Driven: Morris Minor 1000 Traveller - Definitely Wood!

Here, I drive a 1962 Morris Minor 1000 Traveller, one of the last with the 948cc engine. It was upgraded to 1098cc that year. It's in utterly marvellous condition, by which I mean it isn't immaculate. Gorgeous patina is a feature inside and out. The Traveller is a 'Woody' station wagon or estate car that was hugely popular. Production finally ended in 1971.

The road test took place on the roads around Tywyn, Gwynedd, which is NOT on the Llyn Peninsula, as I incorrectly stated on the Allegro test drive.

[bobmirdiff]

They always make me think of District Nurses! - Like Gladys Emanuel!

[defender]

An absolutely iconic and brilliant design, so many memories of family journeys in them, .
Thank You 🙂.

[jumpit]

You forgot to mention the, Starting Handle", flat battery, no problem, just get the starting handle and keep your thumbs out the i sat and watched the video, i could remember the smell of the interior, and the wonderful exhaust note prodused.You just made an old man, very,very happy.
Thanks Ian :)

[RecordCouncil]

Thank you thank you thank you for making this video Ian! My only classic car is my 1960 4-door saloon and I love it to bits... literally. I need to get on with digging the rust out and get her back on the road! The Australian cars were CKD and assembled here with a bit of local content. The only major difference is the heaters didn't sell as well here. As for old Alec, I think he's best summed up by his quote "The public don't know what they want; it's my job to tell them.
"

[caroldave]

Hi ian just knocked on the door of 68 so I learned (self) in the fields of our farm it was a van same setup as a traveller and pickup...I then passed my test in said vehicle ...it was a amazing workhorse carrying sheep .hay bales.dogs..feed..and it once carried a a lister diesel lighting plant engine would suspect a tad heavy for moggie.😯😊..cheers from dave..

[AndrewHgs]

Sod yer Ferraris, come the lottery win, I want a Morris Minor Traveller. Does any sane and sensible person really need more than this? Issigonis really designed the templates for all future cars. Love the patina of age and life of this Traveller.

[Levenstone]

My first car back in '77, same colour and battery charger too! Mine was a '69 so more power and orange flashers. My wife (then girlfriend) passed her test in it and the examiner was most impressed with her explanation of the straight cut first gear and not slamming it into gear at junctions.Funny thing I remember is the brakes coming on when changing gear, easy fix, brake ad clutch on same shaft so take 'em out, clean and grease, job done! Great vid.Grease those trunnions!

[darrylmcleman]

I had one of those at age 16 and did a valve grind with hand lapping tool. I purchased it from my brother-in-law with leaky fuel tank for $50.00 Canadian in 1968.It was not a traveler but a hard-top car.Dont remember for sure but I think it was a 2dr.Easy for a kid to work on.The one you have there has the stearing on the wrong side for me!!! CHEERS

[darrenwilson]

Great car - great cars - the Minor was genuinely mourned when production ceased.

[williamwade]

Dad had one of the first 1098 Travellers from new in late 1962. It had the same trim and was in Almond Green. He kept it for eight years. Your video brings back a lot of memories.

[mrsneaky]

I tell you I’ve seen many a Morris minor in the outside lane of a motorway, overtaking other traffic.

[kimkiriniki]

I took my driving test in my Mother's 1959 Minor 1000 convertible, failed as the handbrake wouldn't hold for the hill start.
Passed the test using my Dad's Jaguar MK2 3.4 later the same day.
This at the age of 16 in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe)..happy days.

[twocvbloke]

Ah one of them sounds that is missing from the roads, the first gear whine of a Minor and a Mini are certainly a memorable sound... :)

[RETROCAM]

Great cars Ian last time I went in a moggy minor was 1985 I always thought the farty sound from the exhaust was hilarious my neighbor had a 1953 split windscreen 2 door bright yellow with gold wheels and a fibre glass bonnet great fun that was even got taken up Santa pod RWYB thanks Ian brought back some great memories 👍🏻😊👌🏻

[FourIntoOne]

When I was a young mechanic in the eighties these bloody Minors were a real pain - they were in their death throes then (rust mostly) and I spent an inordinate amount of time repairing them for their ungrateful owners. I particularly hated the saloon (there were far more of them) and thought that they were the potato of the car world...NOW tho, with the passage of time, and for pretty much all of the reasons you said, I really rather like them. Have you seen the price a decent woodie will fetch now !

[jwm]

Absolutely love these. I used to look after a 1968 1098cc traveller for a Ford salesman friend way back. His dog would refuse to get into any demonstrator he had, usually a Sierra. But the Moggie, he couldn't scramble into it quick enough.

[northstar]

Tecalemit, or however it's spelled, made lubrication equipment and the like I think.

[grenvillephillips]

By far the best tribute to the Moggy Minor I've ever seen. Sir HubNut - the Arthur Negus of old motors!

[TheThecyclist]

the horn on the minor goes beep beep beep!

[raychambers]

In the 70s I used to driven in a yellow post office van it was restricted by gpo engineers with a plate under carb which was taken off by my tech officer, which was replaced by said engineers when in for service!, Cheers Mr hubnut.