Diversity is one of the hallmarks of cars featured at Barn Finds. While we feature plenty of muscular American classics, it is hard to resist vehicles that some might consider slightly left-field. I’m unsure if that term is appropriate for this 1967 Morris Minor, but these little British classics don’t cross our desks every day. It is a rock-solid car that runs and drives well. The new owner could opt for preservation, although it is a prime candidate for a straightforward restoration. The Morris is listed here on eBay in Scarsdale, New York. Bidding remains below the reserve at $2,300, but there is time for interested parties to stake their claim on what could be an affordable classic.
Sir Alec Issigonis is recognized as the father of the original Mini, a car that received plaudits for its packaging and space efficiency. The praise was well deserved, but fewer people appreciated the significance of his Morris Minor design. It emerged in Britain as the country struggled to recover from its post-war ravages and was designed as affordable and practical family transport. Although not as radical as the later Mini, the interior could comfortably accommodate four adults. This was a considerable achievement for a car with an overall length of just over twelve feet, especially given its traditional mechanical layout and the fact it also retained respectable trunk space. This 1967 Minor is a solid classic that could be driven and enjoyed in its current form. The Green and White paint has seen better days, with no signs of the shine it would have worn when it rolled off the line. However, the lack of panel imperfections would make performing a cosmetic restoration a task the new owner could tackle in a home workshop. The underside shots reveal a dusting of surface corrosion, but this Morris appears free from penetrating rust. The chrome and trim are acceptable for a driver-grade classic, and the glass is crystal clear.
Life inside a Morris Minor represents motoring at its most basic. Those craving air conditioning or power accessories must look elsewhere because this car doesn’t even have a radio. Still, it gives occupants the opportunity to tune up their tonsils for a round of “car-pool karaoke.” However, the interior presents surprisingly well for a vehicle of this vintage. The carpet is well beyond its best, meaning the buyer will probably splash $220 on a replacement carpet set. That should be the extent of their shopping list because the vinyl upholstered surfaces are excellent, and the paint is surprisingly good. The dash is clean, and the gauge cluster features clear lenses and crisp markings.
The original Morris Minor greeted the world in 1948. It was powered by a 918cc flathead four that produced 27hp and 38 ft/lbs of torque. Neither figure was startling, with the factory claiming a top speed of 62mph. The Minor underwent evolutionary changes during its twenty-three-year production run, and our feature car’s 1,098cc four churns out 50hp and 60 ft/lbs. This feeds to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission, with the car’s top speed now quoted as 75mph. It won’t threaten muscle cars, but it should still cruise comfortably on the open road at 55mph. The seller states the Minor’s engine kicks to life at the first turn of the key and that the car runs and drives well. It is a turnkey proposition with no apparent mechanical needs or problems.
Some classics possess what is often referred to as an “x-factor.” It is an almost indefinable characteristic that makes them genuinely cool. The 1967 Morris Minor is one such car, and the eleven bids submitted suggest others agree with that sentiment. The company offered two- and four-door sedan versions, with the former the most popular and highly sought after. However, even a pristine car will almost certainly never be a mega-bucks classic. A high-end restoration would yield a value of around $14,000, but perfection could push that figure as high as $20,000. It needs love to reach that point, but I can’t spot any shortcomings that couldn’t be tackled by a competent person in a home workshop. That must make it worth a closer look.
Always appreciated these little cars, my take was to drop a good running 1275 with a latter transmission some mild mods and enjoy the ride.
The 1275 and the rib cage Spridgets transmission is a good move. The 1098 is still a good engine and not that much down the line from the 1275. These cars came 2 and 4 door sedans, station wagons, pickup trucks and panel vans. The Brits also came up with other renditions that we didn’t get here in the States. Fun cars and easy to work on.
Left out the two door convertible. My Biology teacher in high school had one.
Never saw a two-tone Minor 1000 nor, for that matter, with white-wall tyres, but it was a great car – my dad had the Traveler (station wagon). Took the four of us + dog everywhere (in England, Scotland and Wales, that is).
