Finding my Morris Minor

Bringing it home

In August 2015 a gentleman that I’ve known for quite a long time asked me if I would like his 1954 Morris Minor pickup. He had used it as his workshop vehicle when he was a builder. When he didn’t want it any more he drove it into a shed that he owned.That was in 1998. This is a video of it seeing daylight for the first time in 18 years.

Arriving at home August 2015.

Arriving at its new home.

Here it is off the trailer at home. Now the big job begins. I was thinking about a 2 year project but at this stage a lot of things have got in the way and it will be 5 years in August. Still as long as it is all finished before I retire in 5 years time that would be great. One Morris owner I know said look at the original ownership papers and the first name of the first owner is the name you call your Morris. So my Morrie’s name is going to be James.

What James should have looked like.

What it looked like when new.

This is a photo of what James should look like.

Taking the New Zealand made deck off.

Removal of one power plant.

Stripped cab.

Finding its brother (or sister) on the internet.

I found this on the internet. The reason I have posted this is if you look at the next picture you will see the chassis number. Mine reads OGH 55/20037. This makes it the 3rd made after this one. Probably made the same day.

This beaut Morris Minor Pick up is currently in Auckland NZ. Driven regularly- hits 60mph easily enough and is a head turner!

This was manufactured in 1954 and imported to NZ as a Chassis cab. The pick up back is an original Wilco Welside built in Auckland by the Wilton Motor Body Company from the mid 1950s as NZ wouldn't allow UK backs to be imported. There is only a few in NZ of this age.

This is the one from the internet

My Morrie’s plate

The plate that my Morris has.