Saturday 18th April 1970

British Leyland announced that production of the Morris Minor, Britain’s longest-running car would cease by 1971. The Morris Minor debuted at the 1948 Earls Court Motor Show. Designed under the leadership of Alec Issigonis, more than 1.3 million were manufactured in three series: the MM (1948), the Series II (1952) and finally the 1000 series (1956). Initially available as a two-door saloon and tourer (convertible), the range was expanded to include a four-door saloon in 1950, a wood-framed estate (the Traveller) from Oct.1953 and panel van and pick-up truck variants from May1953. It was the first British car to sell over one million examples and is considered a classic example of automotive design, as well as typifying “Englishness”.