The view upon lifting the bonnet of every Morris Minor engine will reveal many subtle differences, one engine to the next. Few under-bonnet views will resemble that to be seen in Morris handbooks, with differing routes for pipework, non-standard float chambers on carburettors, the use of modern plug leads, the location of the manufacturer’s plate along with a host of other trivia. While to some these anomolies annoy and irritate, to others they simply represent practical pragmatism.
The £175 Morris Minor Special Coupe was the most expensive factory produced Morris Minor by some margin. A 1995 article from the Classic & Sportscar magazine will shortly be uploaded to the website explaining why these Coupes were so popular among the car manufacturers, while less so among the buying public.
Following the announcement of the latest English national lockdown, the VSCC have postponed the Brooklands Driving Tests event that was due to take place later this month. Club Chairman Paul Tunnicliffe comments “… these will not go ahead in January, although we are hoping that they can run later in the year.” This photo was taken during scrutineering for the 2019 event, with Paul Compton’s 1934 Wolseley Hornet Aerees Special (ACJ 154) well to the fore, behind which is Clive Hamilton-Gould’s 1930 Morris Minor Tourer (DG 325).
Gerhard Wedenig fom Untersiggenthal, Switzerland own’s this striking 1932 Morris Minor Saloon (AG 128 827). Gerhard had been experiencing clutch problems on his car and turned to the members of this website’s Discussion Forum for help. Practical advice and tangible assistance was provided, most notably by Joe Rayner from Ireland, who repaired the Minor’s clutch ‘fingers’ and constructed a tool to aid the setting-up of the clutch upon re-installation. The parts were then mailed to Gerhard over the Christmas period, who reports that the car has recently successfully completed a test run. A fine example of European co-operation.
The beautiful City of Napier in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand hosts an annual art deco festival which includes a vintage car show that takes place in the city centre. Here network member, David Gardiner’s Minor special is seen parked up in the city on February 22nd this year, at a time when thankfully New Zealand was free of covid19.
Jonathan Barwick‘s 1933 Morris Minor RSJ 615 (Formerly JO 5914) is seen here parked outside St. Peter’s Church in Pirton, Worcs. This beautiful historic building was erected in the early part of the thirteenth century and is one of five timber framed churches to be found in the county. Seven centuries after St. Peter’s was constructed, Morris Motors continued the timber framing tradition, employing ash to build the frames for their Minor bodies. Read more here: https://nickjoycearchitects.co.uk/project/st-peters-church-pirton/
Janie Maeers owns 1929 Morris Minor Tourer VJ 1756, pictured here while attending a VSCC race meeting at Mallory Park, Leics, not too far distant from her home near Market Harborough. It’s hoped that many more old car events will take place in 2021, including the Network’s annual rally in the Welsh Marches next June
Chris Hipwood was awarded the Harry Edwards Trophy for his beautiful restoration of this 1934 Minor Saloon BPA 588. Unlike his trophy, his Minor doesn’t sit on a pedestal simply to be admired, his car is used, even in the depths of winter. It’s seen here on top of Stoopers Hill, above the nearby village of Coombe St. Nicholas, which nestles in the Blackdown Hills in Somerset. Coombe St. Nicholas is of course well known as a favoured fodder refueling point for S. Claus’s reindeer, come 24th December each year.
Climbing Prescott’s famous hill is an appropriate car is a memorable experience. Here, Roger Burnett tests his mettle and that of his 1931 MG Midget Sportsman’s Coupe (GG 3949) as they get towards the end of the 1,128 yard course while attending the Pre-war Prescott event in July 2019. (Photo: Chris Lambert)
Another two Minors have recently found new homes. Adrian Tyldesley from Chorley, Lancs has acquired his second Minor in just under two months with the addition of 1934 Two-seater (AAO 426) to that of his 1930 Fabric Saloon FH 7004. On the other side of the globe in South Australia, Bryan Dunning has bought this 1933 lwb Minor Two-seater (RAA-033) and is about to start rebuilding the car.
