The New Zealand Morris Minor Story

Book excerpt: Many New Zealanders have a story to tell about the Morris Minor; either they used to own one themselves, or learnt to drive in one, or their uncle or aunty used to drive one on gravel roads all the way from .! Whatever their story might be, most people love talking about the Morris Minor which today still enjoys much nostalgic popularity in New Zealand as in its country of origin. The New Zealand Morris Minor Story is a tribute to this wonderful little car, which helped to shape social history, and to those people who had a lifetime involvement with Morris vehicles here in New Zealand, be it as pioneer manufacturers, their engineers, assemblers, sales people or as loving private owners (then and today). Beginning in 1919 with the formation of The Dominion Motors by Sir Charles Norwood the book traces the development of the motorcar assembly industry in New Zealand, with focus on The Dominion Motors Ltd, and not only Morris Minors but other members of the Morris vehicle range are covered. The author, Reiner Schoenbrunn, spent four years researching, painstakingly piecing together the story by interviewing, correspondence and collecting data. The result is a comprehensive documentation of a major part of New Zealand's motoring history, richly illustrated with 278 photographs and original advertisements, 32 of them in colour and mostly previously unpublished. The New Zealand Morris Minor Story should have its place on every car enthusiast's bookshelf!