Morris Minor history explained in West Wales! 

I was a police officer in Leicester and in the early 70s and we had a number of panda cars which were similar to that one in your video except they were the traveler version, J reg. They were the last of the line, 71 registered and after the rest of the range except the traveler had been discontinued as you said. In those days we bobbies wore big boots, and the pedals were so close together that one lad with size 13 feet reckoned he could almost press all 3 pedals at the same time with one foot! A few years ago I saw one of the actual pandas I used to drive (WRY 687J) for sale on e-bay. They indeed had big plastic zips in the headlining to access the wiring and fixings for the Police sign on top, which had a blue revolving light on top of that. Not much use for high speed chasing (we had Triumph 2.5Pis for that as well as BMC J4 black maria vans) but they never broke down and were brilliant cars for the job. After that we had Mk1 Escorts.

This was my first car i owned when i got my car license ,great car never gave me any mechanical issues and we had many adventures together,regards from NZ😊

I love learning British car history !

A fascinating video on the Morris Minor, its the law to see one of these at the car show. I never knew about Marie Curie being not only cancer but end of life care until my wife reminded me that it was a Marie Curie Nurse that came into look after her dad who suffered a major stroke last month and sadly passed away last month. A great video Ian and Carly.

I've never met anyone who doesn't love a Morris Minor and why wouldn't you, they're such a staple of being British and so versatile, there's one made for whatever your need was/is. We had a 62 traveller back in the 70's and loved it even back then.

Thank you Ian. As a Minor owner it's always great to see Minors on the channel.

All those posh BBC reporters will be watching this vid Ian on how to interview a person 😁 well done and yes a very worthy cause indeed. Some nice cars on show there and you can appreciate all the hard work that goes into do these outside shows , really enjoyed it 👌🏻.

This is so British, it's painful. Damp field, Morris Minors and a bloke in sandal and shorts combo. Gladdens your heart.

You've got to love a Morris Minor. It's the law.

A pal's late dad had a J reg in a deep blue, which he used to underseal every year with a mixture of diesel and old engine oil. He did sell it a few years before his demise, in favour of a Renault Clio. I still recall my grandfather's black Minor, reg. no. OCY 657, which he bought at the rather late age of 40, having then decided to pack up smoking cigarettes. He had that car for a couple of years before moving on to an MG Magnette ZB, which sadly was sold after he died of bowel cancer in 1967. I remember him starting the Minor with a starting handle outside an old tin sheet garage when I was about four years old, and that he kept a small paraffin heater inside said garage to ward off at least some of the dampness. Around this time, Christine Bowen, who was a couple of years my senior, took me into our garden shed. I won't elaborate as to what for, but suffice to say it did me slight mental damage for a short period of time.

An informative walk round. I love little shows like this and in a way prefer them to the big shows as you've got time to stand and admire everything rather than being overwhelmed by numbers and missing stuff. Amazing the mileage the yellow one is racking up. I hope they raise a lot.

My dad had several Morris minors (mostly travellers) in the early 1980s in Scotland. I remember him starting it with a screwdriver (because you didn't really need a key). I remember the red vinyl seats in summer burning your arse if you wore shorts in summer. I remember the traveller's sliding windows fighting through the moss-grown 'felt' sliders. I remember us taking out and changing several engines and Mowog gear-boxes. The only bit of the traveller that the common man struggled to up-keep (we were skint in those days) was the wood trim. Beautiful days though, and a real, classic, fun series of cars!

I really enjoyed this video, I've always had a soft spot for the Minor.

Ford KA seats in the Traveller. Very common upgrade for Minors.

Would be interesting to see a Minor retrofitted with an appropriate flat four, just to see what it would have been like had Issigonis got his way and they used the engine he wanted...

In the 60s and early 70s. one of biggest fleet buyers of Morris Minor Commercials was the Post Office. Their red Post Office mail delivery vans were everywhere, their dark green (and then later, resprayed yellow) Telephone Engineering Vans could be seen everywhere in the UK.