Exponents of pre-war trials, sprints, hill-climbs and rallies have suffered withdrawal symptons for the past nine months as the vintage motoring calendar was decimated by the fallout from the pandemic. The VSCC have managed to stage a few events, albeit without spectators, the latest of these being their Winter Driving Tests which were held on 5th December at Bicester Heritage Centre. Here, India Walker was photographed negotiating one of the test sections in the family’s 1931 Morris Minor Two-seater TM 8687 (Agnes). The Walker family car wasn’t the only Minor taking part, with Clive Hamilton-Gould’s 1930 Tourer DG 325 also flying the flag for the model. Photo: Courtesy Phil Jones
This superb image of Arie Roest’s Hornet Special, entered by his wife Tineke is the winner of our 2020 Photograph Of The Year Competition. The competition was adjudicated by a team from Motorsports Images (the competition’s sponsor), led by their Director of Photo Collections – Kevin Wood. Tineke has now won the competition twice, while her husband Ari is also a previous winner of the LAT Plate.
Of all the Morris Minor saloon variants, the Fabric Saloon has the fewest survivors. Built in large numbers, particularly in 1929, their bodies were more prone to the ravages of time and weather than their steel skinned counterparts, hence their scarcity today. It is all the more gratifying to now find a quartet of these models in the hands of active Network members. So come on Adrian, Garry, Tony and Dave, perhaps it’s time to establish a new sub-section, with a view to all meeting up at the 2021 rally in Herfordshire! Now that would be a magnificent sight!
How many vintage car motoring enthusiasts would load a suitcase onto the luggage rack and set off for a weeks family holiday in their pre-war pride and joy? Very few is the likely answer, particularly with the density of traffic to be found on Britain’s roads between the end of July and early September each year. Clearly, thirty years ago things weren’t quite so bad, as that prospect didn’t put off Ken and Kate Martin who took their young family on such a trip back in 1990. Their Minor is a 1930 Coachbuilt Saloon (VX 4590). Photo: Ken Martin
The ending of the English lockdown in early December won’t precipitate a mass unlocking of garage doors for the majority of vintage car owning motorists. The prospect of driving along muddy lanes will ensure that most cars remain tucked away for the duration of the winter months. After all, it’s not as if the cars weren’t designed for motoring in the wet! Here, Simon Hodgins bucks this trend and can be seen traversing a very damp Cotswold lane in his late 1931 Jensen Minor Special (EC 9783). Admittedly, this photo was taken in the month of July, while car and crew were taking part in the 2009 VMR Rally, but if you need a vintage motoring ‘fix’, be brave…
The early entries for the Network’s 2020 POTY Competition can now be found on the competition’s webpage here. The rules for entry can also be found on the same page, so please dig out your favourite image(s) of your Minor, Midget or Hornet and email them to info@prewarminor.com Entry is free and the top twelve images will adorn the pages of our 2021 calendar!
Phil Parry-Jones needed a vehicle to assist him drag away the severed boughs from a fallen riverside willow. Without a Land Rover to hand, Phil turned to his trusty 1933 Minor Two-seater (BG 1915), a car that’s been in the family for around fifty years, which of course then completed the task with the minimum of fuss!
With full lockdown imminent in England and severe restrictions in place elsewhere across the UK, those of you still intending to submit a new photo of your car for the Network’s Photograph Of The Year Competition had better get your skates on! The winning entry will adorn the front cover of our 2021 calendar. There is still time for that entry to be yours!
Having gone to ground for almost five years, 1934 Minor Two-seater BPB 357, the car previously owned by former member Andrew Batey, has resurfaced. Its new custodian Paul Ellis, lives not too far from the car’s birthplace and will hopefully be seen out and about in his very recent acquisition shortly. Congratulations Paul!
