is Tineke Roest’s entry, ‘Alpine Winter Sports’. In 2017 the winning image was entered by Ari Roest, Tineke’s husband, so very much a case of keeping it in the family. Congratulations Tineke! The winning image was one of 12 from the 61 photographs entered that were selected by the adjudicators to appear in the 2019 Pre-war Minor Network calendar. The calendars will be available for delivery in early January and are priced at £11.50 U.K. and £12.50 European Union (p&p included). Order via chris@prewarminor.com
The River Tar flows through County Tipperary in the Irish Republic and at Ballybacon, in the Barony of Iffa & Offa, the river passes under a humpback bridge. Seeing a photo-opportunity, Joe Rayner did no more than park his 1932 Minor Two-seater (ZV 83851) on the crest of the ‘hump’. The resulting photograph can be seen above while the traffic jam Joe caused took almost 20 seconds to clear.
The brightly painted (and very expensive) beach huts that line the sea wall at Southwold, Suffolk provide a colourful contrast to the blue seas and skies to be seen here in high summer. In the winter it’s a different matter, although an overcast sky and rough seas can be a dramatic, as opposed to a picturesque, backdrop for a photograph of a Morris Minor!
Taken at Thoresby, Notts in August 2012, this photo of David Brown‘s Minors displays their twin carburettor configuration to good effect. The OHC Minor in the foreground is known as the ‘Baby Bentley’, while the SV variant behind, famously completed a tour around the UK mainland coastline in the early years of this millenium. (Photo: Philip Butland)
The Home Counties group met recently at the illustrious Royal Automobile Club at Woodcote Park, Epsom, Surrey for what has become their annual pre-Christmas ‘bash’. The meet was organised and hosted by RAC member Alister Reid who was joined by a disparate band of enthusiasts from across the south of England. Apparently, a good time was had by all!
Pat Oliver, the Network’s guest-of-honour at the 2016 Jurassic Rally, died yesterday (30th November) following a period of illness. Her daughter Jackie Hammond had notified the Network earlier in 2016 of her Mum’s desire to be reunited with a Minor Tourer, a car in which she had learned to drive in the early fifties and then went on to pass her test. Thanks to current Minor Tourer owners Janie Maeers and John Paternoster, Pat’s wish was fulfilled. Our condolences go to Jackie and all of Pat’s family members.
(Photo: Janie Maeers)
The webpage setting out the rules for this year’s PWMN Photograph of the Year Competition has now been launched. The page can be found here or under the red button on the website header image. Entries are now being accepted, the first items appearing in the competition gallery on Saturday 1st December. As one famous East Anglian female resident eloquently put it, “Let’s be avin ya” – its time to submit your entry! Please email them to info@prewarminor.com
This internet sourced image shows a 1930/31 CF3 Wolseley Hornet Special (13-ELT-95) on the steeply banked Montlhery racing circuit 19 miles south of Paris. The circuit, opened in 1925 and in the years running up to WWII was host to many record breaking speed events as well as a number of French Grand Prix. George Eyston was a regular visitor during this period, his runs in the Magic Midget resting many class H records away from Austin. In recent times Montlhery has hosted a revival meeting each year, this photo being taken at one such event.
Avril & Tim Ovenden have owned their 1932 season Minor Two-seater (KJ 3553) since 2012. In the meantime they have extensively used their car, taking it to six Network rallies, attending a similar number of MR Thoresby Hall events, have been to Pre-war Prescott, used it for an ‘Around the Edge’ section and much more besides. It travels to these events contained within the luxury of an enclosed and converted horse-box and as can be seen from this photograph, is a cossetted and well tended thoroughbred!
The recent glorious autumn sunshine has been cause for the delay of many pre-winter chores of late as vintage car owners have opted to take advantage of the weather by heading for the lanes and byways. Joe Rayner was one such owner who exercised his 1932 Minor Two-seater ZV 83851 on very quiet Irish roads. ‘Doris’ is seen here parked-up on the approaches to Knocklofty Bridge in County Tipperary.
This photo of Garry & Marge Schultz with their 1930 Australian bodied Minor Tourer first appeared in Queensland’s Toowoomba Chronicle newspaper. The Schultz’s were attending the end of a stage of the Great Endeavour Rally, a challenging charity event held in what is jokingly described as ‘rural Australia’ and better known as ‘the outback’.
