I’d had to sell my 1933 Aston Martin when we started a family back in 1960 and so bought a soft top low light minor. At the time I was told it had been their experimental car. For UK viewers the number plate was UMX657. That side valve engine was so underpowered it meant changing down for the slightest of hills. At least it had windows which my Aston didn’t!
Colin: Do you happen to recall the serial #? The 1981 Paul Skilleter book on Minors ("The World's Supreme Small Car") has a decent list of factory experimentals. Doesn't list reg numbers, but it does have both experimental + renumbered serial #s ... if you could possibly dredge it up from anything you may have hung onto.
All the credit goes to Bryan 'Woody' Wood, who has the unenviable job of making magic out of the mess of clips, images + voiceovers we send him. [bows in respect]
Greetings from UK - i had a '49 er MM lowlight back in 1970 in which i learned to drive, had very many great cars since then, currently a 2012 Citroen C3, but still have a special affection for the noisy, smelly, draughty, slow, no brakes MM!
In 1963 one of my high school teachers had a 60's MM 1000 convertible. He arrived absolutely soaked to the skin one particular rainy day. Telling us that, at the start of his 9 mile trip, he was proceeding uphill when overtaken by a Vespa scooter! He traded the MM for a VW Bug. Have always been a fan of small utilitarian cars. Narragansett Bay
Great video. In UK, my father bought a 1949 minor, I think in 1960. I learnt to drive in it in 1963 when I was 17. It was 1950 all but 10 days, first owner was a clergyman in London, the registration number was KYN72, it was 2 door, colour was black. It was later sold and replaced by a used Mini. Oh, the memories!
The split windshield Morris Minor with headlamps on the grill was my first car. Took me to London and back in 1968 from Sunderland ,about 600 miles. It saw a lot of action , was a great design and the only drawback was the really slow side valve engine. I think mine had trafficator flags between the front and back doors. Thank you for the memory jolt.
@@roundgarage Happily, that car is apparently still with us. First reg Jan 1951, not presently taxed for road use, last V5C issued 2002, and ... colour listed as ORANGE! (If you're on Facebook, join the Morris Minor Owners Club page + perhaps someone will know of the car, or we can ask if you like.)
Loving all the Morris Minor content - keep it coming 👍🏻It would also be lovely if Tom would bless us with some MGB content in the future. Just saying. Thanks.
Both Tom and also Scott (MGB driver in our Lemons Rally adventure) have seen this. They're plotting. Likely won't emerge right away, as we have to finish our current adventure. But ... yes ... there will be something more MGB!
ive never actually seen a morris... im trying to make reservations for the mathas vinyard ferry. the computer only rcognizes cheverolet and morris. i spoke to the agent and mentioned this,, now this came across my feed.. this is a morris kind of day
From memory none of the low lights had the headlights in the wings, Possibly your converible has had the later front fitted. Biggest bugbear was the body rot in rear spring hangers , the floor and front wings as the cars got older. They were good for the time though allthough as you say a ltle on the slow side, the Austin A30 was just a little quicker and had a four speed gearboa, people used to rally them in the 50s and 60s. Happy times.
Mel: John did the research in the British Motor Museum's archives: The high-lamp front was fitted to *all* U.S. Minors, starting with the very first car air-shipped over in January 1949 for auto shows. Had to be done to meet new headlamp regulations in the U.S. coming into force that year. One of Clementine's 2 front wings is actually hand-seamed. That's how the factory built them for the very earliest high-lights before it tooled up to produce the revised wings in volume. So, no, Clementine isn't a "lowlight" since that by definition means lamps in the grille. HOWEVER, "lowlight" and "side-valve" aren't synonymous! The 4-door Minor launched in Oct 1950 still ran the side-valve, but was sold only with high-lamp wings even in the U.K. Hope that helps!
Oh, just stay tuned! SPOILER: We ran the car several hundred miles. But you can copy + paste this link to the resuscitated 918 side-valve from 'Clementine,' John's derelict Tourer. vimeo.com/user99531789
Between 8500 and 9000. Remember LHD + RHD Minors had different number runs, concurrently, so mine was built at the same time as RHD cars numbered 17500 to 18000.
I’d had to sell my 1933 Aston Martin when we started a family back in 1960 and so bought a soft top low light minor. At the time I was told it had been their experimental car. For UK viewers the number plate was UMX657. That side valve engine was so underpowered it meant changing down for the slightest of hills. At least it had windows which my Aston didn’t!
Colin: Do you happen to recall the serial #? The 1981 Paul Skilleter book on Minors ("The World's Supreme Small Car") has a decent list of factory experimentals. Doesn't list reg numbers, but it does have both experimental + renumbered serial #s ... if you could possibly dredge it up from anything you may have hung onto.
Regrettably all I have is a rather grainy black and white photo.