The Network’s 2020 Photograph of the Year competition is now open to entries, while the competition rules and entry instructions can be found under a red button on the homepage’s header (above) or via this link here. If you have a favourite image of your Minor, Hornet or Midget then please consider entering our competition, you never know, the adjudicators may agree with you. The top twelve images will adorn the pages of the Network’s 2021 calendar which will be published in early December, just in time for it to be wrapped and placed under the Christmas tree as a surprise present for your wife/partner/husband, although be prepared to duck. (Photo – Arthur Bell 2014)
Tighter covid restrictions have meant that even small gatherings such as our local pub meets have had to be put on ice for the time being. Let’s hope that come the spring of 2021 we will be able to meet up again with fewer constraints on our behaviour! This photo was taken in October 2010 at an autumn meet in Redgrave, Suffolk.
This 1934 season Morris Minor Two-seater was built at the tail-end of 1933. In December 1952 it was exported to Denmark to join an already large native contingent of pre-war Minors. However, in 1953 it was sold to a German customer (Gunther Schott) who lived in Bad Nauheim, in the Taunus region. He kept the car for many years, even joining the Morris Register for a short period in the eighties. In 2014 it was sold on to Bernard Deifenbach who has recently passed the car onto Peter Brodt. It was Peter who provided this information along with the news that the car is now undergoing an exstensive renovation. Please keep us posted Peter.
For many pre-war Minor owners, our cars generally see the light of day when the sun shines. Not so with Howard Annetts. He took his 1929 Tourer (UR 4361) on a shopping expedition over the weekend, at a time when squalls and strong winds were battering parts of the country. He reports that thankfully, his hood is waterproof.
All seven of these photos have previously been voted the Network’s Photograph of the Year in our annual pre Christmas competition. For 2020 the competition will be run in November, the top 12 entries, as ajudged by a team from our sponsors Motorsport Images, will then appear in the club’s calendar which will subsequently be available for purchase in the weeks preceding the Christmas holidays. If you have a favourite image of your pre-war Morris Minor, MG Midget or Wolseley Hornet then please consider entering our competition. Entry is free and you can enter right now by submitting upto a maximum of three photos (high resolution please) to info@prewarminor.com
Two Network members have both decided to sell their S.V. Morris Minor Minor Saloons. They are Kenneth Allen, owner of DG 8657, a 1934 model and Dan Brockway who is current custodian of MV 6416, a sliding-head 1932 version. Further details can be found on the Network’s Discussion Forum here.
The 4th October 2020 was to have seen an assembly of pre-war cars at the Star Wing Brewery in Redgrave, Suffolk, prior to a 45 mile tour of some local landmarks. Like so many other motoring social gatherings this year, the event had to be cancelled due to the restrictions imposed by H.M. Government. This photo was taken almost four years ago to the day when a record sixteen cars arrived at the Manor House, Wortham for the Network’s autumn Far Eastern Pub Meet.
This beautifully rebuilt Wolseley Hornet March Special (SM 9551) was first registered in Dumfries, Scotland in 1932. The body was designed by Freddie (Earl of) March and originally constructed by coachbuilders John Charles of Kew. In more recent times it was owned by Anthony Hamilton, father of six-times Formula One World Champion, Lewis. The vendor claims that the Hornet develops 45 BHP, will reach 75 MPH and is currently advertised for sale on the carandclassic website here.
GU 1342 started life as a 1929 Morris Minor Tourer. After many years of neglect it was purchased circa 2002 in a disassembled state by the late David Roscoe, who then commissioned well known MG body builder Dave Cooksey, to restore the running gear and build a replica Semi-Sports body. The end result can be seen here in this 3rd April 2005 photo which was taken over the LC&ES Welsh weekend during Sunday’s trial. Here David Roscoe takes a firm grip of the steering wheel while Dave Cooksey braces himself as car and occupants are about to attempt to negotiate a particularly steep and technical observed section.
Alistair Bond took this photo of his 1930 Minor Semi-Sports (IA 9142) beside the Loughor Estuary on his way home to Swansea shortly after visiting his mother in Llanelli. Both locations are about to endure a two-week lockdown following sharp rises in covid 19 cases, so this trip out in his Minor may be Alistair’s last for a while.
