A Brief History of the Minor

The Minor was introduced at London's first post-war motor show at Earls Court in October 1948, after a gestation period of more than five years. Designed by the legendary Alec Issigonis (later knighted and better known as the designer of the Mini), the Minor offered a range of technical innovations at a budget price.

Advertising for the new Minor made much of its 'big car' features. The 1949 sales brochure proudly trumpeted that the new Morris was "the world's supreme small car" and "designed on big car lines then scaled down to make it the most economical Real Car ever to be built anywhere in the world". The marketing people concentrated on the new features, including the mono-construction body, independent front suspension and seating arrangements, with all passengers seated within the wheelbase.

Some of the Minor's so-called 'big car' features seem rather quaint - for example, 'safety doors, hinged at the front, with private lock to driver's door and safety catch to passenger's door', 'an internal bonnet lock with ingenious safety catch at the front', an 'alligator bonnet' and 'hinged safety glass panels on leading edge of door windows for controlled ventilation' were obviously seen as influential selling points in 1949.

Strangely, one of the Minor's best features, its superb, pin-sharp rack-and-pinion steering, does not rate a mention in the sales blurb other than in the technical specifications tucked away at the end of the catalogue.

The Minor was known as the Mosquito during development.The original plan was for it to be powered by an air-cooled, horizontally-opposed 800cc four-cylinder engine. For a number of reasons, including the relaxation of Government legislation which had taxed larger-capacity engines, production models were actually fitted with the reliable old 918cc sidevalve unit that was first introduced in 1934 in the Morris 8 models. The small sidevalve motor looks almost lost in a cavernous engine bay clearly designed for a bulkier air-cooled unit.

Check out the Beginner's Guides To ... the Series MM, Series II or Minor 1000

There were three main model periods spanning nearly 25 years. The Series MM, produced between 1948 and 1952, was powered by the same sidevalve engine as seen in the pre-war Morris Eight. The Series II gained the overhead valve engine of the Austin A30 in 1953 after the merger with Morris creating the British Motor Corporation. The Minor came of age in with the 1000 when the new 948cc was fitted and eventually ending up with the 1098cc engine in 1962.

Although all models have their enthusiasts, it would be reasonable to suggest that the Minor 1000s are the most popular, although the early sidevalve models have collector appeal. The 803cc-engined vehicles are probably the least popular because the Austin engine was not exactly a ball of fire and the gearbox fitted to this model was a little fragile. Many Series 2 cars have been fitted with transplanted 948cc engines and gearboxes over the years, to improve their performance and reliability.

At first glance, all Minors look much the same, the main differences being the position of the headlamps which were originally fitted low down in the radiator grille in the earliest 'low light' models. To comply with US regulations, headlamps were fitted in the guards from 1950 onwards (1949 for cars exported to USA). A curved one-piece windscreen replaced the two-piece flat version with the introduction of the 1000 in 1956, the rear edge of the bonnet changed as a result. At about this time, the mesh-type grille was replaced by a slatted type, the rear window was made larger and the instrument panel was redesigned.

The passenger models were two- and four-door saloons, a convertible and an estate called the Traveller, often referred to affectionately as the 'Woody'. Commercials included 5cwt vans (popular with the British GPO) and utility versions, as well as many specially bodied vehicles built by after-market body builders.
 

Chassis Numbers

1952 - 1962 Series MM, Series II, 1000 (948cc)

1962 - 1971 Minor 1000 (1098cc)

Production Modifications


Note that Minors continued production in New Zealand until 1974. These vehicles were 'end-of-line' runs that may or may not have been built to 'official' specifications. Other countries that also built Minors (as opposed to importing them from the UK) may also have deviated from standard specifications.

