1966 Morris Minor 1000 Convertible

The vehicle of choice for generations of midwives, district nurses, buck-toothed vicars and elderly aunts scented with lavender and sherry, the Morris Minor is undoubtedly at its most appealingly whimsical when in convertible guise.

The utterly delightful example we have with us today has been cherished by the vendor’s family for 12 years and, prior to that, was in single ownership for 18 years.

Affectionately known as ‘Emily’, the car is in very good condition – outside, inside and underneath.

And that condition extends way beyond the merely aesthetic: this car is in first-class mechanical order.

To illustrate the point, the vendor drove it for 2½ hours to our Oxfordshire HQ.

The car didn’t miss a beat or suggest for one moment that it might.

We have driven it and can attest to the fact that it starts eagerly and the little engine purrs along in a state of chirpy happiness while you potter comfortably at a rather sedate pace along the highways and byways of your choosing.

It’s hard to look at this car without a smile creeping across your face.

It’s a joy to behold.

The bodywork is very straight and true.

Certainly, we’ve seen no dinks, dents, dimples, creases or folds that aren’t supposed to be there.

The shut-lines and panel gaps are probably as consistent and even as they would have been when it left the factory.

The wheels are in good order, save for the odd spot of surface rust here and there, and the matching Marshal 777 tyres look to have a decent amount of life left in them.

The maroon-coloured vinyl roof is also good, with no rips, tears or holes in evidence.

The hood achieves a snug fit, goes up and down without too much recalcitrance, and sits neatly under its colour-matched cover.

In general, the paintwork is pretty good, too, and has retained plenty of shine and lustre in most places.

There are a few splits to the paint - next to the boot lid, on the driver’s side ‘A’ pillar and elsewhere - and there are one or two small spots of nascent blistering in the sills, the bottom of the doors and next to the n/s/r tail lights, but they’re very minor and few and far between.

The chrome is decent for the most part, but there is some foxing and spotting on the tail light mounts, on the headlamp surrounds, and here and there on the bumpers.

The chrome film on the windscreen surround is peeling away.

The lights, lenses, badging and other exterior fixtures and fittings look good to us.

The inside of this car is a gorgeous shade of maroon/dark red, and all of the leather trim has acquired a deep, rich patina that adds real warmth and character to the ambience of the interior.

The seats, front and back, have some creasing and shine from wear, but there’s no sign of any rips or tears that we can see.

Front and back, the seats are comfortable, enveloping and supportive.

The grey lining to the hood is in good order, as are the door cards, carpets and mats.

We struggled to find a single scratch or blemish on the glossy white dashboard, and the steering wheel, gear lever and handbrake are all beyond reproach.

The sun visors are rather hollow and baggy, particularly on the driver’s side.

We particularly like the 50W Sharp ICE system cunningly concealed in the glove compartment (you’ll have to find somewhere else for your gloves).

As far as we’re aware, all buttons, knobs, switches, dials, levers, instruments and buttons do what they’re supposed to do without complaining.

The boot is following the same script in terms of condition and preservation. It contains a spare wheel, a few tools and spares, and a set of hub caps.

The engine bay is dry, if a little dusty, and everything seems to be in its right and proper place.

The sewing-machine-sized engine sits in acres of space at its centre.

The undersides of the car look to be possessed of plenty of structural integrity, but there is a little rust in evidence in a few places on and around the floor pan and beneath the sills.

The car comes with plenty of bills, invoices and receipts attesting to its diligent curation and ongoing maintenance over the years.

There’s an old invoice from 1990 covering over £10,000-worth of restoration work, which including rebuilding the shell and welding in numerous new panels.

And there are recent invoices for new front brake cylinders, brake shoes and master cylinder….among various bills numerous other components and work.

The car comes with an HPI report, a V5C and an MoT certificate that’s valid until 25thth February 2027.

No-one will shout at you, cut you up at the lights or show you the middle finger when you’re driving this car.

It exudes warmth, welcome and whimsy in equal measure and will win you friends and admirers in the supermarket carpark, on the open road, or outside the Dog & Duck.

And this particular example is in really very good order and is ready and willing to make the most of the coming summer.

Go on, you know you want to.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £7,000 - £10,000.

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’.