It may have affectionately been given the nickname of a mangy old cat, but the Morris Minor – or Moggie to its fans – has been named as the car that best personifies Britain and its people.
According to a new survey of 500 drivers by leading market researchers, GfK NOP, found British drivers believe the Morris Minor is the car name that is most evocative of all things British. Of drivers polled, 79% cited the Morris Minor as exemplifying Britishness while a further 66% awarded joint second place to the Triumph Spitfire and Austin Healey (subjects were allowed multiple choices).
Fourth in drivers’ rankings was the Ford Anglia.
The Morris Minor and other cars featured in the survey came from an era in which many cars manufactured in Britain had identifiably British names. This is in contrast with the present when cars have names designed to appeal to buyers in a range of countries speaking different languages. Asked if motorists mourned the loss of British car names, the majority (61%) did not. However, among drivers aged 65 and over, opinion was divided evenly.
Paul Cosh, managing director of motorinsurance.co.uk commented:
“Personally I would have voted for the basic Mini as it was the first car I brought but I can certainly understand why so many people see the Morris Minor as such a strong symbol of Britishness.
“Our sister company, Highway Insurance, insures over 500 Morris Minors – some classics, some heavily modified, which can be quite difficult to get insurance cover for. But whatever the type of Moggie, I know from personal experience how passionate their owners are about them.”
During the Morris Minor’s production from 1948-1971 over 1.3 million were produced, many exported around the world. The car was originally launched at the Earls Court Motor Show of 1948. One of its designers was Sir Alec Issigonis, who went on to famously design the Mini.
The designers of the Morris Minor wanted to create a car that provided many of the luxuries and conveniences of a good motor car with a price suitable for working class drivers.
Rosie Hamilton, spokeswoman for the official Morris Minor Owners’ Club said: “The voting public has tremendous taste. I think the car is so quintessentially British: delightful, very honest, completely understated, and instantly recognisable anywhere in the world.”
This year is the Morris Minor’s 60th anniversary. When first launched in 1948, the car cost just under £360.
Famous Morris Minor owners have included:
- Frank Spencer in TV series Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em
- Nurse Gladys Emmanuel in TV series Open All Hours
