Morris Minor Traveller History
Great Escape makes this 1957 Morris Minor Traveller 1000 available to hire on behalf of its original owners. Click here to check availability, prices and our market-leading classic car hire package which includes 24 hours hire, unlimited mileage and carbon offsetting.
On this page the grandson of the Morris' original buyer reveals some of this amazing car's unique history.
This Morris Minor Traveller 1000 car was first registered on July 11th 1957, the first recorded owner being The Birmingham Garages Ltd in Navigation Street, Birmingham. It was sold new to my grandfather on July 19th and passed to my father in April 1968. All of this information is recorded in the original registration book (a secure hard copy just in case the DVLA's system crashes!).
The Morris Minor was used as a second car (mainly by my mother) until 1974, and proved to be an enduring 'work-horse' particularly when transporting all manner of equipment for Scout camps!
When I learnt to drive my father decided that a more 'learner-driver orientated' car was required (ie. with seat-belts and better syncromesh), and the Morris Minor went into hibernation (and safety!) for a few years.
The Morris Minor 1000 Traveller was brought out of retirement in the late 1970s and used just occasionally from then onwards, most of the mileage being clocked up when attending Owners Club rallies.
The car is a Morris Minor 1000, finished in Dark Green, with the 948cc OHV engine. It has the deluxe specification (leather seat facings, a heater and passenger sun visor!) and also additional instrumentation (clock and ammeter, as well as fog and spot lamps (Grandad certainly splashed out on the optional extras!). It has the original owner's manual, which is surpringly detailed compared to those of today. What is really amazing is the number of simple maintenance tasks which could be easily done at home, without recourse to a franchised dealer with specialist tools.
During its first 14 years the car covered around 30,000 miles, but since 1971 has managed only an additional 20,000; so a quick calculation gives us an average mileage of 1,000 per year (slightly below the average figure for modern motorists).
For the last 10 years the Morris Minor Traveller 1000 has been serviced by a friend of the family who worked on Minors during his apprenticeship as a vehicle mechanic.