Prototype SV Minor
Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 5:17 pm
As reported a few years back, what may be the prototype SV Minor JO 764 langishes in a farm museum and theme park in Devon.
Harry Edwards visited this car in the nineties and was skeptical about its identity, since it was somewhat modified and carried the chassis plate SV5334. However, the logbook was clearly that of JO 764, registered 11th December 1930.
Our recent research at Gaydon that enabled us to start assembling the SV Minor Genome (now in the Members' Area) has the following entry against SV5334:
Erected 7.7.31
Tested 7.7.31
2-seater
Nothing of particular interest here, but then there is an odd note in the Bodyshop column:
'Sold second hand'
But the really interesting note is found in the Notes column:
'(alloted production number)'
So this was a works car that was alloted a chassis number when it was already a works-owned vehicle. This would appear to confirm that this is indeed the prototype Minor and that it was alloted the chassis number SV5535 in order that it could be sold off by Morris.
it is a pity that the car is unlikely to be restored any time soon, as, along with the prototype McEvoy Special RC 300, it is VSCC eligible. JO 764 is of course eligbile by virtue of its production date, while RC 300 is eligible by virtue of its racing history.
Harry Edwards visited this car in the nineties and was skeptical about its identity, since it was somewhat modified and carried the chassis plate SV5334. However, the logbook was clearly that of JO 764, registered 11th December 1930.
Our recent research at Gaydon that enabled us to start assembling the SV Minor Genome (now in the Members' Area) has the following entry against SV5334:
Erected 7.7.31
Tested 7.7.31
2-seater
Nothing of particular interest here, but then there is an odd note in the Bodyshop column:
'Sold second hand'
But the really interesting note is found in the Notes column:
'(alloted production number)'
So this was a works car that was alloted a chassis number when it was already a works-owned vehicle. This would appear to confirm that this is indeed the prototype Minor and that it was alloted the chassis number SV5535 in order that it could be sold off by Morris.
it is a pity that the car is unlikely to be restored any time soon, as, along with the prototype McEvoy Special RC 300, it is VSCC eligible. JO 764 is of course eligbile by virtue of its production date, while RC 300 is eligible by virtue of its racing history.