1969 Morris 1300 Saloon

1969 Morris 1300 – One Former Keeper – A Wonderful Period Survivor

The Classic Car Guys UK are delighted to offer this exceptionally charming Morris 1300, registration MLG 669H.

Every now and again a classic comes along that seems to transport you straight back in time, and this Morris is one of those cars. From the moment you open the door, with its beautifully preserved pale green interior and even that unmistakable smell of a car from this era, it feels remarkably special.

The V5C records just ONE former keeper, meaning this Morris has had only two registered keepers in total.

The odometer is showing just 16, 061 miles. While we cannot warrant the mileage, looking at the remarkable overall condition and preservation of the car, we do believe the displayed mileage could be genuine. It is, however, being offered with the mileage unwarranted, and prospective purchasers should make their own assessment.

A LITTLE HISTORY

The Morris 1300 belongs to BMC’s famous ADO16 family, one of the most important British family cars of the 1960s and early 1970s.

Developed under Sir Alec Issigonis, the man behind the Mini, the ADO16 took many of the Mini’s revolutionary ideas and developed them into a larger, more practical family car.

It featured a transverse-mounted 1275cc A-Series engine, front-wheel drive, front disc brakes and Alex Moulton’s Hydrolastic interconnected suspension, sophisticated engineering for an everyday family saloon of the period.

And this wasn’t simply another British saloon.

The ADO16 became Britain’s best selling car for several years during the 1960s and early 1970s. When MLG 669H was new, cars like this were everywhere, on British high streets, outside family homes and carrying families on their annual holidays.

More than half a century later, finding one with this sort of character is a very different proposition.

Finished in a wonderfully period dark green with a contrasting pale green interior, the car presents beautifully.

The interior is perhaps one of its greatest attractions. The seats, matching door cards, dashboard and carpets retain exactly the sort of appearance that makes an older car feel authentic rather than restored to within an inch of its life.

It even still smells like an old Morris should.

That may sound like a strange thing to mention in a sales advert, but anyone who grew up around British cars of this period will understand immediately.

Open the door and there is that distinctive aroma of an old British motor car, something that simply cannot be recreated during a restoration.

The engine compartment is similarly impressive, retaining its wonderfully traditional A-Series appearance.

We’ve also had the Morris up on the ramp, and the underside is extremely presentable for a car of this age. The floor pans retain their clearly defined pressings and have been protected with underbody coating, while the subframes, suspension and structural areas visible during our inspection present very well.

Naturally, there is some age related surface corrosion to components such as the exhaust and suspension hardware, as you would expect from a car approaching six decades old. We would much rather show this honestly than attempt to disguise the fact that this is an old motor car.

The period detailing continues throughout, from the simple instrumentation and original style steel wheels and hubcaps to the chrome bumpers, Morris badging and even the period British Leyland window sticker.

This isn’t merely an old car that has been made shiny for sale.

It still possesses the character that made these cars such an enormous part of everyday British life.

WHY WE LIKE THIS ONE

Only ONE former keeper recorded on the V5C – two registered keepers in total.

Just 16, 061 miles displayed – believed potentially genuine due to the condition and preservation of the vehicle, but NOT warranted.

Beautiful period dark green paintwork with contrasting pale green interior.

Exceptionally well-preserved cabin that still looks, feels and even smells wonderfully period.

Very presentable underside.

1275cc A-Series engine.

Four-speed manual gearbox.

Front-wheel drive.

Hydrolastic suspension.

Original-style wheels and hubcaps.

Wonderful period detailing throughout.

Historic Vehicle status, meaning it qualifies for zero-rated road tax and MOT exemption, subject of course to the applicable regulations.

As with all of our classics, we don’t describe a car of this age as being perfect. There will be age related marks and imperfections, and these form part of its history and character.

We would much rather prospective purchasers see the car exactly as it is.

What we can say is that MLG 669H is an exceptionally appealing survivor from an era when the Morris 1100 and 1300 were quite literally part of everyday British life.

Today, most have disappeared.

This one hasn’t.

For somebody who remembers travelling in one as a child, whose parents or grandparents owned one, or who simply appreciates an increasingly rare piece of everyday British motoring history, this Morris has enormous charm.

A full walk around video will be available on The Classic Car Guys UK YouTube channel, where we show the bodywork, interior, engine bay, underside and the car running, giving prospective purchasers the opportunity to have a really good look before travelling.

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Viewing is highly recommended.

The Classic Car Guys UK – Nottinghamshire

Viewing strictly by appointment.