Morris Minor Van: 70 years of the commercial classic van

[@eddygilbert]

I used to drive one of these for an engine reconditioning business in Croydon. To make my day more interesting I would set myself little challenges. Some days I would wind the window down and balance a 3d piece on the flat surface of the door, then drive all around London without loosing my money. I could also drive all day, only using the clutch for take off and rev matching the rest of the time. it was also possible to drive long distances in traffic without touching the brakes. It was a lovely little vehicle to drive and I learned skills that have stood me well all my life. It was such a forgiving little van.

[@jeremylittle1581]

The tiny details in this video are really interesting. I appreciate this, and other channels like Hub Nut & Furious Driving because being in the United States, I knew nothing of these cars and the car culture of the UK. It’s been so wonderful learning about all of these. Thanks to all of you!😁

[@padshawjunction.]

Well that brought back memories of childhood. My Dad was a Butcher by trade and had one as a delivery van. His one didn't have a passenger seat fitted but had a wooden storage box . I used to sit on the box on journeys to school, no seatbelts of course. If Mum was going to be passenger he removed the box and replaced it with a cut down armchair . The rest of us sat in the back on a mattress!

[@brownsoverlane6384]

It's shocking how unconcerned we were about passenger safety back then

[@MarkSummerford]

Modern cars are quiet which I love because it’s pleasant and reduces fatigue, but I also miss all the unique noises old cars used to make. Cars had more personality.

[@idriveaclassic]

Yeah I miss the noise when I’m in my quiet proton.

[@brianwillis9673]

The quietest car I've ever been in was a 1976 Daimler Sovereign. Merc S Class, Audi A8 and BMW 7 series do not come close to it - it truly was whisper quiet.

[@geoffwright9570]

There was Less technology in classic cars . They did require more regular services than modern cars but that could be done at home by competent do it yourself owners. They also didn't need a computer to help service them unlike present Cara.

[@geoffdundee]

Mark Summerford ........... when i was a teenager in late 70,s we lived on a main road with school right next door.........i used to know what make of car was passing by guessing its engine sound without looking out window (id double check now and again to see if i was correct or not) .........ive loved cars since then but not in an anorak type of way - just love all the different designs.....have owned volvos more than 30 years.

[@clooperman3745]

@@idriveaclassic A friend of mine had a few years ago a Minor van that was upgraded a bit, he installed a new chassis, fitted a 1300 engine with extra sound proofing and lined the metalwork in the rear and made a big difference to the noise inside, my dad bought a brand new Traveller in 1968 in Peat Brown, kept it for 2 years before part exchanging it for a new VW Beetle!!!

[@hatjodelka]

My first boyfriend had one of these, bought second-hand from the GPO. It was great. We loaded up the back with a tent, sleeping bags, a frying pan, kettle and primus stove and spent a week camping in Cornwall. I have better memories of the van than of him, if truth be told!

[@garymackley-smith]

Love the matching green 💚💚

[@idriveaclassic]

Thank you. My fave coat and dress

[@anroadking]

Hi Steph, As an apprentice with Post Office Telephones (Became BT) in 1972, we were taught to drive in a matt green PO Minor van. I distinctly remember having to double de-clutch from 2nd into first as there was no syncromesh!! Looking good Steph!!

[@idriveaclassic]

I’m a pro at the old double declutch in a moggy

[@fruitychink]

Remember the rubber wings !!!!

[@stephenmarriott5485]

​@@fruitychink wheel nuts chamfered both at ends so they would not be put on the wrong way if a wheel was changed in the dark

[@raymondgreenwood9617]

1st gear was for setting off in a Minor 1000. I don't recall ever (or hardly ever) needing to change from 2nd to 1st.

[@donwright3427]

Your a snappy dresser with that matching green coat😎

[@taks8439]

Great video Steph! There is no other car that makes the sound of a trumpet like the Moggy does 😀

[@allanmollison6971]

Steph, you look great in the white go go boots. Thanks for sharing another awesome car review 😊👍

[@idriveaclassic]

Thanks they’re new!

