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Topic starter
09/12/2024 11:20 pm
When Brooklin issued their most recent Morris Minor Million. I was once again intrigued by the overall look of the car. When I purchased the original Lansdowne Morris Minor, I thought the same thing, but at that time, really didn't pursue it any further. This time I went looking for a 1st generation version from 1948 to 1953. What I found were two convertible tourer models from 1948. One closed and one open version. These two were made by Pathfinder Models and to be honest, I am not sure what I really have here. The box for the white closed model is labeled (actually handwritten) LE 1 of 2 in this combination & hand built by Graham Price. The burgundy open model says basically the same thing, except it is a LE 1 of 1. I wish I had thought about taking photos of the box before I packed them away. I looked Graham Price up on hobbyDB and he seems to have an extensive background in model building, especially in white metal models with various companies. So, it seems that I may have something very special. All I know is that they are very unique and come packed with loads of charm. What do you think?
1948 Morris Minor Series MM Convertible Tourer (open & closed)
John Merritt
South Lyon, Michigan - USA
10/12/2024 12:32 am
The models look very nicely done, John. It sounds like they have some provenance as well.
John Kuvakas
Warrenton, VA
10/12/2024 2:21 am
How can a person not love the Morris Minor Low Light?
10/12/2024 4:51 am
What a great find - you are lucky to have found them! 😉
10/12/2024 5:18 am
One of these is on my high priority want list. He also did a pale olive with beige top-up version that I am desperately searching for. These are very attractive models and the first generation is extremely important. When the first prototypes were being produced, there was some detail (which has now slipped my mind) about getting the engine in (!) and they had to widen the body by some inches, (disguised by the raised ridge running up the bonnet). At the time of scarce resources Lord Nuffield was charged with allocating such, under the 'Export or Die' plan and on seeing the Minor, with its unusual for the day, width to length ratio, described it as 'looking like a fried egg'. And unable to believe anybody would buy such a thing, refused to allocate it resources. Pressure was applied and the rest is history. But for a small boy seeing these things still being produced in the '60s and looking terribly old fashioned, it is good to note that in 1948 they were incredibly modern - specifically for the width.
On doing a little revision I fear my memory may have mixed-up Lord Nuffield - who was William Morris and who did describe the Minor as looking like a poached egg - with Sir Stafford Cripps, who served in the Attlee ministry 1945 to '51, first as President of the Board of Trade and later as Chancellor of the Exchequer. It was Cripps who did not want to allocate the Minor the scarce recourses under his 'Export or Die' plan. I also found this....... https://cutt.ly/WeCH81wm
10/12/2024 7:41 am
Morris Minors have always appealed to me and these two models are just wonderful. Charles I really appreciate the history you supplied.
10/12/2024 8:59 am
@charles-rockett Charles; Pathfinder Models did a very nice MM low light convertible top up in the color you mention many years ago. They come up on the rare occasion on ebay.
John Merritt and Charles Rockett reacted
10/12/2024 9:35 am
@jack-dodds Is this it (not quite sure what MM low light is - perhaps headlamps in-line with grille) ?
John Kuvakas and John Merritt reacted
10/12/2024 12:34 pm
@jcarnutz Hi John
You have some very special models here. Graham Price produced models for various companies and I think he also provided an assembly service. I have one of his assembled models he did for PTH - a 1970/73 Pontiac Firebird Formula 500. On the base is a small GPA plaque.
This website provides an overview of Morris Minor generations.
https://www.thedeebees.com/a-minor-history/
You may be interested in the MM's bigger brother the MO where the looks are shared:
https://classics.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/morris/oxford-mo/
Autominologist residing in the Robin Hood County
Nottinghamshire England UK