The Morris Minor 'Ute'
| Designer | Alec Issigonis |
| Dates | 1953-1971 |
Description
Between 1953 and 1971* the Morris Minor was developed into a multipurpose utility vehicle. By this time Morris and Austin had merged and become the British Motor Company (BMC). A box chassis was designed onto which a front cab and different backs could be bolted. One of four designs could be supplied; a van, a pick-up and a chassis cab with or without a rear panel to the cab. The latter two provided the most variations of designs from high-tops, milk floats and even ice-cream vans. (*Production of vans continued until 1972 on the request of the Post Office.)
Austin and Morris Minor vans became the work horse for many utility providers. Post office vans in service red, green GPO telephone engineers vans, bright yellow AA vans and even sky blue and white Police vans were common place in every town and village around the UK. Builders, bakers and candle stick makers all had a trusty Minor light commercial van (LCV) painted in their own livery.
Many were shipped to foreign parts fully assembled except those to Australia and New Zealand. These were sent as Completely Knocked Down Kits (CKDs) and assembled under licence and final paint applied. It was there the term 'Ute', short for utility, became the name for pick-ups. Most of these 'utes' had custom made flat-bed backs, useful for rough work in harsh conditions.
From Izmir to Icon
The Morris Minor itself was a most versatile vehicle whether as a family saloon, estate or open top tourer and has become an icon of the post war years. There are few films from the mid 40’s to 70’s that doesn't’t feature in the background the loveable ‘Moggie’. Sometimes they had a starring role as in Monty Python’s Flying Circus; Open all hours or George and Mildred. Later programmes like Heartbeat and Miss Marple relied strongly on their presence to authenticate the period. The Hollywood film The Borrowers only used Morris or Austin Minors, whether it was a stretched limo, yellow taxi cab or even a removal vehicle, dozens of vehicles everyone a Minor!
One fine example of a tourer is 'Winston' owned by my friends in Banff, Alberta. Jack and Helen have cherished 'Winston' since 1967. I first met them in 1980 and we have been friends ever since. It has had two major rebuilds and turns heads every summer when it's about town. It even appears in the February 2008 issue of Minor Matters, the official Morris Minors Owners Club (MMOC) magazine, having been spotted by a member!
Like most icons a series of events made the Morris Minor possible. These can be traced back as far as the British involvement in building the Smyrna (Izmar)-Aydin Railway, now in Turkey, in 1856. A Greek named Demosthenis Issigonis worked as an engineer on the project and gained British nationality as a result. Although he stayed in Smyrna his son, Constantine, also received British nationality. Constantine married Hulda Prokopp, of German descent, and in 1906 they had a son called Alexander, or Alec as he is known.
The second event to have some major influence was the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922) when the port of Smyrna, given to the Greeks following the Great War, was the centre of vicious and bloody fighting. As British nationals the Issigonis family were evacuated by British Royal Marines to Malta. Their British status had saved the family from the fate that befell those left behind. By the following year Constantine had died and Hulda and Alec moved to Britain.
Alec followed his father and grandfather into engineering attending Battersea Polytechnic and The University of London External Programme. After this his mother bought him a car to tour Europe. The following two years, in what was a very unreliable vehicle, focused his mind into wanting to design a car that would be a pleasure to drive. Under pressure from his mother to get a job he became an engineer/designer for Humber, working on suspensions and after a spell with Austin he moved to the Morris Motor Company (MMC). By 1948 he had designed the Morris Minor. The rest, they say is history.
A Personal View
I have fond memories of my first car, a 4 door Morris Minor saloon. It had a character of its own and holes in the floor to match. I bought it the same weekend I met my wife and remember water pouring out of the glove compartment as we turned a corner; straight onto her lap... I can still identify the sound of a Morris Minor as it's exhaust 'pops' between gears as it passes nearby.
Today this love for the Moggie has been past to my middle daughter who bought 'Alfie' last year (see photo above), before she even had taken a driving lesson! 'Alfie' is a 1971 ex Post Office engineers van (serial No. U257985) and was built just 8 months before the last Post Office van was made. I'm don't know when he was converted into a flat bed ‘Ute’ but he is one of a kind as each flat-bed is custom made.
I see plenty of smiles when I give him a run out, which is wonderful to see. The other day a woman crossing the road in front of me just stopped and stared at him, just as well I have just replaced all the braking system!
Context
There has been very few vehicles produced that can claim the range of styles or versatility of that of the Minor. Recognised around the world this quintessentially British car will forever be an icon. Not bad for a car that William Morris, the founder of MMC, described as a 'poached egg' and wished was never built!
Over the years Minors have been subject to many uses. One van, called 'The Snail', has had a caravan graphed onto its back. Dozens of others have been converted into 'hot-rods' and 'extreme' cars. Not all would be welcomed at a MMOC rally! This has been helped by the growth in the spare parts market. When I first owned a Morris, in the late '70s, parts where only found in the scrap yard. Today there are dozens of companies producing a full range of parts. Below are a list of links that show some of these 'radical' vehicles.
And Finally...
Not all Morris Minors find the loving homes they deserve.
In New Zealand, where the Morris is plentiful, I came across dozens of 'Moggies' pushing up daisies. If only the luggage allowance was more...
Links
The Morris Minors Owners Club - the offical club for serious owners.
The Minor LCV Register - a group that promotes the Minor light commercial van, whatever it's condition or use.
MGM-Spares - all the parts you need!
Minor Mania - radical Minors and other great stuff.
| Author: | Alan Graham | Date: | March 2008 |