End of the Minor

End Of The Minor

The Morris Minor saloon is to be phased out of production at the end of this year, British Leyland Motor Corporation announced yesterday. But the Minor Traveller estate car and delivery van will still be made and saloons will be available for another 12 months.

One of the British motor industry's greatest successes, the Minor first went into production in 1948. Manufacture of the convertible ceased a year ago. Total output of all versions of the Minor had reached 1,536,000 at the end of 1969 and in recent years about 40 per cent of production has been exported.

The Minor still looks much the same as it did when it was launched at the first postwar London Motor Show 22 years ago.

DAILY EXPRESS
END OF THE ROAD FOR THE MORRIS MINOR
By David Benson

It's goodbye soon the to an "Old Faithful" of motoring world – the Morris Minor. The car was a sensation when it was introduced at the 1948 Earls Court Motor Show. The forerunner of the Mini - the Minor was the first car produced by B.M.C; to be designed in its entirety by Sir Alec Issigonis, the brain behind the Mini, 1100, and 1800.

And now Lord Stokes, head of British Leyland, has decided to phase out Britain's most successful post-war car. Toughness and reliability were the secret of. the car's success, so much so that it refused to die despite frequent attempts by the management to drop it.

A company spokesman said: "The car will probably go out of production towards the end of September or early October but the saloon car will be available for at least another 12 months from now."

Saved from the axe are the Traveller and van versions.