[@peter7624]

Ah, makes me yearn for the days when Minors were so common on Britains roads. I had 3 of them, 2 saloons and a traveller JKD 3D, which I used for a couple of years as a daily driver and for camping holidays. One day the clutch went and I removed the gearbox and replaced the plate that evening and had it ready for work the following morning. Try doing that on a modern car. I remember using the starting handle to back me out of muddy camping fields, and putting the choke on, in gear, and pushing the car to get out of an ice covered car park with the wheels spinning on a fast tickover and then jumping in once it was moving! A brilliant car which I stupidly swapped for a clapped out Mk 1 Escort. Great video by the way, and what a fart that van made!

[@idriveaclassic]

I feel like there’s still a lot left though which is encouraging.

[@MacklandsMotors]

My Grandfather drove a blue Minor van and pickup whilst he worked for Bristow Helicopters, going around gathering parts and tools, and always being on call to fix series Land Rovers, Massey Ferguson tractors and anything else vital to the flying schedule.💙🛻

[@idriveaclassic]

People don’t always realise just how dependable these were 😭

[@truethought369]

Also, no passenger sun blind? I love the Morris 1000 Van. Front suspension and the way that the stub axle is set up is truly a Heath Robinson way of doing things.

[@gregorstuder606]

Beautiful green British landscape. Cute green Morris van. Stunning green jacket. You really have everything under control. So enjoyable. Greetings from a white, snowy Sweden.

[@idriveaclassic]

Thank you! Keep warm x

[@carljames3121]

The most beautiful bonnet ever designed

[@johnpark-jones4285]

Hi Steph in the early 70’s I worked for a company that made riding hats and crash helmets in South Wales and every Wednesday I drove a mm van to our headquarters in Bow London. I now own a 1955 splity and I love driving it.

[@picnz1]

Hi steph herein New Zealand Morrie Minors were very popular with plumbers Nz Gas etc and of course Nzpost and telegraph they were imported as CKD by Dominion Motors. 1972 was an oil crisis petrol prices went.through the roof as is the case right now I stepped out of a 1972 Holden utility traded on an cancelled order to NZ post of a brand new 1100 Morris Minor vans which had been resprayed mustard yellow. it was so efficent and economical. Wonderful transport

[@Cortinaman63]

Hi Steph, The AUSTIN badge Version of this van is (Extremely Rare) I was told, by the owner of the one I helped Restore 5 years ago, ( A Video of the work is on my channel), it was a 1969 (G) reg in Dark Blue, and apparently one of only "7" that Survive, I loved working on it, as you say looked the same as the Morris except for a few small details, and I think you and any other enthusiasts will Love her, and appreciate the work both I and my Friend Gary did, if anyone is interested in taking a look, I enjoyed your video, brought back nice memories of long hours working on the Austin Version, such a lovely looking little van, which I remember seeing so many of as a child on the roads brand new, in the 1960-70's.

[@keithquestedelectrical9785]

What a great van

[@idriveaclassic]

Thanks for watching!

[@davidallum6841]

I've just bought a Morris Minor pickup to tinker with as I come up for retirement. My first car was a MM series 2, 49 years ago. 30 years ago I had a traveller now I've got what I've always wanted. So thanks for a great insite into the Van side of things.

[@paulchappell]

Ear to ear grinmaker! I remember them fondly from my childhood in the early 1950s in Canada where Minors were frequently imported by Canadian Forces personnel returning 'from overseas'.

[@idriveaclassic]

Ahh of course. Still a few over there

[@michaelhalsall5684]

If they were right hand drive they would have been a "home market" model sold in Britain, if they were left hand drive they would have been "export" models sold in North America. Geeky fact, the original Morris Minor had the had the headlights down beside the grille ("low light") US regulations required headlights to be a certain distance up from the road so the raised headlights ("high light") style was initially introduced to cater for the US market. The Canadian regulations required improved tail lights for that market.