Of late, the southern part of the UK has (for the most part) been bathed in glorious late summer sunshine. The warm air tempted a number of Minorists to take to the road, including Ali Bond (1930 Semi-Sports IA 9142), Toby Sears (1933 Saloon YG 2017), Martin Gregory (1931 Coachbuilt Saloon UF 7090) and Trevor Wilkinson (1934 Two-seater UN 6979)
John & Sue Welsh from Northumberland have owned this unique 1930 Morris Minor special (VK 2726) for many years. Unfortunately, the engine recently suffered a broken piston and conrod and efforts are currently underway via the website’s forum to find suitable replacements in order to effect its repair.
Former member Jeremy Evans had almost finished the body tub of the Mulliner Minor special he constructed between 2014 and 2015, before deciding to sell it due to registration concerns with the DVLA. The body is still out there and rests upon another chassis that has a legitimate matching frame number and V5C document. Jeremy’s craftsmanship deserves to see the light of day…
Eight years ago (September 2012) a group of Minorists met-up for a tour of the lanes and byways around the Leicestershire town of Melton Mowbray. Here Brian Maeers in his 1930 Minor Tourer (PG 5664-Dorothy) heads up a procession of four Minors passing through an avenue of trees, all on their way to make a surprise call at one of Brian’s friends for afternoon tea!
The best part of 400 miles separate the locations at which these two images were taken. Haydon Edwards owns the Minor Two-seater (XVV 334), this photo being taken at St. Mary’s lighthouse, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Weir, the car being on a proving run after an extensive two-year rebuild. Dorset resident Dan Brockway is the current custodian of 1932 Minor Saloon (MV 6416), this dusk photo being taken somewhere deep in the county’s rural countryside.
The Isle of Ely is famous for its magnificent cathedral and was, as it full name suggests, once surrounded by fenland water. Ted Coney’s 1931 SV Minor Coachbuilt Saloon (PL 9309) is a regular attendee at local events and although not quite as well known as the cathedral, has been photographed alongside many local civic dignatories, including the city’s mayor.
Peter Brock and Ali Bond have both been using their Minors to take extended trips into the North East England and Mid-Wales countryside respectively. Peter’s 1934 Minor Four-door Saloon (AAO 463) was photographed in the village of Belsay, Northumberland outside of a small car repair business, housed in its original 100 year old premises. Alistair meanwhile had journeyed from his home on the coast into the Welsh countryside with his 1930 Minor Semi-Sports (IA 9142), along with a group of ‘old car’ friends. It looks as if a pub stop was on their itinerary!
The meteorological start to the northern hemisphere autumn was Tuesday 1st September – so our already short covid hit driving season has only a few more weeks left to run before the bad weather will curtail our excursions. The Network intends to run its 2020 Photograph-of-the-year (POTY) competition in November this year, so there remain just a few short weeks to capture that winning photo. It’s time to dust off the camera!
There are currently plenty of pre-war Minors, Midgets & Hornets for sale. If you are in the market for such a car then you need look no further than our Discussion Forum where a complete sub-forum is devoted to the topic.
Joachim Barnett and his brother are rebuilding their father’s 1934 Morris Minor Two-seater (TJ 4258) with an aim to have the car in a roadworthy condition by the summer of 2021. The Minor has been off the road for many years and the hope is that their mother will enjoy a ride out in a car with which she was very familiar, back in the day.
Racing circuits are not places you would normally associate with pre-war Morris Minors. Member Dudley Stammers however farms land adjacent to the Snetterton circuit in East Harling, Norfolk and regularly attends meetings when vintage cars are present. This photo of his 1933 Minor Two-seater (KFF 165) was taken at the VSCC sponsored event, held on 29th September 2013.
There are plenty of pre-war Morris Minors available to buy right now, including the forthcoming auctions of two usually difficult to find Tourer versions. Full details on the website’s Discussion Forum.
Tim Stubbs, a team member of a group based in Burton-on-Trent who are restoring 1932 Minor 5 cwt van (PJ 7901), reports that the covid 19 pandemic has almost completely halted work on the car, this due to the government guidelines on social distancing. Much further south in north east London, the outbreak has produced a more positive result, with the SV £100 Minor prototype JO 764’s owner Mick Roberts being able to concentrate his (solo) energies on the car’s rebuild while ‘shielding’. It’s certainly looking good!
