Eligibility

So, who can apply to join this register? The main criteria are:

  1. You are a current member of the Morris Minor Owners Club (MMOC).
  2. You own a 1098cc Morris Minor.
  3. It was built (not registered) between September 1962 and October 1964.

Of course the challenge is that the V5 Registration Document from the DVLA will only tell  you when your Minor was registered, not when it was built so sometimes a bit of detective work is needed. Below you will find a “Spotters Guide” which will hopefully help you determine whether or not your Minor is a “Dual Personality” one.

To further complicate matters it has become apparent there are two distinct phases of Dual Personality Minors:

Phase 1: Built between September 1962 and October 1963. These are almost identical to the 948 Minors they replaced.

Phase 2: Built between October 1963 and October 1964. These are very similar to the old 948 Minors but have tandem windscreen wipers, integrated orange indicators front and rear and an updated heater.

Phase 1 Spotters Guide

In September 1962 the first of the 1098cc Minors came off the production line. As well as the larger capacity engine their identifying features are:

  • Chassis number between 990290 and around 1051385 (no info available for the chassis numbers used in October 1963)
  • Front brake drums increased from 7 inch to 8 inch diameter
  • Both glove boxes are open with detachable liners
  • All switches are of the earlier “pull” type
  • 3 spoke wire “banjo” steering wheel
  • Windscreen wipers are the old “clap hands” type.
  • Trafficators replaced with an early attempt at flashing indicators. The front indicators share the front sidelight but with a dual filament bulb that uses a 21W element for the indicator, so the front indicator flashes the white sidelight. The rear indicator works by flashing the red rear brake light. However, many owners replaced this with separate orange indicators at the rear due to the confusion it caused!
  • Heater updated by adding a small flap at the bottom of the heater that attempts to draw fresh air into the car. This is operated bya choke-type cable mounted right of centre in the lower heater outlet deflecter.
  • Deluxe model uses Duo tone interior trim which is mostly cream with a contrasting coloured band at the top.
  • Hot water intake into the heater controlled by a manual tap on the top rear of the rocker cover. Hot water take-off runs alongside the passenger side of the rocker cover, over the top of the inlet manifold.
  • Speedo face is silver or gold

All other features remained as the previous 948cc Minors

Phase 2 Spotters Guide

In Oct 63 a further set of changes were introduced to the Dual Personality Minors:

  • Chassis number between around 1051385 and around 1092769 (no precise info available for the chassis numbers used in October 1963 or 1964).
  • Front sidelight changed to later “split” type where the upper orange section held the indicator and the lower smaller clear section the sidelight. No more flashing sidelights at the front.
  • Rear light module changed to incorporate a separate orange section at the top for the indicators. Rear indicators now the flashing orange type which no longer shared the brake light. No more flashing brake lights at the rear.
  • Windscreen wipers changed from “clap hands” type to the later “tandem” type.
  • Later Smiths heater (as used in the Mini) introduced with a real fresh air intake from the drivers side of the radiator grille. A flexible pipe (commonly referred to as an “Elephant’s trunk”) takes this fresh air from the front of the car through the bulkhead and into the bottom of the heater.
  • Speedo face is silver or gold

All other features remained as for the previous “Phase 1” 1098cc Minors

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