[@paulchappell]

That certainly makes sense. I don't now (almost 70 years later) recall whether they were lhd or rhd. Might they have been purchased and used for a year or two in the UK, then converted to lhd there before being imported to Canada? I doubt they were bought new in Canada, especially given the few, almost non-existent, dealers at the time.

[@simoncranch7925]

Starts on the button, iconic sound what's not to like. Looking great steph

[@andygreen1a]

Great van, lovely colour and fantastic condition. 👍I can’t remember when I last saw one of these. I love that you bring us vehicles we no longer often see on the roads, but that we’re once everywhere. Great memories.Fantastic review, so full of facts, but presented in a fun and interesting way.Your enthusiasm and passion for these classic vehicles is infectious. Yet again your retro clothing style fits so well with the vehicles you review. You always coloured coordinate. It’s like your Steph signature, to coordinate with the featured vehicle. Love it, very stylish as always. Have a great week, already looking forward to see what vehicle you bring us next week.

[@idriveaclassic]

Aw Andrew what a lovely comment. Thank you!

[@andygreen1a]

@@idriveaclassic Steph, your channel is fantastic. It’s always been good. But your presentation has got better and better. I seriously think we need people like you, Ian from Hubnut, Matt from furious driving and Ed from twincam. On tv and presenting car review programmes. Perhaps a programme on affordable classics, with some more exotic classics, just to mix things up a bit. TV is lacking a programme like that, presented by down to earth, common sense people like you. You would be a tv natural. You’re friendly, bubbly with a great knowledge, you’re always incredibly well researched. The hard work you put in behind your reviews is obvious from the detail and history of the vehicle being reviewed. Plus you have a genuine passion and enthusiasm that shines through. You have the likability factor that so many presenters on tv lack. They all look and sound exactly the same. They’re all interchangeable and boring. You have your own unique signature style and look that would make you stand out in a positive way. You’re retro outfits that are always incredibly stylish and match in with the vehicle being reviewed, sets you apart and is a fantastic signature look. It’s great that you’re KZbin channel is growing. Your presenting skills have always been good. But the last year or so, you’ve seemed to have just gotten better and better. You seem to have grown in confidence and it comes across. I really hope that 2024 is going to be a fantastic year for you personally and for your channel. I hope everything goes from strength to strength, you definitely deserve it.

[@idriveaclassic]

@@andygreen1a I am print screening and saving this comment for the next time I feel a bit pants. Thank you xx

[@andygreen1a]

@@idriveaclassic Bless you Steph. The last 2 years I have been undergoing chemo and been quite I’ll with side effects. Yourchannel along with some of the others I mentioned, have been rays of sunshine. Really cheered me up, lifted my mood, provided great entertainment and brought back, through the cars featured, many happy memories of past times and also the people I have lost that had some of these cars. So to use your words. You have been a great help at times when I felt pants. Last week, I found out that my treatment has worked and I’m back in remission. My partner Matt, who I met at the end of 2021, he lives in your general area, he’s in Dewsbury Yorkshire. Proposed to me at New Year in Malta. So I’m now on course for a great year and I sincerely hope that your year is also going to be fantastic too.👍❤️

[@idriveaclassic]

Ahh Andrew I’m so sorry you’ve faced such tough times. Crossing my fingers this is your very best year yet. Take lots of photos ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@michaelfisher9760]

My Dad’s first company ‘car’ was a Co-Op Morris Van. As children we piled into the back and sat on scraps of carpet. First in got the wheel arches. 😊

[@simplyexcellent.9749]

I just love your moggie reviews and adventures. I live in Australia and I have a 1960 2 door saloon that I have just finished restoring. A 5 year project and I’m looking forward to many years of fun driving amongst rural Australia. Please make more videos going on Morris adventures.. just love them.

[@drummingriffin]

@simply excellent. Hope you do get very many years of fun and enjoyment out of your car mate 🙂

[@davidbernard7256]

I've never seen a traveller in Victoria. I do know one came up for sale a fews ago.

[@Dave_Stafford]

Always loved the aesthetics of these. Usually, grafting a box on to half a car means the looks really suffer. This just works. Great review!

