Lot details Registration No: OGC998E Chassis No: IOMAUH242824 Mot Expiry: June 2007
Debuting alongside Jaguar's superbly glamorous XK120 at the 1948 London Motor Show, the Morris Minor was somewhat overshadowed. An exceptionally advanced design, the Minor was the brainchild of Sir Alec Issigonis. With a monocoque chassis, independent torsion-bar front suspension, all-round hydraulic drum brakes and rack and pinion steering the model possessed excellent handling but lacked the horsepower to exploit it. However, things improved markedly when the four-cylinder 1098cc OHV A-series equipped Series V was introduced in 1962. With up to 45bhp and 60lbft of torque being transmitted to its rear wheels via a four-speed manual gearbox, the Series V was reputedly capable of 77mph.
Finished in Trafalgar Blue with light blue upholstery, this particular four-door DeLuxe example was first registered on 28th January 1967. Supplied new by dealer J.R. Inwards to Mrs M. Darby of Ruislip (Middlesex), the Minor is thought to have remained in her possession for twenty-seven years and approximately 46,000 miles. Although, the car's formal service history ends with Eastcote Motor Services on 30th May 1972 (25,701 miles), the same garage issued its oldest surviving MOT certificate during 1986 (36,352 miles) and there are bills on file in Mrs Darby's name up until 1994. Passing through several hands and migrating from Middlesex to Nottinghamshire via Lincolnshire thereafter, 'OGC 998E' was reportedly taken off the road in 2004 prior to undergoing "a significant degree of restoration and renovation". Entering the current Derbyshire-based ownership in January 2005, it is since said to have benefited from "the fitting of rear seat belts and the partial refurbishment of the original interior" not to mention "a major engine rebuild by R&M Downes, the classic car specialists of Skegby, near Mansfield". Treated to an unleaded cylinder head and new clutch as part of the work which was completed some 4,000 miles ago, 'OGC 998E' is variously described by the vendor as being in "very good" (gearbox, interior trim, chassis, bodywork, paintwork, wheels / tyres) or "excellent" (engine, electrical equipment) condition. Believed but not warranted to have covered 59,800 miles from new, this charming Minor is offered for sale with history file and MOT certificate valid until June 2007.
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