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Nairn across Britain
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2025 10:15 pm
by philthehill
Just been watching a television programme titled 'Nairn Across Britain' in which he journeys across the country looking at architecture. He was using a blue Minor 1000 convertible Reg No: XPC359G. Is the car still about or anyone have any history of the car.
Any information greatly received.
Re: Nairn across Britain
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2025 10:31 pm
by svenedin
I too have watched that programme.
My car is XPK 794G, a smoke grey (blue) convertible. Also 1969.
PC and PK are Guildford, Surrey registered cars.
I would be interested to hear if Nairn's car survived. There was some discussion about the car here:
viewtopic.php?t=30673
Stephen
Re: Nairn across Britain
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2025 10:36 pm
by firedrake1942
Still known to DVLA and taxed until July 2026.
Vehicle Details
Vehicle make MORRIS
Date of first registration April 1969
Year of manufacture 1969
Cylinder capacity 1098 cc
Fuel type PETROL
Vehicle status Taxed
Vehicle colour BLUE
Wheelplan 2 AXLE RIGID BODY
Date of last V5C (logbook) issued 3 October 2019.
MOT expired on the 10th of January 2021.
https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/re ... calls=true
Apparently the vehicle is in Cornwall.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DLZk4ovslJ8/
http://79.170.44.80/morrisminor.org.uk/ ... 7-8-77.pdf
Re: Nairn across Britain
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2025 10:38 pm
by svenedin
Nice find! It was SORN in 2010 so obviously restored since then. Nairn's car is very slightly older than mine, probably within a week or two. Production numbers were very low by then and ended completely (for the convertible) in June 1969.
Stephen
Re: Nairn across Britain
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2025 10:47 pm
by TravellerROG
Ian Nairn had three Minor convertibles, FPC 604C, PPH 721E and finally XPC 359G, just n which he covered at least 90,000 miles. He became quite friendly with Charles Ware, and contributed to the Charles Ware book Durable Car Ownership.
Re: Nairn across Britain
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2025 10:53 pm
by svenedin
TravellerROG wrote: ↑Mon Dec 08, 2025 10:47 pm
Ian Nairn had three Minor convertibles, FPC 604C, PPH 721E and finally XPC 359G, just n which he covered at least 90,000 miles. He became quite friendly with Charles Ware, and contributed to the Charles Ware book Durable Car Ownership.
Very interesting. All 3 are Surrey, PC (x2), PH. Did he have them from new? Seems he changed them every 2 years.....(1965, 1967, 1969)
I wonder what Nairn would think about his last car still being driven 56 years later!
Stephen
Re: Nairn across Britain
Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2025 6:54 am
by TravellerROG
svenedin wrote: ↑Mon Dec 08, 2025 10:53 pm
TravellerROG wrote: ↑Mon Dec 08, 2025 10:47 pm
Ian Nairn had three Minor convertibles, FPC 604C, PPH 721E and finally XPC 359G, just n which he covered at least 90,000 miles. He became quite friendly with Charles Ware, and contributed to the Charles Ware book Durable Car Ownership.
Very interesting. All 3 are Surrey, PC (x2), PH. Did he have them from new? Seems he changed them every 2 years.....(1965, 1967, 1969)
I wonder what Nairn would think about his last car still being driven 56 years later!
Stephen
I'm fairly sure the last one was bought new, and I think he'd be very pleased to know his old car was still giving service.
Nairn was unimpressed when the Minor went out of production, as he says in the book 'Sillybuggers decided to stop making the Minor, around 1970; I bet they are regretting it now.'
Re: Nairn across Britain
Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2025 8:50 am
by myoldjalopy
Not seen that one bimbling around the Cornish lanes yet - will keep my eyes peeled!
Re: Nairn across Britain
Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2025 10:48 am
by philthehill
Many thanks for all the input and information.
Re: Nairn across Britain
Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2025 10:49 am
by TravellerROG
philthehill wrote: ↑Mon Dec 08, 2025 10:15 pm
Just been watching a television programme titled 'Nairn Across Britain' in which he journeys across the country looking at architecture. He was using a blue Minor 1000 convertible Reg No: XPC359G. Is the car still about or anyone have any history of the car.
Any information greatly received.
Nairn also made a series called Football Towns, where he compared the aesthetics, or not, of two similar towns that had famous football teams. XPC certainly featured in the programme about Bolton and Preston.
Incidentally, the music at the beginning of Across Britain is Wade In The Water by the Ramsey Lewis Trio, Football Towns used Pepperbox by The Peppers.
Re: Nairn across Britain
Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2025 5:08 pm
by moggiethouable
'Sillybuggers decided to stop making the Minor, around 1970; I bet they are regretting it now.'
Quite right, of course it would be twice the size now, what with airbags and all those electronics, but all the same, it is surprising the Chinese have not had the sense to see the potential for all that nostalgia in modern guise.
Re: Nairn across Britain
Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2025 7:41 am
by Sleeper
Nissan Figaro ?
- nissan j.jpg (30.88 KiB) Viewed 4069 times
John ;-)
Re: Nairn across Britain
Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2025 2:54 pm
by moggiethouable