[@123sheepdip]

It's that unmistakable grown from the exhaust, makes it unique. Thanks Steph.

[@vatsmith8759]

My old ex-Police Moggie van became my first campervan with just a foam mattress and camping gaz stove in the back. So easy to work on the BMC 'A' series engine using the starting handle to turn it to TDC. Of course, like all British cars of that era it eventually rusted away.

[@jamescrainjr1388]

Poor vehicles like that had a hard life. Amazing that it has survived in driveable shape. Good info as usual. Rock those amazing white boots!

[@MrModelworx]

I absolutely love Minor vans, my Dad had one when I was very little in the late 70s, I think that was ex GPO, always had a soft spot for them, I'll never forget that parp when changing gear!. You can tell you have the knowledge on these Steph, good stuff, really enjoyed it. Oh and I'm not going to be the first to say this... Love the outfit, you look fantastic!.

[@patriley9449]

Thanks for another great video, Steph. I was a young child living in Germany when the Morris Minor came out. There were a number of these in Germany along with DKWs, Borgwards, VWs, Fiats ,GoGomobils, Messerschmidts, Issettas and more expensive brands. I always liked the look of the Minor. Also, many Europeans in the 50's drove motorcycles instead of cars because they were a cheaper way to get around. Those were great days.

[@promerops]

Hello Stef! Like you, I love Morris Minors; I have had two: a 1957 948cc 4-door and a 1962 1098cc two door. I might have mentioned this before (please excuse me if I have - I'm getting old!) - in 1972 I covered some 16000 miles in four months in the 2-door, touring Britain and Western Europe. What a car - totally reliable and extremely economical (up to 50 mpg)! As regards the van, I seem to remember that, in my vast collection of Dinky Toys and Corgi Toys, I had an MM van. It might have been the pickup, though - I seem to remember a removable metal canopy. One of my biggest regrets disposing of that collection, when we left UK for South Africa. Oh, well... Continue to take care and, please, to provide these wonderful videos. Best wishes, Colin.

[@Mark1405Leeds]

Just love your outfit!👍[and the van] Seems a better bet than a Traveler - you can fit windows and rear seats and non of that rotten wood!

[@idriveaclassic]

My traveller went rotten. Awfully sad.

[@bobss3704]

My first one was a '62 traveller then I got a '52 saloon then a '67 van and the last one a '60 saloon none of which I paid more than 25 quid for! Miss them all.

[@LangleyBeck]

They are a beautiful vein, reliable very well made. Better than any modern vehicle of today. And very good on fuel economy. I think mine used to run on fumes. Couldn't beat it. Thank you for the videos you do. A real pleasure to watch, especially with the standard Vanguard.Wish you all the best god bless you

[@replevideo6096]

The early Datsun Cherry also made that exhaust sound on the overrun. That was because it's engine was basically an A-series, carried over from when Nissan used to assemble Austin 1100s for the Japanese market.

[@tooleyheadbang4239]

They did the same with the Austin 7, decades earlier.

[@mp3bbb]

Ahh, my first car was an ex GPO van, I didn't know that fact about the rear door hooks which it had. I hand painted it in council lamp post green and fit a vinyl roof over the front cab. I paid £20 for it, I wish I still had it. I seem to remember that the passenger seat folded over twice. Great review that brought back memories.

[@idriveaclassic]

It’s such a geeky fact on my part but I love it

[@itsmephil2255]

Brian loves that van, his O/H has a lovely saloon, and he has a cracking rover 600 as well Nice to see that van on IDAC

[@rogerlee6599]

"Thank You, Steph !" . . . . . . "Keep on Motoring in your own ex-Government Morris Minor !" You do have such a really lovely style presenting your videos & yes your Fashion Sense matching the rare Morris Minor Van with the same colour dress is simply spot on ! "Keep On Doing . . . . . .What YOU do so well !" as I love to watch your Videos ! Take Care, Steph ! Roger.

[@rockatansky1305]

It was " low line" not " low life", And thank you very much for reviewing the best little van ever, I've had two in my life over many years, and since had some very nice classics, but frankly I'd have a mint Moggy van anytime, they're just brilliant !!!

