Ah...the Morris Minor 1000. It has been described as a "British icon" and a "design classic.
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| the body is rust free and has only a few small dents |
It debuted in September 1948, as a British economy car and under the leadership of Alec Issigonis of BMC, sold over 1.3 million copies between 1948 and 1972 when production ceased. The Morris Minor was the first of Britain's automobiles to achieve 1,000,000 units sold.
Although it was grossly underpowered by todays standards (0-60 in 54 seconds), it was dependable transportation during the post-war era. However, BMC was reluctant to make changes in the Morris. The 1948 model looks almost identical to the 1972. In my opinion, this was the major contributing factor to its decline in popularity.
But that was then and this is now. British car enthusiasts absolutely love these cars. They are roomy for their relatively small size, easy to repair and restore and so unique. Seeing one of these on the road always gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling.
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| the interior is in good restorable condition |
Bill and Lori are so excited about this restoration. When we first viewed the Morris, we discussed their desires and expectations. They wanted the car to be restored as a "driver" with a few necessary upgrades.
We will be replacing the existing 1098 cc Morris engine with a 1275 cc MG Midget power plant with twin SU carburetors and a tuned exhaust header. The braking system will be upgraded to disc brakes, also from a MG Midget. The vinyl interior will be replaced with leather of the original configuration and the exterior will be repainted using the original color scheme.
I will be posting to this blog as work progresses. You will see photos and explanations of the work throughout the restoration process. We at Tommy's Topless Cars are excited about the restoration of Lori and Bill's latest acquisition...a 1967 Morris Minor 1000, 2 door Saloon named "Morris".
STAY TUNED!
Tom McCurry
Tommy's Topless Cars
tommystoplesscars@yahoo.com
843.338.2253
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