A Red, 1930, Morris Minor Tourer, driving along the the International Paddock, at the 2022 Silverstone Classic
The Morris Minor was probably conceived over the winter of 1927/28. A very short gestation period followed compared to the standards of today, but by May 1928 prototype vehicles had been spotted and articles began to appear in the motoring press. Reference was made to the coming of a Morris Calf in deference to the new cars size and its pedigree. It had been designed as a 7 car with a 747cc engine but was updated at the 11th hour being ‘given’ another 100cc, resulting in an additional single unit of launched in September 1928, it competed head on with the Austin Seven. This was the car that had created a new market niche and had proven to be very popular with its target market; the newly prosperous lower middle class. The Austin Seven went on to top the sales charts for all models produced in the during the 1920’s. The Morris Minor was launched to much critical acclaim at the London Motor Show, Olympia in October1928. There were just two models available in its first year (the 1929 season); these being the Fabric Saloon and the four seat Tourer. It was advertised as a proper scaled down large car, a side swipe at the Seven, which was constructed on a dainty triangular chassis and was un-conventionally sprung. Much was also made of the Minor’s technically advanced engine, a full 100cc larger than the Seven, which also sported an overhead camshaft, a feature to be found on racing cars of the period and on much more expensive and prestigious cars of the day.
Size: 4312px × 3257px
Location: Silverstone Circuit, Towcester, Northamptonshire, NN12 8TN
Photo credit: © John Gaffen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: -quarters, 1930, 2022, 885cc, classic, front, international, minor, morris, paddock, pit, pits, red, silverstone, tourer, tyres, vehicle, view, vintage