Originality is a hot topic in the pre-war car world but some things should not stand in the way of progress, particularly where safety is concerned. Plenty of Minor owners are now fitting LED lamps to their cars, these being many times brighter than the low wattage tungsten bulbs they are replacing. Peter Yates was an early convert, fitting LED bulbs to his 1933 Saloon (LV 975) some years ago. It means that now his Minor can be used around-the-clock, which of course includes attending his local Morris Register evening noggin as can be seen in this shot.
All is not what it seems with this internet sourced, Minor pick-up image. The front half of the vehicle’s bodywork was originally fitted to a 1930-31 Coachbuilt Saloon while the load carrying area is a recent addittion, as of course is the age related plate, BS 9340. There are two towns in the UK named Netherton, one in the West Midlands the other in Merseyside. A Google search revealed that this ‘P. Smith – Decorator’ resides in Netherton, near Dudley, in the West Midlands.
Earlier this year Tineke & Arie Roest completed a 1600 mile road trip from their home in Holland for a tour around the island of Ireland. Their 1930 Jarvis Hornet special proved to be an extremely reliable mode of transport which attracted attention whenever it stopped, despite their best efforts to ensure it blended in with the background.
![Bilmuseum Autoseum, Nisse Nilsson Collection, Simrishamn, Skåne | Car museum, Scania, Sweden [2015]](https://www.prewarminor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/1932-Minor-Two-seater-Nisse-Nilsson-Collection-Museum-Scania-Sweden.jpg "Morris Minor 8 SV, 1932")
A great photo taken in April 2016 by Pete Edgerler at the annual Amberley, Sussex meeting. RX 9207 is an excellent example of a 1932 season Minor Two-seater and had been offered for sale on various platforms for over a year before being passed on to an Essex trader. The car has now sold and is hopefully in the hands of someone who will make regular use of it.
The 2019 PWMN Rally is proving to be the hottest ticket in town! Over two thirds of the available spaces have already been allotted, just seven days after booking availability was announced. If you have been considering entering, don’t delay – you can find a booking form here.
Simon Edwards is about to embark on a trip to Australia to finalise the acquisition of a 1929 Minor rolling chassis along with the remnants of a locally built two-seater body. Upon arrrival back in the UK he will be seeking a restorer to renovate the rolling chassis and to build an appropriate body. If you know of someone who would be prepared to take on such a task, please contact the Network.
The Network’s 2019 Rally is returning to Marlborough and the rolling downs of Wiltshire. The 30 available entries are sure to be taken-up very quickly, so download and submit your entry form (to be found on the newly launched rally page) in order to guarantee your place!
Please note an unavoidable late change of venue for Sunday’s pub meet. The new venue is The Manor House at Wortham, just off the A143, approximately 2.5 miles distant from the Cross Keys. Start time remains noon. The late change was made necessary by sickness among the catering staff at the Cross Keys.
Mike Jones took along his recently acquired 1933 Minor Saloon to the VSCC’s September monthly pub meet at North Lopham, Norfolk. Just 10 months previously the VSCC Committee had voted to add the SV Morris Minor to their PVT list, thereby permitting the SV cars to compete in VSCC events alongside the already eligible OHC models. Also present was Dave Philips in his 1934 EW Wolseley Hornet special along with the editorial Semi-Sport. (Still minus a numberplate digit.)
The Network’s Far Eastern Autumn Pub Meet is scheduled to take place at The Cross Keys pub in Redgrave, Suffolk on Sunday 7th October. A small reconnaissance party called by on a glorious September day in order to test the facilities and sample the local ale. All boxes were successfully ticked. Put the date in your diary and just turn-up – from noon onwards.
In May this year the seaside town of Eastbourne, Sussex held a classic and vintage car parade. The parade was reminiscent of the twenties and thirties Concours d’Elégance events which were held each September in the town throughout that pre-war period. Here a 1933 Minor homebuilt special (JO 7209) is captured taking-part by photographer, Nigel Buckner.