[@idriveaclassic]

Sorry if I wasn’t clear, I said low light ☺️

[@andyarmstrong1493]

When I was an apprentice in the 70's, these were a common vehicle in Post Office Telephones. Had a lovely ripping noise from the exhaust. One creative colleague put an Austin Healey Sprite carb on his, went like the clappers! Happy days.

[@brianwillis9673]

I drive a modern van with a bulkhead, sound deadening and all mod cons. It's still noisy. Great video, Steph - I'm slowly being converted into buying a Morris Minor, but still love my eighties cars!

[@MrLouA]

Another cool video, Steph! That's a great little van, love the sound from that side exhaust. And fully agree with all your thoughts about changes being made to vintage vehicles. There is a line to be drawn as far as going too far and taking away from the character and personality in owning one. Go too far, and what's the point, really? Just buy something new! Always looking forward to your next vid! Best, Lou

[@paultaylor7082]

Nice post. My dad and I each had ex GPO vans (both 1965 C reg), I had mine from March 1972 for a year, until the gearbox went, my dad had his for 2 1/2 years until lat 1974.. I've owned an F reg (1968) Traveller in Trafalgar Blue since 2010. Still a great little car.

[@drummingriffin]

My Brother in law (at the time) had one for work in that very same green. I think his was a 'G' reg. I have never loved the sound of any other road going car exhaust more than the minor. Thanks for bringing back some good memories for me Steph.

[@peterward3965]

The old moggie had a very distinctive rasping engine noise when changing gears. You hear a moggie on the approach 200yrds away. I drove them when working for the post office 1975. We emptied the phone boxes of their cash around the area. Driving a moggie or mini van. Enjoyable video, thank you.

[@BobEarnshawMoHo]

Excellent, I was an apprentice with Post Office Telecommunications, later to be BT. Remember travelling around in Morris vans, happy memories.

[@ericchristopher1687]

"Right, then! Let's go on an adventure!" I love your videos :)

[@sarran1955]

Hello Steph, 19:24 , well they might have done a good job on the gearbox..just that they forgot to screw on the speedo cable...😁 I love the outfits, and the slimline look... Cordialement,

[@malcolmlane-ley2044]

Indeed, I have noticed quite a few low mileage classic cars have this problem!

[@idriveaclassic]

So I was so into the drive and feeling my way through the box that I didn’t even clock the speedo until I came home to edit. Whoops.

[@chrisbury4635]

You really suit the Moggy van in your lovely outfit, I do like green 💚 I remember the seatbelt law coming in, I was 8 years old lol 😆

[@philipcupid6660]

Hi Stephanie - I always see a Bright Yellow Morris Van that is run by our local community Drogerie in Steinhausen, Switzerland and I can't be certain if it is left or right hand drive, but it always reminds me of growing up in London and seeing the odd Traveller or Convertible running around in the 1970's.

[@buddhastaxi666]

Morris Minors are fantastic. My Father had a tan van in the mid 1950s. I can remember going around Wales and Shropshire in the back standing up looking at the road as a toddler wrapped up against Winter as the van was unlined. I dont know where my sister sat

[@worshipthenephilim]

Great video thank you Lovely - really enjoyed all those Moggie facts. I LOVE Morris Minors, I grew up with them so many great childhood memories. (My second ever classic van was an A35 though!). May I say too that you are looking especially fabulous in this vid, gorgeous outfit and those boots are the BEST!

[@paulchenery8013]

Forget about anything else Steph! I love you're Morris Minors!

[@shanevanc]

Got a thrill hearing you rowing thruogh the gears as you climbed that first hill. So glad it is so loud inside. Seems like a wonderful drive.

[@glennlingard7851]

Talking about fitting different seats, back in the day we used to swop mini seats with 1100 seats, bit of fiddling but they were so nicer to sit in compared to the old early mini seats🙂

[@davidevans4089]

Great video. I have always liked moris minors. I must say your outfit looks great.

[@idriveaclassic]

Thanks David!

