Minor modifications don’t deter buyers

The mantra ‘originality sells’ applies to most classics, but not all. morris minors have long been easy to sell with the right modifications – which largely means mechanical, not cosmetic. despite that, until fairly recently auction houses have tended to steer clear of such cars, but with the new order they have now started to take their rightful place.

Both Brightwells and Historics recently did well with improved examples. Brightwells’ convertible had enjoyed £17,000 of expenditure and featured a 1275cc ital version of the A-series engine and a five-speed gearbox. Pitched at £5-7k, it sold well at £8960.

Historics bravely offered a 1968 Traveller at no reserve. it too had a five-speed gearbox, this time fronted by an A-series bored out to 1380cc, along with suitably uprated brakes and suspension. This one had enjoyed £20k of expenditure and brought home £11,320 – about the value of a top unmodified example. Will this newfound fondness of modified metal catch on in the wider market? We’ll have to wait and see.