There are currently over 15,000 Morris Minors on UK roads; more than many much newer cars. There are about 25,000 MGBs.

Yet another great video from the Hubnuts. As I remember, Minors had a fine suspension, being a Issagonis creation.

My long departed dad always thought the Traveller was quite the most lovely car a man could own, Wonderful Channel.

Awesome. Affordable cars for the normal folks - that's what I like. Thanks for the details about the Morris Minor, that was very interesting.

Very interesting learning the history of this icon of the road, thanks Ian.

Pembrokeshire *and* Moggy Minors?! My weekend is complete!!!

Fantastic video . I love the Morris Minor

What a great and relaxing video! And I just love the Minor. Such beautiful cars 😃

This is a lovely video with a great range of cars, and I agree with those who've said that you're an excellent interviewer. There can't be any other model of car that attracts more affection from owners than the Minor does. I think my overall favourite there though was the Magnette.

Great video Ian, much appreciated 😊👍

In New Zealand, van production continued to 1973, the last models having the ignition/starter switch moved onto the right hand side of the steering column. We missed out on the evolution of the saloon, convertible and traveller during their last seven years, the last of these rolling off the assembly line here in 1963. That was the first year all models were fitted with the 1098cc engine, and the speedos extended to 90mph, otherwise they retained the same features as the previous models including the “clap hands” wipers.

My first car in 1967 was a 1959 Austin A40 Farina with 948cc engine, I had a second A40 several years later. I lived in the Seattle area then.

Have to love the Morris Minor. The car of my childhood - MTP84 , black 4 door 1956 split screen. Also the first car I drove on the road in this country. Would love one.

Ian if you close your eyes when you were interviewing Miranda's owner her voice sounds exactly like your wifes!! a pretty cool observation. Great video as always btw!!

My dad's first car (after a number of motorbikes) was a genuine early black Minor convertible, because yours truly came along. Many years later we saw it restored in pale blue with a lighter hood but KWK420 appears to have disappeared altogether now. Be interesting to compare a Minor with its larger longer nosed sister the Morris Oxford (or Wolseley equivalent).

I like Morris Minors a lot. They always cheer me up when I see one chugging around.

Ni fyddai Cymru yn Gymru heb yr 'arian hylif'! (Wales wouldn't be Wales without the 'liquid Silver'!) Thanks for a fascinating video. There is a lot more to the Morris Minor than most people realise. They never really sorted out that ropey first gear takeoff until the bigger engine was introduced. Alex Issigonis was a genius with car design. Never forget that the Mini was his other big success.

I recall our neighbours back in the late 70s / early 80s owning a Bedford HA van based camper.

My wife and I got married in our very own blue 1963 Minor Traveller back in 1981. It did have a number of issues, but I still regret that we ever got rid of it. Especially as its replacement was a dreadful P reg. Allegro estate. (Gnashing of teeth ensues!)

another great video has always Ian and miss hubnut and hublets and hubmutts 👍

That Magnette is just like my Dad's car. Fantastic. Great show ! Oooo. I'd love a Morris minor.

I can't think about Morris Minors without picturing Nurse Gladys. Bless her ample bosom! 🙂

Absaloutly brilliant video Ian miss hubnut ❤👍 absaloutly beautiful collection of classics brilliant

My first car was a Moggie Minor 1952.

Very interesting Ian. Thank you.

Loved the history of the Minor fabulous cars, I must confess I never noticed the size of the rear window changing. makes me feel old, as a youngster they were everywhere and at least two were owned by neighbours in a fairly small road.

Bedford HA would be an interesting road test. One of those models that once was everywhere, but now almost extinct.

I love a Moggie, don't see so many these days but they were all over the place even in the 80s when I was a kid. Also loving your two different hairstyles on one head Ian lol. As always love seeing your videos, keep it up buddy.