[@robertsolomielke5134]

Lovely Lil truck , and you can nod off in the back , what fun!

[@RogerGR]

You are clearly so enthusiastic - it's clear you're a fan - and I can see why! What a lovely little van!

[@r1273m]

That was a great video. I had a couple of Minor 1000 saloons but my dad bought a new Austin badged minor van in 1967. It had the Austin badge on the front of the bonnet and an "A" on the steering wheel horn, but the two little rubber overriders(?) with the reflectors on the rear of the van still had a letter "M" just like the Morris vans. Interesting to see on the door pillars the pressed mountings still for the now discontinued semaphore signals.

[@louislepage5111]

I love the sheep grazing in the background 😊

[@russellnixon9981]

This must be one of your best reviews so far, your knowledge and enthusiasm shines though. I also love the colour coordination you always seem to to have just the right dress for the ocation. PS you should use that grate fraze, " lets go on an adventure " as you cache fraze. just magic.

[@idriveaclassic]

Thank you so much Russell!

[@Zeem4]

I used to work in the same place as Ray Newell of the MMOC, also an author of several books about the Morris Minor. His office walls were plastered with pictures of Morris Minors. Strangely enough, the largest and most prominent one was a period photo of an Oxford MO.

[@idriveaclassic]

I’ve known Ray for years ☺️

[@tooleyheadbang4239]

@@idriveaclassic After the new shape Oxford came out, the MO series Oxford was often known as the 'big Morris Minor' to distinguish it.

[@Vince_uk]

Yep, they were all over the place at one time a great vid Steph.

[@idriveaclassic]

Thanks Vince!

[@dougywales]

Hi Steph another great video! A couple of odd facts about the Vans and Pickups, they were built on a separate chassis, hence the seats are higher up than the saloons which were monocoque. Also, the first of the GPO vans in the 50's had Rubber front wings, as had the Z type before them.

[@johnkeepin7527]

Reminds me of one that the local farmer ran when I was a kid. It was used to deliver bottles of milk each day (except Sundays). Empty glass bottles were taken back to the farm for reuse as well.

[@PercyPruneMHDOIFandBars]

My favourite van fact. The early GPO vans actually had rubber front wings! Excellent. Great video Steph, been missing your Moggie vids! (Shame the speedo's bust) 😉

[@michaelclutton8446]

Thanks for the video, I learnt to drive in one of these, it never let me down. Your looking good

[@idriveaclassic]

Oh really! That’s cool!

[@michaelclutton8446]

@@idriveaclassic I remember my dad sticking an L plate on the back door.

[@EI6DP]

I had one of those vans. Fabulous to drive and very economical on petrol.

[@roygardiner2229]

The video was, as always, interesting, with lots of small details. By the way, the scenery was great, too!

[@paulwatts2192]

You know a moggie is Coming down the road a mile away, that exhaust note is wonderful.

[@welshchris1951]

I had one of these as my company van for my first job in 1972. Austin badged version if I recall correctly. When I was given the keys on the first day I was told "The speedo doesn't work, the garage is waiting for the part, meantime just use your judgement!" I noticed that the speedo wasn't working on your test drive.

[@trevordelamotte9017]

Lovely van lovely color and a sweet stubborn Speedo lovely.

[@simonbarnwell7787]

I learned to drive in a H reg Morris pick up , even by the late Seventies there was considerable rot in chassis rail tops , spring hangers and wings etc , which we had to weld up so that we could use it for delivery work , going by that rate of corrosionit it's remarkable that any survive .

