1934 Morris Minor

‘BPB 357’ is a 1934 Morris Minor two-door, two-seater convertible that benefits from having had a new side-valve engine fitted in 2021 – at a cost of more than £5,000 for the parts alone.

There are plenty of other bills from the same period too, including for a professional respray, all of which suggests an above-average degree of curation.

This becomes less of a surprise when you learn that the previous owner was an RAF electrical engineer and “fastidious fettler!”, words that should bring joy to every prospective bidder’s heart.

Like so many of us, he bought it as a lockdown project and relished the chance to keep himself busy during those uncertain times, so he didn’t rush the job, and took care to savour every step.

Once finished, he decided he’s had so much fun that he was going to restore an MG TC next. The seller, who’s a friend of his, couldn’t resist buying it in August 2022, largely because he was so impressed with its condition.

He’s used it lightly since, putting perhaps 300 miles on the clock in the three years he’s owned it. This modest mileage did include a 50+ mile run though, during which it performed flawlessly. The previous owner also took it for a run up Prescott Hill, and it probably won’t surprise you to hear that he enjoyed that very much.

Sadly, our seller has just lost the garage he was storing it in and can’t justify paying professional storage fees given how little he’s used it.

His loss could be your gain though, so please step inside to read more about what might be the only Morris Minor currently being offered for sale on the open market.

Professionally resprayed in 2021 and used only sparingly since, the little Morris presents very well indeed.

There are receipts on file for stainless-steel and chrome screws too, plus wing piping, running board edging, and bonnet tape; dial in meticulous shutlines and perfectly aligned panels and it’s clear that this is a car that was as carefully put together as it was painted.

There are no dents, dinks or scrapes across any of the coachwork either, and the combination of sweeping cycle wings leading into full-length running boards and the Minor’s perfect proportions give the illusion of it being a much larger vehicle than it is.

What is not an illusion is the quality of curation, which makes itself known by way of things like the set of new and matching 4.00/4.50-18 Longstone Blockley tyres fitted to the wire wheels. Painted black (the wheels, not the tyres) to echo the colour of the four wings and the headlamp shells, they’re in a very good condition. The tyre tread is also like new.

Plus, as we will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

The Minor comes with a fabric roof and side screens, all of which are in a very good condition with no rips, tears, or holes. It all fits well too, and the fabric roof transitions between its two states smoothly. The windscreen also pivots open to allow a cooling draft of air to enter at face-level.

Other nice touches include a Wilmot-Breeden Calormeter on top of the radiator, a pressed aluminium front numberplate, and brass door hinges. A period AA badge, complete with engraved membership number, sits between a pair of Lucas King of the Road headlamps.

Speaking of lights, combined side, brake, and indicators have been fitted to the rear, which seems like a very sensible safety upgrade. They also illuminate the rear numberplate, and indicators have been fitted at the front.

Three chrome fittings at the rear provide somewhere to lash your luggage, while period-appropriate Desmo door mirrors provide far better rearward vision than would have been the case when the Morris was new.

If we were to be critical – and we do try because we know so many of you rely on the photos and description to set your bidding – then the chrome on the front of the car isn’t to quite the same high standard as everything else.

The front half of the Morris is a slightly different colour to the back half too, but that’s only noticeable with 20/20 vision and in the right light – and when you do notice it it’s easy to chalk it up to a somewhat quirky character.

The side panels have a little bit of pitting to their finish too, as does the radiator surround but that’s not a bad To Do list for a 92-year-old car, is it?

The interior is as simple and elegant as the coachwork; the Minor might be small, but it packs an awful lot of design and engineering into its diminutive dimensions.

Originality too, as this one is said to have its original seats and dashboard. The electrical system is still the same 6-volt positive-earth design it left the factory with – and after almost a century, you aren’t going to be the one to change any of that, are you?

Especially because everything we tested works with the sole exception of the indicators.

And the condition is good; those seats might be old, but they’ve worn better than any nonagenarian we’ve ever met. Still firm and comfortable, the underlying material appears to be every bit as good as the face fabric, which is almost certainly not the same material it left the factory with. The bench seat also folds forward to give access to the tool kit and luggage space.

The door cards, footwells, and rear quarter panels are trimmed in the same fashion, the carpets are black and edged with deep red, and the floorboards are wooden.

Speaking of which, the wooden dashboard has developed a patina over the years, but this is gentle wear rather than anything serious enough to warrant doing anything about.

The steering wheel has been repaired a couple of times, and a zip tie holds the plastic together behind it. That said, we’d always rather see preservation than restoration; when a large part of the appeal of running a classic car is its history, it makes no sense to rip stuff out when it’s got years of (slightly patinated) life left in it yet.

The white-on-black instruments are from Smiths, Eureka, and Lucas and they cover road speed, distance, oil pressure, fuel level, and battery charge. A huge ‘KLAXON’ horn knob is within easy reach, and we imagine that’s seen its fair share of use over the decades.

The inner roof material has a few small rust stains on it but is otherwise in a good condition, as is the hood frame.

As you’d expect the new side-valve engine was installed with a new clutch, core plugs, and head gasket. New ignition parts too, plus coolant hoses, carburettor seals, and manifold studs and gaskets.

The bills suggest the braking system was refreshed too, and the drivetrain. But this is little surprise given the previous owner’s old day job, a job that even makes itself known by having the blades on the cooling fan painted the same as the ones on a Hercules!

The 849cc engine makes a surprisingly fruity noise via the peashooter-sized exhaust pipe, and the centre-hinged bonnet gives very good access to the (neatly presented) engine. Everything is within easy reach, and what appears to be the original Operation Manual is in the nearside door pocket; well-thumbed, we imagine generations of drivers will have relied on it to give them instructions on how to maintain and service the Minor.

The underside is every bit as well presented as the rest of the vehicle, and the fact it’s been protected by nicely applied coats of paint rather than thick gobs of underseal allows you to appreciate the workmanship that went into it.

The Minor doesn’t have a current MoT certificate.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the history file includes the aforementioned restoration invoices in addition to some older invoices, a pile of expired MoT certificates, copies of magazines it has been featured in, wiring diagrams and servicing information, an Information Manual published by the Morris Register, and an old-style logbook.

With a guide price of between £8,000 and £12,000 vintage motoring has never been more appealing – and when you learn it is being offered with no reserve, the case becomes even more compelling.

Because this is an on-the-button example that’s been beautifully restored by a man for whom mechanical perfection was a way of life.

With summer almost here, it really doesn’t get any better than this.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.