These are really fun little cars.i had a 2 door convertible in college. Drove all over Midwest and East and taught my girlfriend to drive a stick with it. No problems with it and sold at a profit when summer was over.
I’ve owned several Minors over the years, from ’59 to ’67 models. Simple and fun to drive. The later ones with a 1098cc engine or a 1275 transplant are the ones to have. Most have been converted to disc brakes by now.
If that’s the original paint it was called Almond Green. Morrises never had a two-tone color scheme; that’s the first thing I’d change on this car.
I love these cars better than Minis. I restored a Traveler many years ago. I put a 1275 motor in with 3.7 rear from a 1500 Midget which gave it the ability to cruise at 70 comfortably. Spridgets are great parts cars for these. You can use almost everything. Disc brakes, steering rack, wheels, rear diff… but be careful the rear axle shafts are slightly longer on the Minors. Very simple and eye catching…… really fun cars!!
I like these cars a lot very under rated to me. I would love to own one someday but a convertible though.
‘Ello, ‘ello, ‘ello, what’s all this then? I always wondered, was there ever a Morris “Major”? Yes, it was actually a Morris Major/ Austin Lancer/ Wolseley 1500/ Riley one point five,,,whew, and we thought WE had auto management issues. With all those quality British cars involved, the Major “Elite” was a much fancier car than the Minor ever was. The “Moggy Minor” was the standard car for British based movies and always reminded me of a British chap in a Bowler cap. Horribly anemic for any US travel, but for a 2 mile trip to “The General Store”( Wallyworld) be a hoot. As always, a rift of folks would want it, but don’t want to shift a da’ gears. And with 50 hp, shift you will. This car cost $1682 US new, and while almost 1.3 million Minors were made, very few came to the US. Where did they all go? Australia was one of the biggest importers. Great find.
Interesting information. I always thought that the only other was the Morris Grand, aka MG.
Actually, MG stands for Morris Garages.
My late father bought a brand new Morris Minor 1000 in 1959. Our family of four (+ a dog) travelled in it from SoCal to Atlanta (and back) without incident. Ours was a 2-door sedan, black w/red interior. Dad loved the Morris, and it was a terrific little car. But by 1963, he was ready for something larger. Started buying Lincoln Continentals and never stopped.
Out of the frying pan and into the dutch oven :-)
Owned 12 at one time. Always fixed the one that needed the least repair. Used to pull them home from scrap yards. Only had one license plate. My first was a 63 traveler ( convertible) left to my by a fried that owed me $50 in 1970. Bad engine. Got a sprite engine with dual SUs and drove around with vacuum cleaner hose and duct tape exhaust; the header cited in a different direction than the combined manifold on the 948 single carb. Later added custom header, larger exhaust pipes with bullet muffler. Great sound. Learned to dislike Lucas electric. Why try to make a 2 element bulb do 3 things? The control box was the quintessential black box. Once I couldn’t shut off the engine of my foot was on the break pedal.
The master cylinder was wedged between the frame rail, the bolts obstructed by the torsion bar. I loved my cars, though eventually moved on to ADO16s (Austin America) with 4 speeds. Even cuter.
Didn’t care for the price of darkness, did ya? LOL
It was built in Cowley, Oxfordshure in the plant that now produces the Mini.
The Minor is just cute!
My first car, in 1969. Definitely not a chick magnet for high school girls.
They just had no taste…
This being a ’67 it’s somewhat special, with the all-clear/white front signals it appears to be one of the relative handful imported to the US that year, after a 4-year hiatus, for what proved to be a single year restart since FMVSS kicked in with the ’68 model year while at the same time the British Leyland merger led to the decision to phase the Minor out even in the UK home market by 1970.
I remember that in 1967 Continental Cars the BMC distributor for part of the Mid-West brought up several barges of these from the port of New Orleans to St. Louis.
There is a video of a stolen Minor evading British police. The thief uses the car’s agility and small dimensions to escape and even honks the horn and waves when they finally get away.
50 hp or not, the thing is nimble.
That would be a fun little car to go around town in, not lightning fast but nimble and easy to park!
Since this one is left hand drive, I’m assuming it was imported to the US when new.