Morris Minor & 1000

The Motor Cycling Club, 24th May 2008
UK club newsletter
Circulation: approx 1000
Usually when Veloce Publishing sends me a book for review its size causes the postman to stagger and its price makes me think of second mortgages. This week's offering though is different. It's one of Veloce's excellent Essential Buyer's Guide series and is really down to earth in that it deals with the Morris Minor 1000 series, cars beloved by none other than our President and Entry Taker.
At just under $20 anyone contemplating buying one of these charismatic vehicles cannot afford to be without a copy and indeed it's most useful reading for anyone contemplating the purchase of a classic car of any sort. It's a mine of useful information on the marque giving details of every model and variation, good and bad points including possible failings and even where to obtain spares and service when all else fails. I must admit being amused by chapter one which is headed 'Is it the right car for you?' - A question I answered with an emphatic 'No' way back in 1949 after driving an early example. Despite that I still enjoyed this little book and recommend it to all.
Incidentally it always surprised me that so little was done by the Minor in competition when the A35, which looked more unlikely, did so well. There was one exception though and that was the well known 'Grannywagen' which lived in the back of the BMC Comp Shop at Abingdon and appeared in international rallies whenever someone noticed a hole in the regulations through which Pat Moss could drive it.