There is nothing glamorous about the pre-war Morris Minor, it was designed, much like the donkey, to be a Jack-of-all-trades, built to convey its owners to work and on the occasional leisure trip. As can be seen, Joe Rayner‘s animals are not just pets, they also serve a very useful purpose as lawnmowers. Trevor Wilkinson’s Minor Two-seater was one of the last of the breed, which by 1934 meant customers could expect refinements such as leather seats and trafficators. The donkey however continues in production unchanged.
East Anglia is regarded as the U.K.’s ‘breadbasket’, as many thousands of acres are devoted to arable farming. Despite it being early August, much of the 2020 cereal harvest has already been gathered. This photo of Morris Minor Semi-Sports (IA 9142) was taken five years ago in South Norfolk just prior to that season’s wheat crop being harvested. In years past this would not have happened until late August or early September. Climate change or improved farming methods? IA 9142 now resides some 200 miles to the west in South Wales, in the custodianship of Alistair Bond.
Topiary is a skill for which the exponent is rarely short of material upon which to practice. However skilful the ‘artist’, the end result is not necessarilly pleasing on the eye, much like all other forms of art. Judge for yourself with these two examples of the genre captured by Bob Howden (1932 MG Midget JY 8840) and Ken Martin (1930 Morris Minor Coachbuilt Saloon VX 4590) while out on recent jaunts along the Berks/Wilts border.
Pre-Covid. It almost looks alien now with strangers rubbing shoulders at a crowded motoring event. The occasion was a vintage aircraft display at Old Warden aerodrome in August 2012. Two Minors attended, those belonging to Wilkinson and Lambert, both of whom were taking part in a Civil Service Motoring Association (CSMA) Tour that concluded at the airfield owned by the Shuttleworth Trust.
After a twelve and a half year sojourn in the Netherlands, VG 2007 a 1929 Morris Minor Fabric Saloon has made a permanent return to the U.K. having been purchased by Tony Gamble, the well known Minor enthusiast from Selby, North Yorks. The car was first discovered in a Bungay barn in 2004 before being acquired by Halbe Tjepkema from the Hague in January 2008. Halbe completed a painstaking restoration of the car in 2018, the car making its public debut at the Networks ‘Pacesetters’ summer rally that year. (Photo: Halbe Tjepkema)
These two photographs were taken at approximately the same time and on the same day but clearly not in the same location. It’s said that it’s a long way to Tipperary, in this case about 400 miles from Tattenham Corner in Surrey. The weather in Clocully, County Tipperary as reported by Member Joe Rayner was “glorious” as he took his 1932 Morris Minor Two-seater for a run on Sunday, while a thoroughly damp Epsom racecourse didn’t prevent Philip Butland (Wolseley Hornet) and Alister Reid (Humber Tourer) attending their regular monthly meet on the Surrey downs.
The wellbeing and mental health of the nation, following a prolonged period of lockdown, appears to be a topic high on many agendas at the moment. For Minorists, re-communing with the countryside while using our cars can’t fail to raise the spirits. This beautiful photograph of 1930 Minor Coachbuilt Saloon VX 4590 set in the Wiltshire countryside is certainly uplifting. (Photo Ken Martin)
For the past five years at around this time the website receives images of Neale Elder‘s 1929 Minor special from Christchurch, New Zealand resident, John McDonald. Each year, Neale takes part in the Balcairn Trial held to the north of the city and it’s clear from the photographs that he drives his Minor enthusiastically whilst on piste. This year is no exception as can be seen in this great image taken last weekend.
Martin and Jean Gregory have recently moved to Somerset from Northamptonshire. The UK’s coronavirus lockdown regulations have meant that for the most part Martin’s 1931 Minor Coachbuilt Saloon (UF 7090) has had to remain in its new garage. However, following the recent easing of restrictions Martin has been able to begin to familiarise himself with the countryside around his new home, his Minor being the perfect vehicle for these meanderings.
