It’s been revealed that the much-loved Morris Minor came close to making a comeback.
Classic & Sports Car’s colleagues at Autocar have exclusively uncovered plans showing that, almost 20 years ago, the Morris Minor name could have returned following MG Rover’s bankruptcy.
Three bidders were vying for what was left of the marque in April 2005, including the hardware to produce the Rover 25, 45 and 75 models, plus the K-series engine, and it’s understood the revived Morris Minor concept was part of a plan led by Shanghai Automotive Industries Corporation (SAIC) and late former Ford of Europe and Maserati boss Martin Leach’s Magma Holdings consultancy.
The Morris Minor Million is one of the more eye-catching models
It is thought the Morris Minor proposal, which would likely have been key to MG Rover’s revival, wasn’t included in the Magma-SAIC bid to keep the idea secret from rival investors.
The new-for-the-21st-century Minor would have been powered by the Rover K-series engine, with the potential for drop-top and Traveller versions, just like the original that made its debut at the Earls Court show in October 1948 and remained on the market until 1971.