Morris Minor is probably the most underappreciated „early compact” car. HubNut thanks a lot for remarkable guide through its versions. I would like to see your view on Austin A40 Farina.

The Morris Minor, one of the most iconic British cars in production for 23 years from 1948-1971, starting with the MM with its low mounted headlights, and by 1956 there was no split screen. Remember its big brother was the Oxford MO that not many people are aware of, and even more so the bigger and rarer Morris Six MS that were only made for six years from 1948-1954. The Minor could also have been built for only six years, if Morris decided to build a new Minor based on the shape of the next Oxford from 1954 that included the cheaper Cowley model. And by 1959 that Oxford was replaced by the Farina shape that was also Austin, Wolseley, Riley and MG Magnette. So the Minor soldiered on, and its intended replacement was the BMC 1100.

Glorious herd of Moggys

Back in the '70's I had a '62 Morris Minor and a '67 XKE Jaguar 4.2. Guess which one was more dependable as a work transportation/parts shuttle car vs. a "driveway queen/monument", constantly needing some serious factory short-cut design-related maintenance problem resolved just to see it on the road now and then.

Amazed to learn how long lived the HA van was. Very counter to the usual GM worldwide approach to model changes. There is an Australian vid of the US designer of the HB Viva being very critical of the HA, although his first job was to design the taillights. His first major job was to scrap the warmed up HA shape that was to be the HB and very quickly come up with the HB that visually looked to be a major advance. I think he came up with it over the time taken by his GM US boss took for a long lunch. Although i liked the round headlight first Torana HB version much more, but maybe just familiarity. An Australian vid since he went on to play a major design role at Holden.

Excellent video Ian, puts BBC,ITV etc in the shade

Ian, I'm a member of Lancs MMOC and got to drive the Marie Curie Miranda from Preston to Stoke in May, ultimate destination Smethwick, Birmingham. She was driving like a dream, doing a steady 55 mph down the M6, when unfortunately she broke down just south of Junction 16. The problem was the distributor cap had failed, sadly no spare one in the car (the problem was rectified later). The AA took her to Smethwick on a trailer, my escort Tony (another LMMOC member) followed me down in his more modern car and took me back to Preston. One new dizzy cap later, Miranda was then on her way down to the West Country. In total, Lancs MMOC raised around £1300 for Marie Curie in the week we used the car for fundraising.

Hi hubnut been watching menny classic utube channels over the years and you are the best thanks for menny years work ❤ Richard frankie dog

The Traveller i like even today ,good shopping vehicle,The Morris pick up and van are ok.The booth on the moris minor vile . Still great to see them all road legal and perserved for future Generations

BMC didn't just suffer from lack of rationalisation It suffered from Leonard Lord himself. Back in the day, he had utter contempt for Nuffield products and set the trajectory for Morris products for the rest of their existence. All the glitz went into Austin, all of the 'meh,' went to Morris. British CEOs really were pants back then...

My dad had a mark 2 split windscreen raised headlights. He must’ve had at least 10 years and it never wore out. It’s the only car that he didn’t send to the scrap yard, my mother insisted on a more up to date car which was a Ford cortina which fell apart

Really interesting thank you 👍

i still remember my father's traveller, he sold it when we emigrated to canada in 1966. i still remember the number plate because there is photo of me washing it as a child, JRX 939!! i often wonder what ever happened to it

Ro style wheels built in Darlaston in the black country by a big company Rubery Owens hence the RO reference.Sadly went circa 1980 but supplied wheels and chasis for the british car industry for decades.

what a treat!

Thank you! 😊

Hi Ian. The Traveller bodies for the Minor were made at the small factory of Morris Bodies in Coventry (formerly Hollick and Pratt). The end of the Minor in 1971 also marked the end of Morris Bodies, and the factory was then used by Coventry Climax ( by then both companies were part of BL)

I'm surprised by the lack of the classic green ones and four door models at this meeting. We had two at one point back in the early '80s (alongside an MGB which was the main family car!) - a series 2 and an E reg series 3, both in classic green. The E reg went to Sutton-on-Sea and then onto Luton, then no idea after that.

