Morris Minor Owners Club

Just curious....
What's the general conclusion on the "better" Minor 1000

The "Early" ones with the smaller engine and three spoked steering wheel

or

The "Late" Ones with the bigger engine and two spoked steering wheel

Bearing in mind you have to take in to account the interior, aesthetics, practicality and everything that made the two similar cars in fact quite different

I voted early, because mines early, but in reality the later ones are better ( bigger engine etc). but i think the early ones have more character than the later ones

Later

get one made in 1963- duo tone interior, clap hand wipers, 3 spoke steering wheel and early side lights. Comes with a 1098 too

i don't know which way to vote, i love a split screen with a cheese grater grille, but the lack of power (and my natural desire to tinker and modify) would lead me to put a bigger engine in. and then i'd have the stigma of being the person who modified a rarer minor!

the other big problem with the early ones is parts availability, and the permanent windscreen leak! and (in the saloons case) a small rear window that you can't see out of!

The later ones are easy to get parts for, and if (like me) you do a LOT of miles then you want something with cheap, sourcable parts! Late ones have better rear lights, and already come with indicators, which will make regular driving safer.

This is all heading towards me prefering a later car myself, especially as it's better for my conscience to be 'ruining' a more common model.

But it depends what you want from it. Personally, if I could live with a standard car that i'd do very few miles in, and never see a drop of rain, then i'd get an early one. If i want to modify something and drive 1000 miles a month in all weathers, i'm very happy with a late one!

I'm with Youngcamper '61'62'63 clap hands wipers nicer dashboard, but a 1098 cc engine

for me early or later doesn´t mater the important is to be a Morris Minor

ASL642 wrote:I'm with Youngcamper '61'62'63 clap hands wipers nicer dashboard, but a 1098 cc engine

I agree I have a 64 but with the older style dash

I like the old style dash, but in mine I think I would prefer the bigger engine, like my old one.....