Mini Magazine - Summer 2018

Original 848cc was overhauled
and fitted with an unleaded
head and electronic ignition.
It's no surprise this Morris Minor
has started winning silverware.
Period correct standard 10-inch wheels.
A date was set, and in mid-December
2016, Kevin headed to Somerford.
“Morris had developed some engine
issues by this time and I was lucky to get
there without breaking down,” grins
Kevin. In fact, when Somerford went to
move Morris into the workshop later that
day, he wouldn’t fire up! That would be
the last time the engine ran until the
restoration was almost complete.
Somerford assigned the rebuild to John,
one of their most experienced restorers,
with the aim of returning Morris to near
showroom condition — whilst retaining
as much of the original structure and
fittings as possible. Some MkI panels are
no longer available, so it was necessary to
use replacement panels designed for later
Minis in this situation. These were
welded and/or drilled as necessary to
make them suitable for a MkI restoration.
Plus, soon after John stripped the car
down, on top of the expected rusted-out
rear subframe, the front one turned out to
be scrap as well. “Not due to rust, because
as is traditional, it had a fine coating of
engine oil on it, but because it was bent!”
So, it turned out Morris had been
damaged in a shunt some years ago and
poorly repaired!
The list of replacement panels was
extensive and included a complete
floorpan, boot floor, rear wheel arches,
rear quarter panels, door skins and lower
part of the door frames and a complete
front end including A-panels, but
excluding the front bulkhead.
Inside, the original seat frames, vinyl
fabric and doorcards have been retained,
but the headlining and carpet have been
replaced with modern reproductions.
That original 848cc engine was also
converted to run on unleaded petrol.
Plus, electronic ignition and an alternator
were fitted, but in such a way that they
didn’t interfere with the original look
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