The Minor name first appeared in the early 1930's, later changed to 8 to compete against the Austin 7 as it was 1 hp (RAC rating) more powerful but in the same road tax band and the name change emphasised that. Some of the bosses at Morris were not happy about the reuse of the Minor name at first. Not the only reuse of a name as the Oxford was a reuse from the 1930's in the post war 50's one.

When I joined the police force in 1975, our duty Inspector had a Morris patrol car. We had escorts!

AY UP MR HUBNUT

i Love a HA Viva, would love one as a daily driver. I had an ex Telecoms van in the mid 80s, I gave it to the fire brigade to practice on.

The minor with the yellow number plate is also local to Pembrokeshire. Registered in haverfordwest .. *DE *** *

In 1969, when working as a motoring journalist in the North of England, I arranged a tour of Cowley and Abingdon for myself and three colleagues. We met the very pleasant and long standing BMC Press Officer Ken Revis (a man blinded as a fighter Pilot during WW2) who welcomed us with tea and biscuits, and then handed us over to our guide. We toured the 1800 assembly line first and then the Morris Minor one. The thing that I remember most vividly was what I imagined to be the most boring job in the whole world - one man painted the stripe down the side of each Morris Minor as it moved down the production line, and then moved over and painted the line on the other side. He told us he did this, and only this, all day long. He even showed us the brush he used - a sort of elongated piece that looked like an eyebrow cut in an arc.

Miranda was at the Floral Fringe Festival a couple of weeks ago, in Sussex.

Great history lesson ! Ian - what’s going on with your mop ? 😂

1275cc Cooper s engine would be perfect on the later models🏁

1m37s into the video and I see that Morris Minor 918cc sidevalve has a very modified cylinder head. They were originally entirely thermosyphon, no waterpump at all, hence why the radiator had such a large top-tank. They also ran a Zero PSI UNpressurised cooling system, I've known idiots to put a 4psi pressure cap on them, blow the cooling system to Kingdom Come, and then complain that they have "weak radiators" ! (The original cap was a "steam venting" thing, basically to stop the water sloshing out on corners, and stop sparrows or mice finding their way into an open radiator hole). Being with no waterpump, the fan blade was bolted directly onto the DC Generator front pulley. Without a waterpump, no Heater/Demister was able to be installed, not even as an extra-cost option. With some rubber hoses heading off backwards, looks like that car's been modified in part at least, so it can have a heater/demister installed. ...now I'll continue watching.

In 1978 I had a summer job which involved driving a Bedford HA van all over Essex. The big ends were knocking, so I was advised not to take it above 40mph, which is just as well as it was very light and skittish at the back end when empty. The van I drove had previously been owned by Gilbarco and had non adjustable seats shared with the Bedford CF. They were alright for short journeys, but got incredibly uncomfortable after a short while.

Good Day Ian.

Just loved the moggy minor owned a few in my time.

Good video 👍👍👍👏👏⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wonderful cars and ideal for the Welsh 20mph speed limit.

Very enjoyable as usual. I thought 4door Minors stopped production in 1970 , 2doorsin 71 and Travellers 72 as you said. I also read that Travellers were made at MGs Abingdon factory. Is that true?

My favorite Quotes

If it was / had been raining I bet your toes were wet in those sandals - brave man 🤣🤣🤣

Hi there, the story I was told about the zip in the police car roofs was that it allowed a police walkie talkie to be plugged in the car's bodywork using a co-axial cable and this allowed the car to become a giant aerial. Of, course, I could be wrong. Interestingly, most forces used the pale blue / white paintwork, but the Lothians and Peebles force in Scotland used navy blue and white instead. Also, when BMC launched the Morris 1100 in 1962, the Morris Minor 1000, Austin A40 and MG Midget / Austin Healy Sprite also got the 1098cc engine upgrade as well. In 1963, with the start of the A reg plate, the Minor got the bigger sidelight / indicator lamps, the clap hand wipers were changed and the trafficators were deleted. Anyways, I'll shut up now and stop boring everyone.....