[@michaeltutty1540]

Great video and very informative, Steph. Lovely van that. I've only made it as far as seatbelts so far, but wanted to comment about the mounts. They were made standard in 1961 for a very simple reason: Seatbelt mounts were mandated in the US on cars built towards the end of 1960, so about when 1961 production began. Makes sense that the Minor had the mounts made standard no matter which market a car was made for, as there were hidden structural reinforcements added to provide sufficient strength for the mounts. The Morris Minor was one of the British cars that sold in somewhat respectable numbers on this side of the pond. Morris wasn't about to walk away from what was a fairly lucrative market. The noise inside is, as you say, quite loud. I don't know if that is stock or not, but the location of the exhaust outlet is not helping. The van would be much quieter with the exhaust going straight out the back as it does on the other body styles. Interesting that the van has 78 cubic feet of cargo space. That is only about 1.5 cubic feet more than a Volvo 145 from 67 onwards, but the Volvo does that with a full sized spare wheel inside as well as the rear seat in place but folded down. I realize the Volvo is a larger car and with its 1.8 litre 4 cylinder it is in a different engine class, so something of an apples to oranges comparison.

[@Mortimer50145]

I remember my mum's 1960 2-door Moggie couldn't have seat belts fitted. My dad enquired when he bought the car second-hand for my mum when she passed her test in 1966, and was told that both the B pillars and the bodywork near the rear wheels were too weak to take seat belt mountings, so the car couldn't have conventional seat belts anchored at the top of the B pillar and couldn't even have those unwieldy "10-feet-long" belts that were anchored beside the rear seat. That aspect of the Moggie was lethal: the seats weren't locked to the floor as they are on modern 2-door cars, so even an emergency stop (without colliding with anything) would cause a rear-seat passenger to catapult a front seat passenger into the dashboard (been there, got the split lip and the bruise on my forehead from striking the metal dashboard). Sounds as if mum's Moggie may have been one of the last that *couldn't* have seat belts if they became standard in 1961.

[@johnjtm1097]

Another really enjoyable video Steph. All that enthusiasm for Morris Minors really made me smile and I could really feel the immense pleasure and joy the van gave you. You mention the "Minor Fart" at 22:44. I always knew it as "blowing raspberries".

[@Mortimer50145]

I've always wondered: what was it about the Morris Minor engine and/or exhaust system which meant that it farted if you lifted off the power (eg when going down a hill), when other cars didn't/don't make that noise. It's very different from the backfiring that you get with some high-performace "penis cars" (cars that compensate for the drivers inadequacy in the wedding-tackle area) due to unburned fuel getting into the exhaust and then igniting. I remember one of my mates, back in the days when cars had carburettors, showing how if he turned off his ignition while the car was travelling in-gear, waited a few seconds and then turned the ignition back on, he got a very impressive (both audibly and visually) explosion of unburned fuel from the exhaust pipe (it only works with carburettors, when fuel/air continues to be admitted into the engine; fuel injection cuts off the fuel flow when the ignition is turned off). Probably doesn't do the baffles in the silncers a lot of good...

[@FMFGUF]

@@Mortimer50145 I think its due to the Morris Minor exhaust having just one silencer near the front and then curving up and over the rear axle in quite an arc. I've fitted a Maniflow LCB system to my Traveller and it no longer makes this parp.

[@Mortimer50145]

@FMFGUF That's cruel, to deprive a Moggie of its parp ! Interesting that it wasn't redesigned when it was discovered during early road testing - it probably would be now. I didn't know the Moggie only had one silencer. Were there any other cars like that?

[@FMFGUF]

@@Mortimer50145 True, but the car runs alot better without such a restrictive exhaust. The classic Mini 850/1000 had just the one silencer also.

[@Phiyedough]

My dad worked for GPO and bought one of their vans they were replacing. He made a wooden back seat for us kids. He later also had a saloon and a traveller. I have always had a soft spot for them but the nearest thing I've owned was a 1960 Riley 1.5.

[@mrmitch5054]

Love this Steph

[@JohnDavis-ed5sg]

When I was 17 I worked in a workshop learning how to service a motley collection of vans, for a building contractor who had a policy of buying ex fleet vans at auction. One day I had to go to Southampton (on the 47 bus) to collect a Minor van. As I left the auction I just accelerated a little and it immediately did a 360 spin, it was a wide road and quiet so no accident, but I found that on any bend or under any acceleration the back end would let go. I started to rather enjoy this and learned a lot in the 15 mile drive about low speed oversteer and felt like Stirling Moss as I drifted round bends at 10 mph. It must have looked very odd to anyone following. Subsequently we found that it had been fitted with enormously hard springs and oversize offroad rear tyres, and it was a bit better after these were changed but it was still lethal in the wet. We had several and most were well behaved and certainly reliable - I loved them.