If you haven’t as yet taken a photo for entry into this year’s POTY Competition, it’s certainly not too late to do so. Autumn sunlight and old cars could prove to be an alchemic mixture and would provide an excellent reason to exercise your Minor, Midget or Hornet, should you need such justification!
Frank Higgin’s has owned his 1930 OHC Minor UY 9222 for over 30 years. It’s story is an interesting one as told by Frank himself: “My Minor (originally a saloon) has been messed about with over the years I believe at one time it had a “replica” glass fibre Edwardian style body! Later it seems that somebody found a rather rusty £100 body patched it up with liberal use of body filler put a home-made exhaust system and a modern (MinI?) carb on it and that was what it was like when I got it. Over the years I have sorted it out and although the body is still a bit scruffy (but most of the filler has been removed!). It has never been restored as such, but just maintained and improved.”
Peter Brock and his 1934 Morris Four-door Family Saloon (AAO 463) have been off on their travels once again, on this occasion a 220-mile round trip (by road) from Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway. The purpose of the journey was to visit both ends of Hadrian’s Wall, which as can be seen on the sign at the Bowness end of the wall, is only 84 miles distant from Wallsend, should you be inclined to follow the route of the wall on foot.
The two images seen here were taken at the 2018 PWMN Rally on Thorpe Abbotts airfield from differing perspectives at precisely the same moment by separate photographers. Probably not a rare occurrence at a large event, but an eerily unusual one with just twenty people present! Please note that bookings will shortly be taken for the Network’s 2019 rally based upon the beautiful Wiltshire town of Marlborough.
A car park scene from a recent Home Counties gathering at The Sportsman in Mogador, Surrey taken by Malcolm Bailey. Malcolm reports that as is the custom at all Home Counties ‘meets’ conviviality reigned! Those to be seen in this image are Tim, Michael, Alister Reid, Keith Durston and John Emmett. Apologies to Tim and Michael for the lack of surnames.
The car sitting alongside Ken Martin’s Essex registered Coachbuilt Saloon VX 4590 is a Chester registered 1932 MG F2 Magna FM 7263. The Magna has been off the road for at least 50 years and has been subject to a painstaking restoration at the hands of Mike Bradbury who is co-owner of the car along with his twin brother Tony. Ken was visiting his friend Mike to celebrate the car’s public debut but a gremlin in the cylinderhead put paid to that, the celebratory champagne being put back on ice. (The F2 Magna uses a thinly disguised version of Wolseley’s six-cylinder 1271cc Hornet engine which was in turn derived from the four-cylinder Minor power unit.)
Former Network member John Pallister completed a thorough rebuild of 1933 Minor Saloon 806 YUJ (ex JF 4238) in the early part of this decade, an article recording his efforts appearing in a spring 2011 edition of the Automobile magazine. John used the car extensively before selling it on to a buyer in the home counties. The new owner made little use of the car before it was sold once again some four or five years ago. Since then it has disappeared without trace, unfortunately a very familiar story. If you know the current whereabouts of this car please contact the Network. The image shows John Pallister standing alongside his Minor at Killhope Wheel, Cowshill, County Durham – the site of a former lead mine and now a museum.
In what is an experiment and an attempt to give the Photograph of the Year competition a little more focus, it is to be themed for 2018. The theme is to be ‘Regional Identity’ which it’s hoped will ensure a variety of backdrops to the images that will eventually make-up the pages of the 2018 PWMN calendar. It will not matter a jot if the shots are clichéd in that the subject matter of car and landscape have been seen previously. The hope being that it may encourage those who have avoided taking part in the competition previously by removing one element of the decision-making process and providing a fixed focus as to location and content. If the past is anything to go by, then we can expect to see some innovative and interesting images as a result. As was the case last year, entrants will be able to submit up to three shots.(Image: Joe Raynor)
(With perhaps two months of the 2018 driving season remaining there is still plenty of time to plan and take your competition entries before the competition proper opens on 1st December)
Ken Martin’s 1930 Minor Coachbuilt Saloon VX 4590 was on wedding duty once again last week, on this occasion in Worcester on 15th August. His Minor has conveyed six other brides to the altar prior to this (including his daughter) and he informs the Network that his shop-soiled confetti business is now in profit. Ken’s Saloon also made an appearence in the recent past at Tony Hale’s funeral, an old Morris Register friend.