Instead of retaining the Morris Eight SV (influenced by the Ford Sidevalve) or Issigonis's own Flat-Four engine that was also reputedly SV IIRC, the Minor should have used the OHV version of the Eight SV found in the 918cc Wolseley Eight. Which was said to be a smaller relation to the Morris/MG X engines, Nuffield realised their mistake and planned to give the Minor the Wolseley engine possibly increased to 950-980cc when the merger with Austin happened.

We had a viva car and van back in the day cos it was cheap and knackered. Van was painted with a brush🙄

“Didn’t have the money round to buy a Morry Thou, Been around and seen a lot to shake me anyhow… Begged and borrowed, sometimes I admit I even stole, The worst crime that I ever did was playing Rock and Roll”

Always thought that the low light was the best looking

Quite fascinating. The Minor is a car that really never made it to Norway, I think. Certainly, I've never seen one in the metal.

At one time I could tell which car and model it was by the sound of the engine even before I saw it. Unfortunately, that pleasure didn't last and they now all sound so similar. I wonder what sounds we will hear once we are all forced to drive suped-up milk floats.

No mistaking that Moggy Minor sound. In third on the overrun,like a diving Spitfire Well ,I thought so in me '69 Traveller!😂

I believe the traveller bodies was in fact made at Morris bodies (Pressed Steel Fisher, Quainton Rd) in Coventry, until it was closed as part of the British Leyland rationalisation, i think being the 2nd factory to close in 1968.

Came here after watching a short by a scottish guy on a roundabout saying you were a T":T, im glad i did, theres no such thing as bad publicity. 😅

I have driven a Morris 1000 once and it had twin carburetors but l was wondering were the horse power went at that time l owned a Hillman Minx and it had a 1600cc motor and it had obviously more power another grest example of your extensive knowledge of classic british cars

Hi Ian, as we had a BMC Leyland Australian built 1967 Morris Mini, manfactured at Homebush, in Sydney, in Mahogany Brown with the minimatic and hydralastic suspension - where and when does the name Leyland originate ? You explained in the video, how Morris and Austin, merged together and became B.M.C. - British Motors Corporation. I have always been confused as to where the Leyland comes from. Is it part of the title, put at the end ? Austins, Morris, Triumph, Rover, Hillman, were all very popular in Australia. Many minis and the Mini Moke. P76 - which if there wasn't the problems back the UK, and they did an update or second series, could have very well made the local big x3 really pull their socks up. Still MANY Morris Minors on the road in Australia and minis and the Occasional P76. The "Land crabs were very common ". My uncle had a dark brown with cream coloured vinyl roof, Austin Kimberly. The later Rover 3500 hatch was also popular and won here in Touring Car racing along with the big cats: Jaguar XJ- S V12 by TWR. My aunties husband in Central West NSW has an old Leyland BMC WF series truck, still used and running in an incredible marine blue colour.

Personal opinion, but i am glad to see not too many of these Minors being disfigured by those Kidney Scoop headlight accessories. Far too widespread on Minors in Australian shows. Never recall seeing them on the cars originally. Do they serve any useful pupose that could overcome the vulnerable road user danger.

You can't help but like Morris Minors. All come with a Tuba as standard

😊😊😊😊😊

I miss my austin moggie pick up YAH702J CANVAS tilt 8cwt 4/12 x14 rims steels 😢

I have a 49 low light

Please tell the twin cam engine owner to fit a belt cover. I have seen what a head looks like after a belt snapped on an exposed one that picked up a stone or something.

I could be wrong, but those leather seats look like Ford KA seats.

Mullet Ian??