Date	Modification Description
October 1948	First Minor rolls off production line  Car Number SMM501  Engine Type USHM2
June 1949	Car No. 3389 RHD and 6142 LHD: small, round twin rear lights replace single rear lamp (mounted vertically in USA). 17580 R H D; 7967 LH D: larger squared-off variety of rear lamps fitted.
September 1949	Improved draught and water sealing.  Choke control altered slightly.  Seats given more forwards adjustment.
Late 1949	Front suspension tiebar mounting strengthened 904 RHD; (5600 LHD).  Rear suspension - front shackle renewable bush plates fitted - 17840 RHD; 8700 LHD.  Cellulose paint replaced by synthetic enamel - 12118 RHD; 5856 LHD. All US market cars fitted with headlamps in wings.
October 1950 - on	Four-door Series MM Minor introduced, also with headlamps situated in wings. Indicators fitted high in central door pillar instead of low down as on two-door cars.  Some cars (twodoor and four-door) fitted with leather front seats, Vyanide being retained in the rear.  Car No. 69832 RHD; 71098 LHD - front doors closed with straps instead or cora.  Four-door cars fitted with one-piece bumpers instead of earlier splittype. 72985 RHD - passenger windscreen wiper fitted as standard.
January 1951	Car.  No. 83390 RHD; 81595 LHD - all Minors built with headlamps mounted in the wings with sidelamps placed where the headiamps used to be.  All wing mounted headlamps were 7" instead of former 5" units.
March 1951	A nickel shortage led to painted grille and hub caps being fitted - 91076 RHD; 89726 LHD.  Hub caps only were restored to chrome plated finish six months later.
April 1951	Optional water pump fitted to engine, allowing use of heater.  Complete cost - £16 as extras but fitted as standard to four-door saloon.  Car No. 83206 RHD; 81502 LHD - all cars now fitted with one-piece bumpers in place of earlier split type.
June 1951 - on	Car No. 100920 RHD; 102836 LHD - Tourer sidescreens of fixed type and revised hood fitted.  Door-mounted ashtray discontinued on four-door at 131460 RHD; 126597 LHD and on two-door at 124810 RHD; 122788 LHD, replaced by fascia mounted ashtray. 139359 RHD; 139514 LHD - glove box emblem changed from chrome and enamel to plastic and bootlid lock strengthened.
September 1951	Car No. 114923 RHD;8991OLHD - rubber bushed top suspension link introduced to cure suspension 'clonk'.  Later fitted as a modification to most cars.  At same time in 1952 a secondary steering rack damper was introduced.
Late 1952 - on	Series MM engine replaced by A-series engine, in export four-door car at first.  Two-door saloon and Tourer still fitted with Morris 8 engine until 23 February 1953, when last Series MM Minor built.
August 1952	First ohv engine fitted in four-door saloon (sidevalve engine continued in some), 160001.
January 1953	All models fitted with ohv engine, 180001.
October 1953	New model designated 'Traveller' introduced, 216901.  De Luxe models introduced featuring heater, leather seats, overriders and passenger sun visor.  Two-door saloon, 221842; four-door saloon, 221803; Convertible, 221914.
January 1954	'A' type rear axle and standard swivel pin assembly introduced, 228267.  Wedge type fan belt at engine no. 72610.
Early 1954	Sprung-type semibucket seats replaced by more modern, flatter far less comfortable front seats.  Also around this time and until late 1954, 10,000 cars were fitted with separate rear reflectors as a stop-gap way of satisfying new rear reflector regs.
June 1954	Engine steady cable fitted, 264013.
October 1954	Horizontal grill bars introduced.  Revised instrument and control panel.  Separate speedometer, fuel and oil pressure gauges replaced by single separate instrument with open gloveboxes each side: 286441, two-door saloon; 291140, four-door saloon, 290173; Convertible, 291336; Traveller, 289687.  Rubber-buffered tie-rod mounted between engine and bulkhead to act as engine steady and to cut out clutch judder.  New larger rear light fitting incorporating reflector in lens cover fitted, 293051.
August 1956	Coloured hoods fitted to Convertible, 433571.  During its production run, the Series 11 received few other changes but they included: discontinuation of front wing beading, hardboard replacing millboard door trim, grease nipples added to handbrake cables, shorter gear lever, repositioned pedals plus different gearbox cover and carpets to give more foot room.  Car No. 433571 on, Tourer given a coloured hood mottled green for green cars; mottled red for all others.  Seats became fixed-back for two-door cars.
October 1956	Series II discontinued.  Final chassis number 448714.
