Registration - WCA 597

Chassis No. - M/A253848212

M.O.T. - Exempt

Odometer - 88,797

Most Morris 1000s have by now gone to that Minor park in the sky or been restored to one degree or another, so it’s always a pleasure to find one that remains completely unmolested, as does ‘WCA 597’. It was sold new in July 1960 to its first owner by the local garage in Abergele, North Wales. Sixty-three years and 88,797 miles in the hands of just three further keepers later and it’s still residing in the same area, with the current owner having held the keys since 2011. Being a 1960 model it features both clap-hands wipers and working trafficators (now a rare sight on any car). The vendor assures us that the Minor ‘runs and drives very well’ and boasts ‘very solid bodywork’. He adds that white paintwork is ‘very tired but original, and therefore not hiding any nasty surprises’. In summary he describes the Moggie as a ‘lovely, genuine, local old car’, and who are we to argue. He also notes that the Morris’ original three-letter registration has been valued at £2,500 on its own, and is apparently transferable.

With over 1.3 million examples manufactured in its 23-year reign, the Morris Minor is one of the most successful British cars of all time.

Designed by Alec Issigonis (who later penned the ubiquitous Mini), the Morris Minor was unveiled at the 1948 Earls Court Motor Show. With the Series II of 1952 came a new, Austin-designed engine – the A Series 803cc OHV unit. The more major update of 1956 saw the powerplant increased in capacity to 948cc (the car was now renamed the Minor 1000), the rear window of the saloon enlarged and the split-screen front one replaced with a single glass. The final iteration appeared in 1962 and featured a further increase in engine capacity to 1098cc.

In summary:

• A remarkably unmolested, four-owner example

• Remained in the same area for 63 years and 88,797 miles

• Comes complete with a registration number valued at £2,500