Vintage Minor Register

The Rarest Minor

Well , well , well !

After all this very interesting dialogue about SV tourers and SV fabric saloons. Do you want the DEFINITIVE answer
to your enquiry ?

It is .....................

THE FIRE TENDER !!!!!

Tony Gamble

Just like this....

Tony,
But you have one of these don't you? I seem to recollect seeing one in a VMR mag a few years back This means that one more exists than a '31 Fabric Saloon!
Chris

I've got 3, in my shed!

OK ! The challenge has been accepted. To find a '31 SV Fabric Saloon.

Watch this space.

Tony

PS
[ Is this what retirement is all about. What did we do before the Forum took off a few month's ago ? ]

PPS
There ought to be a prize involved ! Any thoughts ?

I just laid down the challenge to Harry Edewards in an e-mail - to see if he knows of any 1931 season SV Minor fabric saloons. I have also asked him if he has any proof positive that any were actually produced. He will answer by snail mail. I will report back when I hear from him.

The Prize - Perhaps Ian would consider placing the image of the 'very elusive' '31 Fabric Saloon on the front cover of a future edition of the VMR Magazine, together with the by-line, "Tony Gamble discovers Minor missing link."

Chris

Just caption the picture " Photo of Missing Link" !!

Incidentally , I think Ian's question to Harry is quite important . Is there any evidence that any were produced ?
[ I am just going into my workshop to swap the nickel rad on my fabric saloon to a black enamel one , remove the side lights and bumper and paint the fabric black! ]

Oh , and by the way ! The fire tender I have is a replica - none survived ! Therefore - Rarest !

And so we progress. Will there be an end to this saga ?

Tony

Where is the documentary evidence that the Fabric saloon was going to be made as a side valve car? Is there a 'mid season' or revised catalogue for 1931 showing the car alongside the £100 Minor etc?

Chris

This is the page showing the SV Fabric Saloon from the '31 brochure. Whether any were made is another question !

Tony

Thanks Tony - proof indeed that they intended to make the model.
Chris

Now that would be a nice car to find. This must be a prototype of some sort, not only because it must have been built to photograph before the brochure was produced but also because prototypes often had odd features that didn't make it into production. In this case, look at how the front number plate has been mounted. Instead of the standard bent bar of the SV Minors, it is mounted with OHC-type triangular bumper brackets. Slightly overkill for the task the brackets had to perform, and quite understandable that they were removed from production - and probably save a few bob in the process.

Working from home today - Jayne is sick, so e-mails to VMR HQ today please!

Also look at the back, I see two vertical seams on both sides of the rear window.
My car also has that , but I don't see that on the pictures of other fabric saloons I have.

Halbe

And notice the strange mounting of the rear number plate on this prototype. This must be a very early 1931 car. The first 500 SV Minors were all 2-seaters.

I have a model of a Minor Flat bed truck, do we know if any were made and if so do any survive?

I'm with Tony on the Fire Engine - the sv Fabric saloon may be rare/extinct but there are quite a few ohc fabric saloons about, which is why the Fire Tender gets my vote!

cheers
Jeremy