Lot details
Registration No: GSV 426
Chassis No: SMM982
Mot Expiry: July 2013

Unveiled at the 1948 London Motorshow, the Minor sought to provide the luxury and practicality of prestige motorcars at a more affordable price. There were two variants at launch - a two-door Saloon and a Tourer. The four-door Saloon followed in 1950 and the popular Traveller, Van and Pick-up versions completed the range two years later. The first versions, MMs, were produced from 1948 to 1953. The monocoque bodies were equipped with independent torsion bar suspension at the front and a live axle mounted on leaf springs at the rear. Power came from a 918cc straight-four, side-valve engine producing 27.5bhp - enough for the newcomer to nudge 60mph flat out and deliver up to 40mpg.

This smart-looking MM is from the Minor's first year of production and is believed to be the second oldest example remaining in the UK. It was exported new to Zimbabwe (née Rhodesia) and repatriated in 1986. The vendor informs us that `GSV 426' has "totally original bodywork that has had no welding and is superb underneath". He describes the bodywork and gearbox as "excellent", the four year old Black paintwork as "brilliant", the Red vinyl interior as "good for its age" and the correct type replacement sidevalve engine as "good". The mighty Morris is MOT'd until July 2013.