@@colinmaceke7474 Sadly that reg number is no longer in the DVLA system, so I fear the car may have been scrapped.
That is a great video, John. Good job, mate!
All the credit goes to Bryan 'Woody' Wood, who has the unenviable job of making magic out of the mess of clips, images + voiceovers we send him. [bows in respect]
Greetings from UK - i had a '49 er MM lowlight back in 1970 in which i learned to drive, had very many great cars since then, currently a 2012 Citroen C3, but still have a special affection for the noisy, smelly, draughty, slow, no brakes MM!
What was the reg number of that '49 Minor? We can see if it's still on the DVLA ...
NPC 859, i searched myself but couldn' t find it.
@@slowpawstevet3676 Sigh. Likely gone to the crusher then. Not an uncommon fate for old + old-fashioned-looking cars.
In 1963 one of my high school teachers had a 60's MM 1000 convertible. He arrived absolutely soaked to the skin one particular rainy day. Telling us that, at the start of his 9 mile trip, he was proceeding uphill when overtaken by a Vespa scooter! He traded the MM for a VW Bug. Have always been a fan of small utilitarian cars. Narragansett Bay
Great video. In UK, my father bought a 1949 minor, I think in 1960. I learnt to drive in it in 1963 when I was 17. It was 1950 all but 10 days, first owner was a clergyman in London, the registration number was KYN72, it was 2 door, colour was black. It was later sold and replaced by a used Mini. Oh, the memories!
Sadly, that registration number is no longer active on the DVLA, so I fear the car may have been scrapped. Thanks for the nice words!
The split windshield Morris Minor with headlamps on the grill was my first car. Took me to London and back in 1968 from Sunderland ,about 600 miles. It saw a lot of action , was a great design and the only drawback was the really slow side valve engine. I think mine had trafficator flags between the front and back doors. Thank you for the memory jolt.
Do you recall the reg number?
@@TemptingFateTours Yes. BBR 775.
@@roundgarage Happily, that car is apparently still with us. First reg Jan 1951, not presently taxed for road use, last V5C issued 2002, and ... colour listed as ORANGE! (If you're on Facebook, join the Morris Minor Owners Club page + perhaps someone will know of the car, or we can ask if you like.)
@@TemptingFateTours Astounding. Thank you for this gem of information. It was painted Durham Beige when I owned it. Again, thank you.
Loving all the Morris Minor content - keep it coming 👍🏻It would also be lovely if Tom would bless us with some MGB content in the future. Just saying. Thanks.
Both Tom and also Scott (MGB driver in our Lemons Rally adventure) have seen this. They're plotting. Likely won't emerge right away, as we have to finish our current adventure. But ... yes ... there will be something more MGB!
Many thanks! you guys are both scholars and gentlemen…
ive never actually seen a morris... im trying to make reservations for the mathas vinyard ferry. the computer only rcognizes cheverolet and morris. i spoke to the agent and mentioned this,, now this came across my feed.. this is a morris kind of day
From memory none of the low lights had the headlights in the wings, Possibly your converible has had the later front fitted. Biggest bugbear was the body rot in rear spring hangers , the floor and front wings as the cars got older. They were good for the time though allthough as you say a ltle on the slow side, the Austin A30 was just a little quicker and had a four speed gearboa, people used to rally them in the 50s and 60s. Happy times.
Mel: John did the research in the British Motor Museum's archives: The high-lamp front was fitted to *all* U.S. Minors, starting with the very first car air-shipped over in January 1949 for auto shows. Had to be done to meet new headlamp regulations in the U.S. coming into force that year.
One of Clementine's 2 front wings is actually hand-seamed. That's how the factory built them for the very earliest high-lights before it tooled up to produce the revised wings in volume.
So, no, Clementine isn't a "lowlight" since that by definition means lamps in the grille. HOWEVER, "lowlight" and "side-valve" aren't synonymous! The 4-door Minor launched in Oct 1950 still ran the side-valve, but was sold only with high-lamp wings even in the U.K. Hope that helps!
I had to look up the Clementine 49 reference :)
Did you not learn the song in grade school?
@@TemptingFateTours I vaguely remember the first couple of lines, but lost after that.
The mouse running lol...
Yeah, John is in a constant lowkey battle with the field mice ... which can do a lot of damage to car wiring, not to mention upholstery.
@@TemptingFateTours Get a cat or two and let them live in the garage...
Would love to hear that 918cc sidevalve engine at full chat one day
Oh, just stay tuned!
SPOILER: We ran the car several hundred miles. But you can copy + paste this link to the resuscitated 918 side-valve from 'Clementine,' John's derelict Tourer.
vimeo.com/user99531789
That has less miles than my 68 garage queen Traveller
What's the car number John?
Between 8500 and 9000. Remember LHD + RHD Minors had different number runs, concurrently, so mine was built at the same time as RHD cars numbered 17500 to 18000.