Turning the clock back.

[firedrake1942]

A local initiative to publicise the Saffron Walden Motor Show on the Common on the 13th of August. Uttlesford Branch have their local rally, attended by Essex, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and NLMMOC members as well, within the rally which is well attended by all sorts of vehicles and is a hop, skip and a jump from a great medieval market town, a museum and a castle.


‘Saffron Walden High Street will have a 1950s / 1960s flavour as a long- standing family business - Saffron Walden Motors - turns the clock back…. If you are walking past you may think you have gone back in time.

Largely unchanged in appearance for many years, the local-landmark, family owned car showroom will be full of a British Icon, the Morris Minor. Designed by the genius, Alec Issigonis, it was the first British car to have 1 million models made, The Minor made its debut at the 1948 Earl’s Court Motor Show and finally ceased production in 1971.

Local Uttlesford Morris Minor owners, (known as UMMOS,) will be bringing a selection of cars dating from 1954 to 1968 for display to herald and support the upcoming Saffron Walden Motor Show on the Common on the 13th of August.

The cars are all much-loved by their current owners who have lavished time and trouble (and cash) to bring them back to life, some being rebuilt from the ground up.

One, a lovely Almond Green 1968 Traveller – often called a ‘Woody’ - is Gulliver, owned by David Mitchell. It was painstakingly rebuilt by his late father Ray Mitchell, from a pile of rust found rotting in a field and has won many prizes, locally and nationally.

Another, a Clarendon Grey, 1954 Convertible, called Alice and owned by Colin Canter, took part in the Diamond Jubilee parade in the Mall.

The sharp-eyed amongst you may spot that three of the cars have an ER registration mark – RER, SER and WER. These were all supplied by the ‘local’ Morris dealer, ‘King and Harper’ in Cambridge and have remained in and around the district all their lives. Chatting to Charles, the garage owner, I discovered that he did his apprenticeship at King and Harper. It’s a very small world!

RER 919 (Neddy), a Clarendon Grey, 1957 4 door Saloon, is owned by Jon Morgan, the local club branch secretary. He bought the car in Littlebury in 1978, for £200 before he had passed his driving test and has owned it for the past 45 years.

Each car will have a ‘potted’ history displayed. Also in the showroom are some beautifully restored Petrol pumps owned by the garage.’

The move into the showroom went well and a huge thanks to Charles, of Saffron Walden Motors.

Everyone pulled together, fixing a non-closing door, drying off cars affected by the showers. Thanks to all the owners who brought their cars along, the show room is full. The Minors look great.

Even as we worked, people were stopping to look at the scene in the showroom and we came across the local owner of a Traveller we had not previously known.

Colin tried to redeem a 1950s Morris voucher, for a free 1000 mile service – valued at 13/ and found under the spare wheel of his care when he bought it. - with the garage but Charles was having none of it!

The cars and a van, are fairly representative of a range of models across the years of Minor production except for a Series MM. The local press attended and it should be in next weeks’s Walden Local. If you are in the area, pop along and have a look!

More photos on the UMMO fb page. https://www.facebook.com/uttlesfordmorrisminors.

[firedrake1942]

Thanks to Colin Canter for these additional images from inside Saffron Walden Motors.

Gary Seaman with his now dry and very beautiful K registration Austin-badged Minor Van.

David Mitchell with 'Gulliver' (Gulliver's Travels - Traveller - Geddit ? No? Oh please yourselves!) restored by his father but now lovingly driven by David. - Don't park near him in a show - he wins everything!

Colin Canter's bunting-draped, early Series II, Convertible - Alice. as seen in the late Queen's Diamond Jubilee parade in the Mall.

[myoldjalopy]

That last one looks worth a bob or two. Reminds me of the old Yorkshire saying "You won't get owt for nowt!"