1960 Morris Minor Van

This 1960 Morris Minor Van has a gray exterior paint color with a Jaguar sign writing. The interior is a brown vinyl. It is powered by a four-cylinder pushrod overhead valve engine and has a four-speed manual gearbox with synchromesh on the top three ratios. This vehicle was auctioned at the 2006 Monterey CA auction where it was expected to sell between $20000-$30000. It was offered without reserve but there was enough interest to satisfy the estimation and selling for $27025.

Morris first showed their Minor in 1948 and it would remain in production until 1971. It is often called England's answer to the Volkswagen Beetle. The vehicle was economical, practical, durable, and affordable. The idea was created by Alec Issigonis who was also responsible for the design of the popular Mini. Throughout the Morris's production life span, it remained mostly the same. There were gradual improvements to both the design and mechanical components.

During the 1950s it is believed that around 25,000 examples were sold in the United States. Though they were not as popular in this market as the Beetle, they did create their own following. The 1/4 ton commercial vehicles, vans and pickups are among the rarest of the Minors in the United States with an estimated 1200 examples believed to have been transported across the ocean from 1959 through 1961.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2006