Arguably the fondest-regarded of Britain's post-war saloons, the Alec Issigonis-designed Morris Minor was launched at the 1948 Motor Show.

It was the first post-war Morris design, featuring unitary construction, torsion bar independent front suspension, rack-and-pinion steering, and a four-speed synchromesh gearbox, and was powered initially by the company's proven and reliable 918cc sidevalve four.

This first-series (MM) Minor was first registered on 15th June 1950 and has just celebrated its 65th birthday in great shape.

The earliest MM cars, such as this one, have low headlights and a split windscreen (the lights were raised in later cars to meet US regulations).

This car also has the semaphore indicators ('trafficators') that always attract attention.

Just before production, but after a large run of chrome bumpers had already been manufactured, Issigonis decided to widen the vehicle by about 4".

The bumpers were therefore cut in half and a short painted spacer plate added, as...