Morris Minor - 52

The Morris Minor is a British economy car that debuted at

the Earls Court Motor Show, London, on 20 September

1948.

Designed   under   the   leadership   of   Alec   Issigonis,   more   than   1.3   million   were   manufactured between   1948   and   1972.   Initially   available   as   a   two-door   saloon   and   tourer   (convertible),   the range   was   subsequently   expanded   to   include   a   four-door   saloon   in   1950,   a   wood-framed   estate (the Traveller) from 1952 and panel van and pick-up truck variants from 1953. The   Minor   was   manufactured   in   three   series:   the   MM   (1948),   the   Series   II   (1952)   and   finally   the 1000 series (1956).

History

Alec   Issigonis'   concept   was   to   combine   the   luxury   and   convenience   of   a   good   motor   car   at   a price   affordable   by   the   working   classes.   The   Minor   was   a   roomy   vehicle   with   superior   cornering and   handling   characteristics.   Internal   politics   inside   BMC,   the   owner   of   Morris,   may   have   led   to the   limited   North   American   sales.   The   Minor   prototype   had   been   known   as   the   Morris   Mosquito. More   than   1.3   million   of   the   lightweight,   rear-wheel   drive   cars   were   eventually   produced, mainly   in   Cowley,   Oxfordshire,   becoming   Britain's   first   million   seller,   and   exported   around   the world,   with   many   variants   of   the   original   model.   Production   continued   in   Birmingham,   England until 1972 (for the commercial variants and estate only). The last Morris Minor (commercial) was assembled at Stoke, Nelson, New Zealand in 1974. The Minor has been described as typifying "Englishness", a "British icon" and a "design classic".

Minor Series II

In   1952,   the   Minor   line   was   updated   with   an   Austin-designed   803   cc   (49.0   cu   in)   overhead   valve A-series   engine,   replacing   the   original   side-valve   unit.   The   engine   had   been   designed   for   the Minor's   main   competition,   the   Austin   A30,   but   became   available   as   Austin   and   Morris   were merged    into    the    British    Motor    Corporation.    The    new    engine    felt    stronger,    though    all measurements   were   smaller   than   the   old.   The   52   second   drive   to   60   mph   (97   km/h)   was   still calm,   with   63   mph   (101   km/h)   as   the   top   speed.   Fuel   consumption   also   rose   to   36   miles   per imperial gallon (7.8 L/100 km; 30 mpg-US). An   estate   version   was   introduced   in   1952,   known   as   the   Traveller   (a   Morris   naming   tradition   for estates,   also   seen   on   the   Mini).   The   Traveller   featured   an   external   structural   ash   (wood)   frame for   the   rear   bodywork,   with   two   side-hinged   rear   doors.   The   frame   was   varnished   rather   than painted   and   a   highly   visible   feature   of   the   body   style.   Commercial   models,   marketed   as   the Morris   Quarter   Ton   Van   and   Pick-up   were   added   in   May   1953.   Rear   bodies   of   the   van   versions were all steel. The 4-seat convertible and saloon variants continued as well. The   Motor   magazine   tested   a   four-door   saloon   in   1952.   It   reported   a   top   speed   of   62   mph   (100 km/h)   and   acceleration   from   0–50   mph   (80   km/h)   in   28.6   seconds.   A   fuel   consumption   of   39.3 miles   per   imperial   gallon   (7.19   L/100   km;   32.7   mpg-US)   was   recorded.   The   test   car   cost   £631 including taxes. Engine:   1952–56:   803   cc   A-Series   inline-four,   30   hp   (22   kW)   at   4,800   rpm   and   40   lbf·ft   (54   N·m) at 2,400 rpm

1952

Engine 803 cc 4 cylinders Power 30 hp