Morris Minor Owners Club

Copied MM price list when new in May 1968 including accessories about which recliners are listed.
I was in the process of refurbishing a pair of these some time ago but stopped due to illness. I’ve since completed 1 and 3/4 done on the second. Before and after pics attached, I hope.

And we complain about VAT!! Purchase tax, see above price list, looks to be around 28%

Good looking finish on the seats

Dave H.

That's why the Minor van (and the Mini etc) were popular purchases - because pre-VAT, the purchase tax wasn't payable on commercial vehicles.
A good number of people bought a van new and fitted a rear seat. If you then fitted rear windows and created a "car", you were supposed to pay a proportion of the purchase tax!

The reclining seats are rare. Very few people took up the option and they're hard to come by now. You've made a good job of them

ManyMinors wrote: ↑Sat Jul 06, 2024 8:03 am That's why the Minor van (and the Mini etc) were popular purchases - because pre-VAT, the purchase tax wasn't payable on commercial vehicles.
A good number of people bought a van new and fitted a rear seat. If you then fitted rear windows and created a "car", you were supposed to pay a proportion of the purchase tax!

The reclining seats are rare. Very few people took up the option and they're hard to come by now. You've made a good job of them

Correct on the taxation. 1966 my Dad brought a new Commer Imp Van. The design of the van load bed meant he could cut out the portion where the rear seat would be in the Hillman Husky Estate and as a skilled Carpenter, he made and upholstered a bench seat, complete with removable backrest.
Fitted all 4 kids in the back! We didn't have any windows....

Prices didn't change much either. I bought a VW Beetle 1302S (1600cc go faster version), new, in 1971 and it was just over £700 on the road.

daveejhitchins wrote: ↑Sat Jul 06, 2024 7:37 am And we complain about VAT!! Purchase tax, see above price list, looks to be around 28%

Good looking finish on the seats

Dave H.

Purchase tax used to vary greatly. Kit cars were also exempt from it. Crisps weren't, as when VAT replaced Purchase tax, crisps went down (1/2p), as they were exempt from VAT!!

Seats look like you’re doing great.

I find it interesting that you've found a 1968 Price List which references the reclining front seats.
Ray Newell's Original Morris Minor mentions that .... 'Reclining were also briefly offered as an extra and are featured in 1970 versions of the Driver's handbook...'
So the inference is that they might have been offered in 1970, not 2 years before that.
Did it take 2 years to update the Drivers Handbook?
They would usually be updated regularly to keep up with new features....

It's interesting to see a photo of a reclining seat. It's very similar to a regular one, not what I was expecting. Do you happen to have photos without the upholstery to see the frame and mechanism? Thanks.

The frames are almost the same except of course for the reclining mechanism on each side and the double row of stretchers on the squab frame, see pics:

Thank you for the photos. It looks like just a couple of positions were available. The extra straps near the top to support the person's body is an extra touch. They also must have expected extra loading on the rear legs so they added a spreader. There would have been extra loading on the front floor clamps but being on either side of the sub-frame, it probably was okay.

You can’t see the teeth on the inside of the mechanism which give approx 12 position from vertical to horizontal. The other difference is the carpeting of the lower rear squab which Newton copied. Can’t find the new pic but original shown out of interest. The squab padding is double thickness and had a ‘shoulder’ shaped plastic cover at the top. Remarkably they’re both intact.

Very interesting and 12 positions is impressive considering you have to hold your head up due to the short squab. All the way to horizontal, very Sixties trying to make a bed but one would have to put block under the rear legs to level it. Are the screws for the carpeting into the base? Is the carpeting there due to the flexing when reclined? But will cause stressing of the joint with the vinyl.

Good questions! I haven’t tried it flat since rebuilding and I guess the carpet is there to stop damage when flexing. I’ve yet to replace the screws you mentioned. Cheers, John

You are doing a great job preserving an almost non-existing part of Minor history, like an urban legend.

That’s kind of you to say so but we’re all doing our bit for these wonderful cars! I bought the recliners from eBay awhile back but missed the other rare MM convertible rarities which are stainless steel rear window frames only used on export minors, never seen them for sale again,