October 1956	Standard and De Luxe two- and four-door saloons, Convertible and Traveller introduced, designated'Minor 1000'. 948cc engine fitted.  Single-piece and enlarged curved windscreen and larger rear window.  Dished steering wheel.  Horn and trafficator control on steering column.  Glovebox lids fitted.  Deeper rear wings.  Shorter geariever, and deeper gearbox cover.  'Minor 1000' motif on sides of bonnet, 448801.  New type of shorter handbrake fitted with end push-button instead of side-mounted lever.  Gear-lever carried in aluminium remote-control extension.  Self-parking wipers, though still not of parallel movement type.
December 1956	New strengthened steering swivel pin assembly fitted, 462458.
Early 1957	Plastic gear lever knob with rubber insert, boot lid handle and lock strengthened, Car No. 463443 - on.  New steering rack oil seal fitted.
March 1957	Fuel tank enlarged from 5 to 6.5 gallons, 487048, Saloon; Traveller, 485127.  Mud deflector plates made available for rear brake drums.
September 1957	Canvas hood on convertible replaced by plastic coated material, 524944.
November 1957	Gearlever reset and lengthened.  Traveller 552906; other models, 557451.
October 1958	Courtesy light switches fitted in front doors, 654750.
December 1958	Rear spring design changed from 7 x 1/4 inch leaves to 5 x 1/4 inch leaves, 680464 Saloon and Tourer only.
February 1959	Early type dry paper element air cleaner, Saloon 698137; Traveller, 693918.
March 1959	Wider opening doors, self-cancelling direction indicator switch fitted to steering column.  Horn button moved to centre of steering wheel.  Traveller, 704254; four-door saloon, 705224; two-door saloon 705622.
September 1959	Combined inlet and exhaust manifold.  Foot space between gearbox cover and clutch pedal increased.  PVC interior roof lining fitted instead of cloth.  Front passenger seat on two-door saloon and Traveller modified to give better access to rear seats, 750470.
During 1960	HS type SU carburettor introduced, Engine No. 9M/U/H 353449.
January 1961	Morris Minor 1,000,000 produced as special edition of 349 cars.  Special features included Lilac colour, white upholstery with black piping, 'Minor 1000000' badging on sides of bonnet and on boot lid and special wheel rim embellishers. 1,000,000 1,000,349 (these car numbers designated out of sequence).
October 1961	Flashing direction indicators incorporated into front and rear lamps.  Semaphore type direction indicators discontinued.  Glove compartment lid removed.  Windscreen washers fitted on De Luxe models.  Seatbelts anchorage points built into all models.  New range of colours and upholstery offered, two-door saloon, 925555; four-door saloon, 925448; Convertible, 947088; Traveller, 925679.
April 1963	Fresh air heater introduced.  Air intake on radiator cowl.  Redesigned windscreen washer system, 1039564.
October 1963	Windscreen wiper blades lengthened and now work in tandem.  Zone-toughened windscreen introduced.  New design combined side/flasher lamps at front and rear.  Extra round amber flashing indicating light fitted to rear of Traveller.  New type air cleaner fitted to prevent carburettor icing in cold weather.  Nearside (front passenger) door lock fitted to two-door models.  Two-door saloon, 1043218; four-door saloon, 1043752; Convertible, 1043271; Traveller, 1043226.
October 1964	New design fascia panel.  Better trim and more comfortable seating.  Automatic boot lid support.  Glovebox on passenger side fitted with lid.  Combined ignition and starter switch.  Other switches modified to 'flick' type.  Swivel ashtrays under parcel shelf.  Crushable sun visors.  Plastic rimmed interior mirror.  Two-spoke safety dished steering wheel.  Fresh air heater performance improved.  Blocked oil filter warning light fitted.  Crackle finish heater fitted - still offered as optional.  Two-door saloon, 1082280; fourdoor saloon, 1082284; Convertible 1082717; Traveller, 1082537.
October 1966	Sealed-beam headlamps fitted.  Fuse in sidelamp circuit introduced, 1159663.
October 1967	New type paper air cleaner element introduced, 1196653.
June 1969	Convertible discontinued.  Final Car Number 1254328.
Late 1969	Oil filter switch ceased to be fitted.  Amber warning lens fitted but not used.
1970	During the last months of production some models were fitted with an alternator instead of a dynamo.
November 1970	Saloon production discontinued.  Final Car Numbers, two-door saloon, 1288377.
1971	During the last months of production some of the vehicles assembled at the Morris Commercial Cars plant at Adderley Park, Birmingham were fitted with steering column ignition locks; four-door saloon, 1288299.
April 1971	Traveller production discontinued.  Final Car Number 1294082.

Footnote: Reclining seats were fitted to some vehicles though they were never fitted as standard equipment.