1930 Morris Minor 5cwt Van

As more small pre-war businesses struggled through the great recession, the light commercial became an important part of the economic recovery. Basic in all ways, yet reliable and cheap to operate, these little vans could nip around the towns and countryside collecting and delivering all manner of goods. Having restored one for a big tea company, then being asked to enter it in the annual Beaujolais Run, after first popping into their Paris premises, the writer can attest to the unlikely strength and resilience of these little vehicles. A useful note: when tackling the traffic around the crazy Arc de Triomphe roundabout in one of these vehicles, it was helpful for the pilot to be able to make hand signals through both driver’s and passenger window without leaving his seat. N.B. This year is the 50^th anniversary of The Beaujolais Run so what an opportunity!

Here we have an early example of the 5cwt van on the Minor chassis but unlike other light commercials of the period, it was equipped with an overhead camshaft engine based on the Wolseley design giving quite a sporting edge to the competition.

The little Vintage van which was sold by DVCA in 2008, has a nicely original appearance and would indeed benefit from light re-commissioning following a period of dry storage. There is no battery so we are unable to comment on the mechanical condition as such, but happily all appears to be in place and with a little work, this should prove a popular entrant at shows once they can be re-instated in our diaries.

The Morris comes with current V5C registration certificate, and a file of invoices and old MOT test certificates etc.

Auction Date: 20 May 2021