Q: My husband will turn 70 next year and we’re planning a special blowout. Some old photos of him in his 20s show him with his foot propped up on the back bumper of an old-fashioned little car that he often speaks of fondly. It was light green and, foreign, and he said it was a “Minor” — but I can’t figure out what the real or full name is. I don’t want to press him for more information because we’d like to find one and buy it and present it to him on his birthday, and asking questions could alert him that something’s up and ruin the surprise element of it.
A: I’m certain he had a Morris Minor, a popular little Britishmade vehicle that ceased production decades ago.
Somewhat squatty, with roundish lines and a look of friendly mischief, it was a solid little workhorse that could charm anyone.
In fact, my first car was a Morris Minor. Back in the mid-60s when I was in high school, my mother’s boss gave her one he’d had for some reason, and he declared it “needed a little work.” It got a bunch of work and became mine.
I loved that car from the first moment it entered my life — for its distinctive look and personality. But despite an enormous amount of attention and labor, its brakes, alas, were stubbornly unreliable. After two years and one accident, I had to reluctantly give it up. I’ve never had quite the connection with or affection for any car since.
The Morris Minor has many fans and there are clubs and get-togethers of aficionados around the world.
It will take some effort to find one to buy. There’s not a huge likelihood there will be one for sale in your town or even your state. You can do a Goggle search and find quite a number of them for sale around the country. Remember the usual warnings about taking this approach to buying: Don’t write a big check to a stranger for a vehicle you’ve not seen in person and driven.
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