My friend in LA just took ownership of a Morris Minor project, and I’m so excited to see it up and running. These are such charming little proper puttering cars. Also, I think they’re one of that class of car where the second-generation redesign actually made the car look significantly better. Remember, the Minor started life with its headlights down low as the Morris Minor MM from 1948 and in 1953 the Series II moved them up into the fenders: Personally, I think the higher-headlight version has a much more appealing face, even if the double chrome trim around the grille is kind of strange. The old one reminds me of a proboscis monkey for some reason that the newer one doesn’t even though that central hood lump is unchanged. What do you think? Is it just me? That said, even a regular Minor saloon would do, especially if I could give it front discs and a built 1275. Fast, these were not. They were, however, fun to drive and easy on fuel. The late, high-headlight versions are definitely prettier, IMO. http://gtsupreme.com/schlorwagen-pillbug-1936/ Drag coefficient of 0.18 in 1936. That is a lower Cd value than any current car in production almost a century later. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gx6_wrFZcu0 The Morris Minor isn’t a bad looking car and the 2nd gen version is definitely a more handsome vehicle. I didn’t think the first gen looked like a proboscis monkey before but I do now so thanks for that I guess. I saw those guys in 1982/3? at the Serbian Church Hall in Ecorse MI. Awesome!!! You know, the one with the Rubber front wings… https://heritage.elettra.co.uk/motoring-icons/photo-17/5/ Did some research on the vehicle I’ve owned over the years for their 0-60 times (all automatics): 1984 Buick Century (V6): 11.1 1986 Cutlass Ciera (Iron Puke 4 cyl): 15.3 1988 Cutlass Calais (Quad 4 “regular”): 8.8 1995 Chevy Cavalier (2.2l): 10.1 1999 Chevy Tracker (4cyl): 8.4 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara (v6): 8.6 2012 GMC Acadia: 7.1 2017 Chevy Volt: 7.5 Going from memory, no way did I think my Chevy Tracker was quicker off the line than the Calais. And the Acadia makes quite a bit more noise to beat its garage mate Volt. 1984 Honda Civic (1.3l, 5-speed manual) 12 1998 Ford Escort ZX2 (5-speed manual) 7.4 2009 Toyota Matrix XR (5-speed manual) 8 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT (6-speed manual) 8.9 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT (6-speed automatic) 8 This is from the google. I could have swore the 2013 was faster – it certainly felt faster – but for the most part I sure have kept everything in the same rough speed range huh? The Tourer is an export LHD model purchased new in San Diego by the woman from whom I bought it last year. It’s a complete tear down restoration project but every time I look at the shiny factory paint in the sills I remind myself that it’s worth it. The Traveller I bought from a Facebook ad for £800 ($1,200) and had sent over. Thanks to a dear friend in Ringwood a lot was done to it there before shipping. New wood..bottom end rebuild of the 1098..welding..so on..so forth. They are a joy to drive. A return to simple times. Yes – not fast – but…pleasant. They’re comfortable for for a full size person, they handle very well and they make people smile. What more could you ask? Also, that ad at the top looks like it’s straight out of A-ha’s Take On Me video. One time on the big-ass hill coming out of Cincinnati on I71 & 75 south, I had to stop at the bottom due to construction and traffic. When we got moving again, I couldn’t get it above second gear. We actually got passed by a loaded cement truck with its flashers on. Highway humiliation, Type 2 style. “Kapow!!!” “Wshhh!!!” But the real life Morris would be more just “putt-putt” That means used to take almost an entire minute to hit 60mph before the upgrade to the one-liter engine. Wow!
