The 1957 Morris Minor Leeds Explorer! This little Morris Minor may look a bit battered and bruised today. But in 1990, at the grand old age of 33 years old, this plucky little car left Leeds, and set off on a trip around the world that would take 7 years to complete. The idea for the trip was inspired by the book ‘Jupiter’s Travels’ The book was about a journalist who rode around the world on the last Triumph Motorcycle to leave the original factory in the early 1970’s. The Major Minor Repair shop supplied the car, and readied it for its epic journey around the world in 1990. The car had engine and suspension modifications, and the chassis was also strengthened. The car left the Railway Street arches and headed South at the grand old age of 33. The car crossed the channel for Europe, and then on to North Africa. Taking in such exotic locations as India, Sahara Desert, Kathmandu, Australia, Chile, Mexico, Costa Rica, America, before ending its journey in Canada. At Newfoundland a cargo ship carrying paper offered free passage to the amazing Morris Minor. And finally it was unloaded back in Liverpool in September 1997. Once back in Leeds, the car was surrounded by bandits on the York Road border with Gipton and Halton. Its wheels were stolen whilst stood at traffic lights.....Actually the last parts not true, but everything else about the car is :) I photographed this car near the Regent pub in Chapel Allerton in 2009. I used to see it parked there on a regular basis. I did occasionally see the old veteran drive around the Lidgett Lane area at the time, amazing to think it had done thousands of miles and was 52 years old then. But Ive not seen it for a few years now, I hope it still lives on somewhere. Has anyone seen it recently? **See all the comments below for the full story**
Posted on: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 12:44:47 +0000
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