1959 MORRIS MINOR 1000 TRAVELLER

1959 MORRIS MINOR 1000 TRAVELLER
Chassis no. FLA552122
948cc OHV Inline 4-Cylinder Engine
Twin SU Carburetors
38bhp at 4,750rpm
4-Speed Manual Gearbox
Independent Front Suspension – Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes

*One lady owner for 43 years, two owners total
*Largely original with complementary paint color change
*Gently reconditioned in 2003-2005
*Placed in the Vancouver All British Field Meet 2005

THE MORRIS MINOR

Arguably the fondest-regarded of all Britain's post-war saloons, the Alec Issigonis-designed Morris Minor was launched at the 1948 Motor Show and by January 1961 had sold one million units to become the UK's most successful post-war car to date. The first new post-war Morris design, the unitary-construction Minor boasted torsion bar independent front suspension, rack-and-pinion steering and a four-speed synchromesh gearbox. Despite the many mechanical and styling changes, the final Minor remained recognizably the same as the 1948 original. By the time production ceased in 1971, more than 1.5 million of all types had been sold.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

This lovely left-hand drive Morris 1000 Traveller was purchased new by a lady in Victoria, British Columbia in 1959. It sported black paint with a red leather interior and magnificent English Ash woodwork. After a coddled existence, it was covered, garaged, and 43 years later, in 2002 (when its owner was 92 years old) the Traveller was sold to the current vendor, a New Zealander who moved to Canada in 1981. The black paint and wood varnish had faded over the decades, but otherwise the car remained tight and solid, with the speedometer boasting a remarkable 35,000 miles. With the intent of employing the car as a rolling advertisement for his newly launched tea parlor 'The Blethering Place,' the new owner commissioned a gentle reconditioning, determined to retain the Traveller's historical integrity.

The faded black paint was stripped to metal and replaced with Almond Green to compliment the white English Ash woodwork. The carpets and headliner were replaced and the brightwork hand-polished. Other than these cosmetic modifications and a new Dunlop tires, this charismatic Traveller remains highly original, with a period-correct push-button valve English radio. Always lovingly maintained and serviced, and, according to it second and current owner, it runs and drives smoothly. As a testament to its condition, this car placed at the Vancouver All British Field Meet. Accompanied by books and photographs this lovely Traveller is certain to delight the collector with a proclivity for brilliant British craftsmanship.