Mathewsons December 2026 sale
Lot 514: 1956 Morris Minor at the Mathewsons December 2026 auction
By Jon Cosson · Last checked
Part of our Bangers & Cash guide.
Listing checked

What the listing says
At the time of checking, Mathewsons' listing gave only the year, make and model: 1956 Morris Minor.
What to check on any Morris Minor (1948 to 1971)
- The bodyshell is the car's value and rust often starts inside box sections, so bubbling paint can hide much worse.
- The ash frame is structural, not decorative. Press the wood, particularly at joints, along the waist rail and at the base of the rear posts.
- Many Tourers began life as saloons. A properly converted car can be perfectly sound, but poor conversions lack the strengthening and can be unsafe, and some have been sold as factory cars.
- Bottom-end rumble on starting and blue smoke under throttle mean wear; smoke can also be valve guides or seals.
- Gearboxes are the weakest point, especially pre-1098cc units.
- The front kingpins and trunnions need greasing every few thousand miles; neglect wears them out.
Checks for this car
- Check the Morris Minor rust points.
- Ask about the history.
Questions to ask before you bid
- Can I see the V5C, and do the chassis and engine numbers match it?
- What history file, invoices and MOT records come with it?
- When was it last used on the road?
- What history comes with it?
- Has the body had repairs?
Viewing and bidding
Viewing at the Pickering saleroom runs Wednesday 25 November to Tuesday 1 December 2026: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 12 noon, closed Sunday. Entry is £5 per person, which includes admission on the day and a donation to one of Mathewsons' chosen charities. The sale is Wednesday 2 to Friday 4 December 2026, held behind closed doors, with bidding online, by telephone or by commission.
Every lot is sold as seen. Read Mathewsons' terms (opens in a new tab) before you register.
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