[@brendanmaloney8487]

The Morris Minor is a much loved car in New Zealand.

[@graemew7001]

I thought I recognised that road, this and the Bentley video were filmed round by me in County Durham. I do love a Moggy too, don't care the variant, they're all just fab east to look after classics.

[@idriveaclassic]

Yeah I don’t think I was too far from you

[@graemew7001]

@@idriveaclassic Yeah Bishop Auckland is 10 mins from me and Barnard Castle about 25 mins. Now do you see what I mean about gorgeous countryside on my doorstep?

[@martinday4457]

I love a Moggy. A great informative video as always Steph.👍

[@hectorshouse7348]

What a beauty…thanks Steph 👍

[@idriveaclassic]

Thanks for watching lovely

[@ellarson1]

I like it when you match the cars you review...

[@collinhunter9792]

absolutely ace. the van, the video, the presenter AND the clothes. Thankyou Steph

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Great little review Steph, do enjoy a review on a Morris Minor, it simply is a iconic little car.

[@keithmccrail4442]

Brilliant video Steph, what a great van ❤👍😁

[@jkk244]

Another great video from Steph! Always brightens my day and I know I’m going to learn a lot while being entertained!

[@billolsen4360]

Darn cute lil van with those old-school front fenders (wings).

[@tooleyheadbang4239]

American styling was all the rage in the late '40s.

[@garethdavies7326]

Love the van! Temp gauge bracket looks like a knee slicer though.

[@martinevans1256]

What a lovely van

[@scottstrails9369]

Another great video from a top presenter…thank you for putting this together.

[@jonathan461965]

Nice vid Steph. I bought a van last September with modern seats in. First job, change those seats! lol.

[@robertdemeny251]

"Sidepipe" like the Citroën 2CV AK and AZU. Love it. Actually I though it was so cool, that I fitted it to my regular 2CV 😃

[@parne1978]

Nice one Steph love the boots my dad brought a moggy in the early eighties for mum we took it apart but it was to rotten where my tinkering started I was only 5 or 6 lol I think it was sold on for parts

[@idriveaclassic]

Ahh so many lost to the spare parts bin

[@rocketsock4297]

Very cool! Love the content Steph! 👍

[@idriveaclassic]

Thank you!!

[@11carbuff19572011]

Steph, I just love your test drives. You've just gotta be a TV star one day, maybe bring back the original format of Top Gear when a test drive was done properly and not incorporating somewhat innate lunacy like there's been in the last 20 years since that show was revived.

[@idriveaclassic]

Thank you!

[@andygreen1a]

I couldn’t agree more.👍

[@Mortimer50145]

To do a proper Top Gear review, Steph would have to practice her "Woollarding" - standing at the front of the car, with one foot raised on the bumper bar, while talking to camera, which presenter William Woollard did on many of his reports, to the point that it becamea cliché.

[@tooleyheadbang4239]

@@Mortimer50145 'Woolard' became a word to describe a know-all customer, in the retail motor trade, derived from the arsehole in question.

[@danpeters7850]

Lovely classic

[@johnbenson2919]

Terrific video, Morris Minors and vans in the same show. My first car was 2 Morris Minors bought for £35 the pair (one bad body and good engine , one good body, bad engine) and a weekend of tinkering. I fell in love with vans when I worked for a BL dealership in the 70's and sometimes had to use their Marina vans or their Sherpa, and although I was used to driving the Marina saloon, I much preferred the van and have loved driving vans ever since. For some weird reason I always feel more relaxed in a van. Today as a gardener, I'm lucky enough to have the perfect excuse for owning a van, all be it a modern one, but if ever I get the chance then my first classic will probably be a van of some description from the BMC/BL range.

[@AUCHTERMUCHTYZZ]

Hi Steph don’t know why I missed this vid? Brill as usual