1960 Morris Minor "Modified" Panelvan

Description

Blessed with excellent packaging, handling and reliability - not to mention affordability - it's no wonder the Morris Minor became one of the automotive success stories of the British Motor Industry in the 1950s. Designed by Alec Issigonis, who went on to father another legend, the Mini, ten years down the track, the Minor boasted rack and pinion steering, torsion-bar independent suspension and a unitary construction bodyshell of modern, streamlined appearance. Over the course of its 23 year production life, the Minor underwent numerous improvements and the classic 1000, introduced in 1956, heralded the introduction of the 948cc A-series engine. This, coupled with a higher final drive ratio, resulted in a maximum speed of around 70 mph, while a new one-piece windscreen and larger rear window greatly improved visibilityAn estate version was introduced, known as the Traveller (a Morris naming tradition for estates, also seen on the Mini), along with van and pick-up versions. The Traveller featured an external structural ash (wood) frame for the rear bodywork. Rear bodies of the van versions were all steel.
Over 1.6 million of the lightweight, rear-wheel drive car were eventually produced, mainly in Cowley, Oxfordshire and exported around the world, with many variants of the original model. Production continued in Birmingham England until 1971 (for the commercial variants and estate only). The last Morris Minor (commercial) was assembled at Stoke, Nelson New Zealand in 1974.