Lot 601: 1965 Morris Mini Traveller

One of the most influential automobiles of all time, the Alec Issigonis-designed Mini debuted in 1959 to universal acclaim. True, there had been numerous front-wheel-drive designs before the Mini�s arrival, but the transverse engine layout allowed Issigonis to create a trend-setting masterpiece of automotive packaging. BMC chose to market the car as the Austin Seven and Morris Mini Minor before Mini became a marque in its own right in 1969. In due course estate and van versions arrived, larger engines became available, more luxurious Riley and Wolseley models joined the line-up and the sporting Mini Cooper was introduced. The early Mk1 had the 848cc A-Series engine, rubber cone suspension and floor-mounted starter button, the latter two features being replaced by Hydrolastic suspension and key starting respectively in 1964.
Approximately 12 months after the Mini saloon�s introduction, estate car versions appeared in the form of the Morris Mini Traveller and Austin Countryman, both of which were based on the long-wheelbase Mini van floorpan. At first they were available only with �woody� embellishment, a style that had proved immensely popular on the Morris Minor Traveller, though in the Mini�s case the timber was not structural. Naked, all-steel versions appeared later. Although produced until 1982, the Mini estates were never given Hydrolastic suspension while the single trim level available was equivalent to that of the De Luxe saloon.
This Morris Mini Traveller comes with its original old-style logbook recording Lord Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, as first owner. Also included with the car is a lengthy and detailed hand-written account of its restoration in the 1990s, which included a total strip-down and full rebuild retaining the original body/chassis and engine/gearbox. Offered in fully restored condition, the vehicle comes with the aforementioned documentation, restoration photographs, current MoT/road fund licence and Swansea V5C registration document.