1956 Low Light???

[geoberni]

So flicking through the Minor Matters that arrived a few days ago, I got to the Classifieds and this jumped out at me...

20200107_162823.jpg (541.04 KiB) Viewed 2176 times

Does any know why this car is a bit out of time? There must be a bit of a story to it.
I'm assuming either it was unregistered for nearly a decade, or it was an import from somewhere that didn't fit the mainland UK system.

DVLA have it as Manufactured 1956, first reg in the March of that year.

[myoldjalopy]

Or someone has turned a normal SII into a lowlight by changing wings/radiator panels.....

[myoldjalopy]

Here is a similar oddity - a 1962 lowlight: https://www.gumtree.com/p/other-cars/ru ... 1362500987

[Dogsdad]

Advert says “ lowlight style” restoration.
Not a Lowlight then.
Perhaps the previous car is similar?

R.M.

[myoldjalopy]

Almost certainly neither of them is a genuine lowlight................

[jagnut66]

Here is a similar oddity - a 1962 lowlight: https://www.gumtree.com/p/other-cars/ru ... 1362500987

Hi,
Whilst, as has been stated, this is a restoration 'in the style of', it is nonetheless (allowing for the awful square indicators) an interesting look at what might have been by 1962, if American legislation hadn't killed off the Minor in Lowlight form.
I'd have to swap those red headlamp surrounds for chrome ones though.....
I assume the large extended door mirror is for towing?
Hopefully whoever buys it will become (or is already) a member and we'll get to see it at a National at some point in the future.
The first one could be an import, registered upon return to the UK, another possibility is that it was a knock down kit, that was only finally assembled into a complete car in 1956 for some reason, or is that not possible?
Best wishes,
Mike.

[geoberni]

Here is a similar oddity - a 1962 lowlight: https://www.gumtree.com/p/other-cars/ru ... 1362500987

DVLA list it as 1963... but close enough I suppose....
Bit of a 'Bustard Child' in my opinion, like the old Johnny Cash song "One Piece At A Time".

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

Id suggest it was first registered in Mainland GB in 56, ZE is an old southern Irish number plate. From the blurry photo it looks like a proper short beonnet car and on DVLA page it says 918cc.

This has reminded me that my copy of Minor Matters hasnt arrived yet!

[geoberni]

Id suggest it was first registered in Mainland GB in 56, ZE is an old southern Irish number plate. From the blurry photo it looks like a proper short beonnet car and on DVLA page it says 918cc.

This has reminded me that my copy of Minor Matters hasnt arrived yet!

That seems strange. keeping an old 1950s Southern Ireland reg, when until fairly recently cars from the North coming to the mainland required a new reg.

My Mag arrived about a week ago....

[stevey]

Nope Northern Ireland cars didn't need reregistered going to or from England.

[geoberni]

Nope Northern Ireland cars didn't need reregistered going to or from England.

I know they don't now, but I'm pretty sure they used to pre around 2000 because they were being 'imported'.

It's hard to find evidence ion the internet as it changed some time ago, but for example, this link: https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/i ... 908AAPFruL

Now whether it was always an option to retain the old NI plate, I have no idea, but re-registration was required with the DVLA or DVANI depending on which direction the vehicle moved.

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

Back in the day when hand written log book changes were the norm it was ok to use the Irish number and this continued for many years. The Irish Government clamped down on numbers being sold when a Z only plate was sold for an extreme amount of money. Now if you have a car with an Irish number unless you have the modern V5 you have no chance of having it re instated.

On the other point about the Minor Matters, it arrived on 15th January, there was some mix up at the printers who sent the magazines to Northern Ireland by Overseas Post!! Not just mine, all the NI mags

[busguy]

Hi David, I sent you a PM a couple of days ago. Please get in touch.

[stuffedpike20]

I used to have a Q reg morris minor.
Everyone else had a tax free moggie, and I didn't. Still makes me sad.