Ashtrays

[ndevans]

I have a 1969 Traveller, which has the parcel shelf swivel ashtrays. I'm a bit unclear as to whether it should also have a central metal one on the transmission tunnel, just rear of the handbrake.
I've got "Original Morris Minor", and there's some good pictures of a late 60's Traveller in there, almost identical to mine, that seems to show the central ashtray. Mine has no screw holes in the transmission tunnel for an ashtray as far as I can tell, and if it had one, it has gone by the time we got the car in 1986.
As far as I can tell, the transmission tunnel is original, and has not been replaced.
So can anyone tell me if it should have the central ashtray or not, please?

Cheers N

[simmitc]

Interesting, this came up recently in another post. I believe that the rear ashtray was fitted only to "deluxe" specification cars that would also have had leahter seats and over-riders on the bumpers.

[Shropshiremoggie]

My 1970 two door saloon has a rear ashtray . Purchased new by my uncle and in the family ever since . Its not a ‘deluxe ‘ model ( vinyl seats etc ) so not sure if this helps or confuses

[ndevans]

Mine is De-luxe model, or so I thought. It has stainless door window frames and overriders on the front bumper, but vinyl seats-I thought that was the main difference?

[ManyMinors]

Every Minor 1000 built after 1961 was supplied with vinyl seat facings whether it was a standard or deluxe.
Also, stainless steel door window frames were fitted to the Traveller and the 4door saloon regardless of the specification.
Overriders were indeed part of the deluxe specification but will have been added to many cars during their lives - and taken away from others so probably not the most reliable guide now. Have a look at the chassis number plate. A "D" in between the prefix letters and the numbers will signify "Deluxe" spec.

As for the ashtray on the rear tunnel: The parts book doesn't distinguish this as a deluxe feature. My late model 1000 saloon has this fitted but a friend's Traveller of the same age does NOT and has never had one. Don't ask me why!

[ndevans]

Ah yes, I forgot about the chassis number. Mine has the D, MAW5-D. I wonder if the centre ashtray was an optional extra fitted on request by dealers? Mine was first owned by a small business in West London, so maybe they didn't think they'd often use it for passengers.

[Murrayminor]

My '65 2 door is a Deluxe with over riders, vinyl seats, rear ashtray and two on the shelf under the dash.
It also has the D in the chassis number

[ndevans]

My '65 2 door is a Deluxe with over riders, vinyl seats, rear ashtray and two on the shelf under the dash.
It also has the D in the chassis number

That's much the same spec as mine, apart from being a Traveller.
I'm going to put one in anyway, not as an ashtray, but with a lighter socket and USB socket in there for charging the lad's games console on long journeys.

Cheers N

[palacebear]

The tunnel mounted ashtray pictured in Original Morris Minor is actually photographed in the smoke grey 4-door (page 85) and the green 2-door convertible (page 86), two of the other cars featured in that chapter.
I may be wrong but I'd imagine the folding arrangement of a Traveller rear seat precludes the fitting of the ashtray.

[ndevans]

Ah, good point, I'll have to check that when I got it. Thanks!

[myoldjalopy]

Ah, but the thing about these ashtrays is 'which way round is it fitted?'

2019-07-15 18.28.42.jpg (1.41 MiB) Viewed 1619 times

SII, registered Jan 1955. I presume de-luxe, as it has leather seats and over-riders. It has a heater too. Not all models had one so Idon't know if this was a 'de-luxe' spec as well, or just an optional extra. But no 'D' in the chassis number........?

[ManyMinors]

You are confusing things now by bringing a Series 11 car into the debate. Different car. Different ashtray

[myoldjalopy]

True! But its all interesting..........When you think about it, there were an astounding number of changes, big and small, made to these cars whilst they were in production.

[ManyMinors]

Yes there were - almost every year up until late 1964 when the later dashboard and heatformed vinyl interior was introduced. Relatively few changes after that until production ended.