During a summer when very little vintage motoring is taking place across the country, two Network members not only ventured forth onto the highways and by-ways, they remembered to take a camera with them! So thank you to the custodians of the saloons featured here, Dan Brockway (MV 6416) and Peter Brock (AAO 463). Dan described his trip into the beautiful Dorset countryside as a ‘plod’, while Peter’s Four-door Saloon is seen parked up outside his country retreat at Jesmond Dene.
This set of black & white and colour images were taken some forty years apart and perfectly illustrate the transition many of our cars undergo to arrive as survivors in the third decade of the 21st century. The 1932 McEvoy Minor Special (VK 6518) in question is currently owned by Sarah Gibson and has undergone a comprehensive rebuild while in her hands and is now an outstanding example of the model, which owes its form to the design skills of the Jensen brothers. Some forty years earlier the car was acquired by long-term Morris enthusiast David Saunders who found it in the 1960’s in the condition seen in the two b&w shots.
This photograph was found on the 100th Bomb Group Museum‘s Twitter feed and was taken by the museum’s curator on Saturday 9th June 2018. It depicts those entered for the 2018 PWMN Rally lined up alongside their cars immediately prior to the start of the Saturday tour. They are posing for the rally photo which, as is customary, is being taken by Kate Martin on the roof of the control tower, or as the Americans call it, the watchtower. (Photo courtesy of the 100th Bomb Group Museum)
On a very windy September day in 2011 a group of friends assembled with their Minors in the far east of Suffolk at Bawdsey, the intention being to visit the site of the secret WWII radar station housed in the grounds of Bawdsey Manor. For reasons that are now lost in the mist of time, the radar station visit didn’t take place but a march along the adjoining shingle beach cleared the previous night’s hangovers for all six concerned.
Reg Gammon was used as an illustrator by the Morris Owner magazine through the late nineteen twenties and into the thirties. He also worked for Temple Press, publishers of both the Light Car and Motor magazines throughout this same period. It’s no surprise to find that his talents were highly prized by these publications as his representations of cars, people and places are simple, yet skillfully applied. His obituary here makes for a very interesting read.
Two ‘saloonists’ have been taking advantage of the summer weather and the further easing of lockdown as a little needed excuse to exercise their cars. The top photo was taken by Tilly Yates, while husband Peter drove their 1933 Minor Saloon (LV 975) home as dusk was falling upon the Leicestershire countryside. Below, Ken Martin didn’t need to drive far to be deep in the Wiltshire downs, where he took this photo from the cabin of his 1930 Minor Saloon (VX 4590).
Slowly but surely some vintage motoring activities are returning. The Home Counties Section exercised three of their cars, meeting up on the downs at Epsom on Sunday, while other members simply took to the byways (OK, driveway in one case) for some high summer meandering around the lanes, keeping at least two-metres apart from other road users.
It’s amazing to think that it was five years ago that many Networkers (both past and present) took part in the Around The Edge Challenge. The aim was to circumnavigate England’s borders raising money for macmillan and other charities. The event took part in the spring of that year and here Avril and Tim Ovenden were photographed entering Winchelsea in their 1932 Morris Minor Two-seater (KJ 3553) on a cold March morning.
Almost six years ago, the Network in conjunction with the Pre-war Austin Seven Club and The Automobile magazine organised The Minor – Seven Challenge. The event took place at the 100th Bomb Group’s Museum at Thorpe Abbotts, Norfolk and took the form of a series of driving tests in which motoring journalist Matthew Bell thoroughly exercised an Austin Seven and a Morris Minor on the former WWII airfield. In this photo Matthew reverses the Austin Seven around a series of cones, with the photographer including Janie Maeers 1932 Minor Tourer (OY 3270) in the foreground. The resulting article appeared in the November 2014 edition of the magazine.
Bob Howden’s MG Midget (GY 8840) heads up this trio of open cars captured deep in the Wiltshire countryside during the 2019 Moonrakers’ Rally. Behind the MG is John Paternoster’s 1929 Morris Minor Tourer (SV 9091) while the Janie Maeers/Geof Wilson Tourer (VJ 1756) brings up the rear. (Photo Liz Thomas)
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.