1967 Morris Minor Traveller

Our vendor is a true enthusiast who has an extensive collection of classic cars and enjoys bringing them up to great condition, driving them and then moving on to another. He has been responsible for the transformation of this cherished, but used, Minor Traveller into the gleaming example it is today. A full repaint in the original black is perfectly complemented by all-new external wood, work which has been carried out over the last six months. As he explains, it’s easy to lose the history and character of a car by over-restoring it – he has deliberately chosen to limit the work on the Minor to the exterior, only replacing the carpets and front seat bases inside so that the character and patina of this little workhorse’s 53 year history still shine through. As we will see, some light modernisation also improves the usability of this Traveller.

Overall this Traveller presents very well indeed, with fresh paintwork and outstanding woodwork, contrasting beautifully with the black paint and red trim – this is probably the best colour scheme for a Traveller.

The passenger door displays the common tendency to lightly crack both inner and outer skins adjacent to the quarterlight frame – the driver’s door appears OK, but does have a kink in the top of the door window frame.

Shiny sill trims have been fitted below the doors and apart from the add-on front spotlights and rear reversing and fog lights, are the only non-original details noted on the exterior of the car.

There are scratches in the windscreen from an old worn wiper, but only on the passenger side.

The interior has benefited from some retrimming, including a new set of smart red carpets and door pulls. The boot floor has also been carpeted. Much of the seats are obviously new, but some of the better original parts have been kept in situ. The passenger seat tips to reveal new webbing underneath – always a bonus as tired webbing is responsible for many Minor drivers struggling to see over the dashboard top! The interior woodwork is original and generally good. The headlining is also original, and a little tired – the vendor regaled us with a tale passed down through previous owners to explain the tear in the headlining above the passenger seat, concerning a past owner and his stiletto-wearing flame… You can guess the rest!

Instead of an open glove pocket behind the steering wheel, a previous owner has fitted a neatly trimmed red panel with four (unmatched) instruments set into it – oil pressure, temperature, voltmeter and rev counter.

Below are three extra switches labelled S, R, F, presumably for the front Spotlights, Reversing lights and rear Fog lights (untested!). On the parcel shelf, neat modern speakers have been installed and a relatively modern sound system is fitted below the glove box on the passenger side; the original swing-out ashtray is still in place on that side. In the centre is the original heater (which would have been an extra cost option when new) and above it, a neat chrome switch replaces the original push-knob for the windscreen washers – otherwise the centre dash panel is as original in this, the final design of Minor dashboard, introduced in 1965.

Though there is no bill for it, the vendor assures us that a Stage 2 cylinder head has been fitted – the engine certainly feels lively on the road and is a delight to drive. The stainless steel exhaust, fitted in 2015, is smart, but the vendor states that it needs to be tweaked to improve its alignment as it occasionally knocks. The Firestone rear, Bridgestone front tyres have plenty of tread. Close inspection of the underside of the car shows that it has had welding in many of the usual places and has been well undersealed to stem further deterioration. Hopefully the work, carried out by Charles Ware’s Morris Minor Centre, will endure for many years to come. Externally the only visual signs of the repairs are at the base of the drivers’ side B–pillar.

First registered in Buckinghamshire on January 3, 1967, this Minor must have been someone’s New Year present, and a stunning sight in gleaming black with red interior and complete with the optional extra heater. A standard, not De Luxe, model, with vinyl seats, it would have been sold with an open glove pocket ahead of the driver which a previous owner has covered to allow installation of extra gauges. While the vendor preferred to retain them as part of the car’s history, others may prefer to remove them – a simple task requiring only an inexpensive new glovebox liner to hide any trace that they were ever there.

The most important history on any car is the most recent history, and here we are deluged with bills supporting the evident recent improvements and restoration work carried out over the last 10 years. It’s a little sad that there is no earlier history with the car, but tracing it will be a pleasant challenge for its next curator – our advice would be to start by joining, and asking, the excellent Morris Minor Owners Club as previous owners will surely have been members.

The MoT history shows that in 2005 the Traveller had recorded mileage of 30,738 and was covering 50-100 miles a year. Though it’s tempting to conclude that might be its total from new, it was of course 38 years old by then and could easily have covered 130,738, or more. A remarkably clean MoT history continued until 2011 (bills revealing that at this point the car was in the Peterborough area), whereupon the mileage suddenly leapt by 6000 and rust reared its ugly head for a couple of years. However, the bills reveal that in 2015/16 the then owner, in Bristol, took a decision that undoubtedly saved the car at that time – he took it to the original and best-known Morris Minor specialist, Charles Ware’s Morris Minor Centre. Two bills each of over £1200 later, the car was finally properly repaired underneath and the brakes had also been greatly improved with the fitment of a new master cylinder and very positive addition of a servo; usability was also enhanced by the fitment of an alternator, electronic ignition, electric screen washers and Halogen headlamps.

The car then moved to Wales, where more work was carried out, including a brake overhaul and new rear spring, battery and bonnet hinges. In April this year £1500 was spent on all-new matching woodwork as part of the vendor’s cosmetic restoration programme. Whilst it is no concours queen, this appears a very strong example with excellent recent care.

This Minor has never been completely stripped for full restoration, and as a result it retains a delightful patina. It is not a concours contender, but it presents exceptionally well, with good paint and superb wood. It’s a car to use and enjoy, without worrying about spoiling it. It’s well set up for use too, with a particularly lively engine and uprated brakes, lights and charging system. The new owner might aim to improve the a few aspects of its interior, hopefully without losing that patina, and deal with details like the kink in the driver’s door window frame and the ill-fitting door trims. The Traveller is a desirable model in the best colour scheme, and in the most usable final specification with further usability enhancements: as such, its value surely has to be into five figures. 

Our estimate is £8,500 – £13,000, the vendor has placed a very reasonable reserve which, as ever, is lower than the estimate.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.