MINOR ACHIEVEMENTS…
Kim says, “Spotted in Sri Lanka by our ‘roving reporter’ Owen Llewellyn-Roberts was this Morris Minor Series II, appearing to be in great condition”.
The Minor was introduced in 1948 in 918cc sidevalve ‘MM’ form (essentially using the engine from the Morris Eight Series ‘E’, itself derived from the Morris Eight motor used from 1934).
In 1952, following the bringing together of Austin and Morris under the ‘British Motor Corporation’ (‘BMC’) heading, the Minor gained the overhead valve 803cc engine as first used in Austin’s contemporary A30. For use in the heavier Minor, BMC fitted an S.U. carburettor, rather than the A30’s Zenith instrument, to release a little more power than in the Austin (around 30 bhp compared with 28).
In 1956 the Austin-derived 803cc motor was strengthened and enlarged to 948cc, to become the first of a long line of BMC ‘A’ Series units that were in production in a series of BMC/British Leyland (BL)/Rover models until the 1990s. The revised, faster Austin and Morris models so-equipped with the 948cc motor became the A35 (34.5 bhp) and the Minor 1000 (S.U.-equipped, 37 bhp) respectively.
A30s/A35s and Minors/Minor 1000s were sold in overseas markets, and many are still giving good service around the globe; it’s great to see this one.