A MINOR TOUR

Vintage cars can be a powerful way of connecting us with our past. Roadster! reader Tryfan shares his love for his dad’s 1965 Morris Minor, ‘Audrey,’ and takes us on a local history road trip around his home area in West Wales.

The Morris Minor, also known as the Morris 1000, is a very famous car produced by British company Morris.

Designed by famous genius car designer Sir Alec Issigonis (who also designed the original Mini!) it was intended to be practical, economical, and affordable. A car "the average man would take pleasure in owning". Issigonis wanted the car to be spacious, comfortable and "safe and easy to drive by everyone".

1.6 million Morris Minors were manufactured between 1948 and 1971! Today the Morris Minor is a favourite classic family-sized car in the old vehicle movement and it continues to gain in popularity.

Here, ROADSTER! reader Tryfan tells us all about his father's 1965 Morris 1000!

Tell us all about the car?

This is Audrey. She's a 1965 Morris 1000. She has 4 doors and is in Trafalgar Blue. My dad has owned it for 19 years, and he had to do a lot of work on it before it could back on the road!

Audrey is a lovely name for a car!

Thanks! She is named after a famous film actress called Audrey Hepburn.

The car is from 1965? That makes Audrey over 60 years old?

Yes, that's right! My dad said it was her Diamond Jubilee last year! We had a birthday cake to celebrate and took Audrey to the Ysgol Dyffryn Aeron Christmas car and tractor parade to raise money for my school.

Audrey is over 60 but still going strong?

Oh yes! Dad and I have lots of adventures with Audrey! Dad used the Morris to drive his friend, Kyle, to his wedding and I helped decorate the car with ribbons! We have been to lots of local car shows including the Aeron Valley Vintage Show and the Midway Show and we also went in the Morris when I helped with the tractor run in Aberaeron.

The furthest we've been to Mynachlog Ddu to see the grave of Twm Carnabwth who I learned about in school and who led the Rebecca Riots [Ed. - The Rebecca Riots were a series of 19th-century uprisings where Welsh farmers, disguised in women's clothing, destroyed road tollgates to protest the crippling taxes imposed by private road trusts. These "daughters of Rebecca" successfully forced changes to the law, proving that for the people of Wales, the right to travel freely on their own roads was worth fighting for!]

And you went in Audrey! The Morris Minor was a car designed to put the world within reach of everyone!

Yes! And Audrey has travelled over 100,000 miles so she must have been to many interesting places!

Do you like the car? What is your favourite thing about it?

I like that it's a different experience from a new car. It's like going back in time to the 1960s – 1970s. I like to watch the mileage change as we go along and I like the sound of the handbrake.

Classic cars are a lot of work to maintain. Do you get involved?

I help to wash and polish the car with my dad but I leave dad to do the maintenance. Sometimes I stay in the garage with him and watch.

In what ways is the car different from modern cars?

It's quite noisy to compared to newer cars. The exhaust sometimes rattles a bit. It doesn't have many safety feature of new cars like crumple zone and seatbelts, although my dad has fitted seatbelts in the car.

You have to check the oil and water manually instead of the car checking itself. My dad also has to put a special liquid [Wynn's Lead Substitute] in the petrol to the keep the engine working.

Does the car have any passenger comforts like heating and air conditioning radio?

If you want air conditioning you just open the window! There is a heater but it's not very good. My has dad has put in a radio with Bluetooth and I was the first person to make a phone call from the car.

What is the ride like?

It's quite comfortable. I can sleep in it while it's going with a blanket and if I'm really tired!

Is there anything you don't like about Audrey?

No, I think she's a great car!

If the car could talk, what kind of stories do you think it would tell?

Audrey has had several owners but it was in my dad's friend's garage when she bought the house so she offered the Morris to my dad so she was a very lucky car. Audrey was in very bad condition so being repaired was a very big adventure.

When you stop at a traffic light, do other people look at the car and smile or wave?

Yes, lots of people wave and talk to us when we're parked. They all find it very interesting.

Be honest, do you prefer modern cars or old cars like the Morris?

My dad has a newer car but he uses the Morris to go to work and pick me up from school sometimes. I like older cars like the Morris because there is more to do like pulling the choke and pulling the handbrake. You can even start the car with a starting handle instead of using a key!

What do you think about looking after old cars. Do you think it is important?

Yes I do! It's nice for older people to be reminded of their childhood and for younger people to see how things used to be.

This car is MUCH older than you! Is it something you be involved in looking after?

Yes! I'd like to have a Morris or anther classic car when I'm older.

Do you think other kids should be interested in older cars? Why?

Yes, there is lots of history and going to shows and talking to people who have experienced older cars is interesting and fun.

Sum her up! Marks out of 10 for Audrey?

Oh 10! She's full of character and it's interesting to go back to the past and experiencing how things used to be. We a lot of fun with Audrey!