The 1960 Morris Minor Traveller wagon currently for sale on eBay could be the world’s most famous example. That’s because the fully restored model was featured on Jay Leno’s Garage in 2018. During the episode, Leno trades quips with Scotland-born fellow talk show host (and car lover) Craig Ferguson.
The Minor was designed by Alec Issigonis, who put Britain’s middle class on wheels with it and the later Mini.
The Traveller in 1960 sported a 37-horsepower version of BMC’s A-Series four.
The seller says his wood-paneled Traveller is “near perfect” and “the best in the US.” He points to a comparable model sold via auction for $57,750 and says, “Ours is a tad better.” This stellar example is offered on eBay with a $39,000 Buy-It-Now price.
Morris Minor Traveller: Punk Rock on Wheels
The Minor was designed by Alec Issigonis, who put Britain’s middle class on wheels with it and the later Mini.
On the Leno show, Ferguson takes one look at the Traveller, inhales its lingering 1960 aroma, and exclaims, “This is punk rock.” Leno points out that 1.3 million Morris Minors were produced from 1948 to 1971.
The Traveller, Morris’s name for the wood-bodied wagon versions of the Minor, is indeed a sterling example of the breed. There are no visible demerits. The leather seats look brand new, and the wood is perfect and polished to a shine. The paint is undoubtedly better than that produced at Britain’s hit-or-miss factories at the time.
The Minor was designed by Alec Issigonis, who also designed the later Mini. Issigonis could be said to have put Britain’s middle class on wheels. At the time, the Minor was state of the art, featuring monocoque construction and torsion bar front suspension, with rack-and-pinion steering.
Under the hood initially was a 918-cc Morris flathead four that had prewar origins. Leno said that Issigonis insisted on a small engine to avoid the austerity-minded horsepower tax. The car couldn’t go much faster than 35 mph with that engine, making them impractical for highway-loving Americans.
Minor Morris Adds a Smidgen of Power
The Traveller in 1960 sported a 37-horsepower version of BMC’s A-Series four.
In 1952, with Morris merging with Austin to produce BMC, the Minor inherited its partner’s new 803-cc overhead-valve four. That added a smidgen of useful power. “Zero to 50 mph in 28 seconds” was the new selling point for the Series II. The car’s A-Series engine grew to 948-cc and 37 horsepower in 1956 when the company also improved the transmission, and it used one-piece front glass for the first time.
The Traveller station wagon was introduced in 1954. The wood and aluminum rear section for the woodies was built at the MG factory in Abington and united with the cab section produced at Cowley by Morris. There were also commercial panel variants without the structural wood, such as the red Royal Post van driven by Ferguson’s father. All of them were made for a slower time.
By 1960, comparable woodies had disappeared from US manufacturer lineups. But the Morris Traveller remained. It was barely powerful enough to slice and dice on the American freeways, so there are some left-hand-drive examples around. US imports ended after 1967.
Restored to Perfection
The owner of the eBay example is statistics professor Michael Kersnick. He bought it from the restorer locally in Marina Del Rey 10 years ago. “He did a lot of work,” Kersnick told the eBay Motors Blog. “The wood came in a kit he ordered from England. I have a thick sheaf of records,” he said. “The car drives beautifully.”
The engine is likely a 948-cc unit, as original, Kersnick said, adding that he put only about 1,500 miles on the car during his ownership.
Kersnick is a frequent visitor to Jay Leno’s automotive warehouses. “I know you have to show up with food,” he said.
The 1960 Morris Minor Traveller was a winner of the People’s Choice award at the San Marino Concours.
eBay currently has four Travellers for sale, among about 10 Morris Minors. There are parts as well. There are no major mechanical differences between the sedans and the Morris Minor Travellers, so most parts should fit both variants.
There’s no obvious departure from stock on the car for sale, aside from a small gauge cluster. The car should be pretty lively around town and surprisingly roomy for its profile. Travellers are known for their folding rear seat.
The range of Morris Minor cars continued after the Mini was released. The latter also gained a Traveller variant. The descendant of both cars is the current Mini Countryman, which shares the compact wagon format. But the new ones lack the wood.
