The Raffle Prize - Morris Minor 1950 Lowlight - further information
There is more to this little car than meets the eye. For those who are looking for a very early Morris Minor. Its body number is 6040. Of course, if you take 500 that off that number, as the body number for the very first is 501, that makes this car body number 5540. Now when you consider there were over 1.6 million built, and by the end of 1949 a total of approximately 29000 Low lights had been built, the body of this car must be around Feb/Mar of 1949.
The car was finally constructed in Australia (CKD) (build number 57014), and from the few other numbers to check, as many owners of early MM’s would know, is a date stamped on the voltage box on the fire wall. In this case, it shows 8 50 (Aug 1950).
Other signs of an early MM are the following: The very first MM bodies produced from Oct 1948 to early 1949, had a longer roof gutter. The gutter extends past the bottom of the side windows, which is the case with this car. I know from my own experience that for cars built from early May 1949 it was no longer the case, and by May 1949, the gutter stopped level with the bottom of the side glass windows.
The final feature that I am aware that is a sign of an early MM body, is that of the metal fold inside the front guards. This fold of metal is running parallel to the top of the tyres. By the 1950’s this fold would run in an angle with the edge towards the tyre.
The original trafficators are connected to the original switch and more modern indicators are on a separate switch. It also has the very early quarter window handles all in good condition.
The car has the original receipt of purchase that has been laminated for protection. Although the body was built early 1949 and constructed sometime in the 1950’s it wasn’t first registered until July 1951.
It has the original engine which is also a very early side valve. It does not have an Oil filter, or the aluminium water jacket of the later models built in 1950.
The car was extensively restored over 15 years ago and then was used as a daily drive until around 2011, and since then has only travelled around 3000 miles.
The interior of the car is both beautiful and comfortable.
In recent times the previous owners have done a few things to keep her in good running order as can be seen from the pictures. This also includes a new exhaust system.
As the car is today, it would make the perfect club run car, or the piece to someone’s Morris Minor collection. And if someone is looking for something to spend some time going from end to end to have something very special, and in the quite rare category, this little car is just perfect for that. It is complete, running and with all matching numbers.
