THE FIRST BRITISH “LIMITED EDITION” CAR – THE MORRIS MINOR MILLION
11th March, 2020
During the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s there appeared to be seven main approaches to "Limited Edition" cars.
The first was to adorn the tail-end of a long-running model with as many extras as possible.
This was usually a bid to clear the showrooms for its replacement, and if you were not overly concerned with automotive fashion, an "exclusive" very late model was often quite a bargain.
However, the more cynical noted how application of vinyl roofs, new colour schemes and additional stripes did tend to make a dated car look even more dated.
And so the last of the Ford Anglia 105Es were available in "Blue Mink" or "Venetian Gold" metallic paint while the Zephyr Special of November 1971 looked quite stunning in "Uranium Blue" with a "Parchment White", a push-button radio and Zodiac wheel trims.
Dagenham referred to this fine machine as the "One in a Thousand Zephyr" – i.e. only a few would be available before the launch of the replacement Consul/Granada range.
The 1975 Hillman Imp Caledonian was an equally desirable end-of-the-line machine as it featured £166 worth of 'special extras' – reclining front seats, a radio, door mirrors, reversing lamps and extremely distinctive tartan upholstery.
Meanwhile, the "Copper Beech Metallic" Hunter Topaz was guaranteed to cause a minor stir in Little Chef car parks across the land.
Why, it was even equipped with 'inertia reel seat belts', 'servo assisted brakes' and 'side repeater flashers'.
The second form of limited edition car commemorated the end of production of a keynote model.
The final 50 "Commemorative Edition" E-Types were finished in Gloss Black with cinnamon leather trim, bar one painted in British Racing Green.
Each Jaguar boasted a brass plaque bearing the signature of Sir William Lyons on the fascia.
In 1986, Ford introduced the Capri 280 Brooklands, with, a limited-slip differential, alloy wheels and Recaro front seats.
Dagenham had originally decided on "Capri 500" badging, but the fact they had a supply of 1,038 bodyshells necessitated a change of name.
Two years later, the Vauxhall Cavalier Mk. II Calibre was the Sri130 with Aston Martin Tickford styling details and an Irmscher body kit.
The third form of special edition car was reserved exclusively for company employees.
In 1976 British Leyland made 77 last-of-the-line P6B 3500 VIPs in "Platinum Silver" or "Brasilia Brown, - one for each of Rover's dealership managers.
The specification included a radio-cassette player and even air-conditioning.
Four years later sales executives of the Austin-Morris division could aspire to win the "Pewter Metallic" and "Romano Purple" magnificence that was the Princess Club 100 Special.
The "100 Club" referred to the group's best-performing sales outlets and only the most dedicated could hope to gain the keys to a 2200HLS Automatic fitted with a sound system, an electric sunroof and windows and seats upholstered in the finest of "Spanish Rose" velour.
Fourthly, we have the cars that celebrate a major anniversary. MG announced their B GT Jubilee in 1974 for the 50th birthday of the octagon badge.
The 750 examples bore gold decals to accentuate the BRG colour scheme, plus tinted glass, black and gold alloy wheels and, best of all, a 'Jubilee' brass plaque in the glove box which the owner could have embossed with his or her name.
The 1979 1100 Special marked twenty years of the Mini and in addition to a genuinely lavish specification was the only "round-nose" version to be fitted with the 1.1-litre A-series engine.
A fifth category are the various attempts at conveying glamour on a familiar model.
The Triumph Dolomite 1500SE was British Leyland's solution to a large number of unsold 1500s via the application of black paint, silver stripe and a front spoiler among other extras.
The 1978 Austin Allegro 1500 Special LE ("Tara Green Metallic" or "Astral Blue Metallic" according to choice) would allow the owner to truly cut a dash in high society and/or the nearest branch of Sainsbury's with its front fog lamps, passenger door mirror and 'striped luxury fabric' trim.
Best of all were those finishing touches of 'black door cappings, wiper arms and blades'
Then we have the marketing attempts best described as 'brave'.
The Vauxhall Chevette Black Pearl tried its best to convey an air of urban chic despite the fact it was essentially the ultra-Spartan ES decorated with silver stripes.
The Nova Fling may have offered a 'sports steering wheel' but it also suffered from having a very silly name.
The Maestro 1.3 Surf tried to look vaguely late-period Yuppie, but its ethos was closer to a repeat of The Archers and a nice cup of tea.
Finally, a select group of limited-edition cars were, put simply, brilliantly executed and timed such as the 1992 Mini British Open Classic with its electric Webasto roof.
And all these vehicles can trace their roots to the Morris Minor Million, launched by the British Motor Corporation in 1961.
On 22nd December of the previous year, the millionth Minor 1000 left the Cowley factory and BMC wished to celebrate this milestone - especially as the Morris's contemporary, the 2CV would not attain this figure until 1962. However, as Jon Presnell noted in Classic & Sports Car:
Rather less proudly, the millionth Minor was meant to have been the star of the 1960 Motor Show, but production was delayed by unofficial strikes at some BMC factories, and the car, with a build date of 22nd December 1960, would officially only come off the line on 3rd January 1961.
However, the Minor Million was to be a very distinctive vehicle, painted in lilac – the original ideas of gold or silver proved too impractical for BMC's paint supplier ICI exclusive Minor – and with seats in trimmed in white leather.
Only 350 were made – 30 for export and the remainder for the home market. Our picture is, of course, of Ted Brooke’s Minor Million, the car that won the 2019 Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership contest.
We will be writing a special (naturally) feature on this Morris later this year – but for now, a reminder of the brilliance that is the Minor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkSxKvgh4Ew
WITH THANKS TO: TED BROOKE
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