A historically significant Morris Minor has returned to the place where it rolled off the production line on 12 November 1970. 50 years after it was built, the last Morris Minor saloon to be produced has been relocated into the building where it was made at MINI Plant Oxford in Cowley, Oxfordshire and now forms part of the factory’s collection of historic vehicles.
The gleaming car is a credit to the professionals, specialists and volunteers from the Morris Minor Owners Club (MMOC) who have worked tirelessly over the past four years to restore the car to its former glory. Today, the fully restored vehicle looks just as good as it did when it was first built.
The transformation seemed impossible when the car was discovered in 2016 after languishing in the open for many years. The provenance of the vehicle was well established as it had previously been offered for sale in 1994. Sadly, the new owner at that time was unable to enjoy the pleasure of ownership due to ill health. After his demise, the car was abandoned and it deteriorated badly in the intervening years.
The car was acquired by the Morris Minor Owners Club in 2016. Initially a phased restoration was planned. Substantial structural repairs were needed, and the services of a specialist welder and fabricator were enlisted.
In 2018, thanks to a generous bequest from a former MMOC member, things gathered pace and with the help of members with specialist skills, original components including the engine and gearbox were rebuilt. The bulk of the refurbishment and the reassembly of the car was undertaken by volunteers from the club’s membership in Derby where the MMOC has its headquarters.
Club Secretary, Ray Newell who accompanied the car on its return to ‘T Building’ (which houses MINI Plant Oxford’s car collection) at a specially arranged, socially distanced handover prior to the current lockdown said: “The car is a credit to those who have supported the club in getting it back on the road in time for this significant anniversary.” He continued: “We are grateful to staff at MINI Plant Oxford for their assistance in getting the car into the factory’s museum and for housing and looking after it for the foreseeable future. We hope that post-lockdown people will be able to come to view the vehicle and appreciate what is a wonderful example of this iconic, British car.”
Steve Wrelton, spokesman for MINI Plant Oxford, said: “The backstory and subsequent restoration of this car to its former glory is nothing short of staggering. Like the Mini that came after it, the Morris Minor was one of the most popular and recognisable cars in Britain. To have the last one built returning to its spiritual home and joining our car collection here at Plant Oxford is just fantastic.”
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