1951 Morris Minor Convertible

Description

Designed by Sir Alec Issigonis, renowned as the father of the Mini that ultimately succeeded it, the Morris Minor was launched at the Earls Court Motor Show 1948 and, in its own way, equally significant. Indeed, the Minor was a revelation at a time when most motorists were still driving around in pre-war machinery, with unitary construction, modern styling with plenty of interior space, rack and pinion steering and torsion-bar independent front suspension. The first Minors came with a Series E side-valve four-cylinder engine from the Austin A35 while the bodywork featured headlamps mounted in the grille (hence the nickname "Lowlight"), a split windscreen and tiny rear window. At first the Minor was only available in 2-door saloon form, but later a 4-door then convertible (or tourer) was released. The earliest Minors were equipped with a sun visor, single wiper blade and came with beige Vynide upholstery inside. Production of the Series MM lasted from September 1948 until February 1953 (later cars had the position of the headlamps was altered to satisfy American legislators) before the Series 2 came along and an overhead-valve engine was adopted across the range. A truly affordable classic car, production of the Minor continued until 1971 - by then, a remarkable 1.5 million had been made. The Minor remains an endearing first classic car with a tremendously loyal following and is a popular choice for the enthusiast looking for something reliable, uncomplicated and rewarding to own.