Granddad Greg Hoar is still driving around in the beloved family Morris Minor he passed his driving test in – in 1976.
Greg’s grandmother was 78 years-old when she bought the classic British two-door car brand new in 1967 for £628 – £10,000 in today’s money.
Amy Hoar drove it for almost a decade until her eyesight declined and it was lent to her then 17-year-old grandson.
Greg, now 64, has kept hold of the vehicle for 47 years, clocking up almost 200,000 miles on road trips all over Britain.
His wife of 41 years Nicky and two children, Emily and Peter, also learnt to drive in it.
Husband and wife Greg and Nicky Hoar with the Morris Minor. Nicky and their children, Emily and Peter, learnt to drive in the car
Greg with the Morris Minor on a camping trip in 1977. This year, a string of events are being held by Morris Minor enthusiasts to mark its 75th birthday
Emily was taken home from hospital as a baby in it in 1986 and Greg’s 14-year-old grandson Joseph is already ‘eyeing it up’ for when he is old enough to drive.
The ‘dove grey’ coloured Morris, affectionately known as Moggie, has been carefully maintained by Greg and had a major restoration in 2017.
It was ‘stripped back’ and rebuilt while retaining its original shell, steering wheel and other parts.
Greg, a heritage consultant from Corfe Mullen, near Poole, Dorset, and Nicky still regularly drive the Morris.
He said it ‘puts smiles on peoples’ faces’ and he is often approached by members of the public who reminisce about owning one.
Greg said: ‘My grandmother Amy Hoar was 78 years-old when she bought the Minor in 1967 and she drove it until her eyesight went.
‘I was turning 17 so she let me learn to drive in it then I borrowed it indefinitely.
‘The car has so many memories as my fiancée, now wife Nicky learnt to drive in it in 1981 and our daughter Emily was taken home in it from Poole Hospital as a baby in 1986.
‘Emily and our son Peter both learnt to drive in it and our 14 year-old grandson Joseph has already got his eyes on it.
‘It must be quite unusual to find someone who is still driving the car they did their driving test in so many years ago.’
The Morris Minor on parade in 2000. Greg, now 64, has kept hold of the vehicle for 47 years, clocking up almost 200,000 miles on road trips all over Britain
Greg’s wife Nicky next to the Morris Minor with their newborn Emily in 1986
Greg and his wife in the Morris Minor. He has maintained the car, called Moggie by the family. This included a major restoration in 2017
Greg takes the Morris Minor out for a spin in the Dorset countryside. When he drives it he says he is often approached by former Minor owners
Greg driving the car in a rural setting. Morris Minor sales declined in the late 60s as the Mini became a staple of popular culture driven by celebrities and pop stars
Over 1.6million Minors were produced by Morris Motors between 1948 and 1971, becoming a favourite of British households.
They were described as being ‘as English as roast beef and Yorkshire pudding and as reliable as rain at a test match’.
But sales declined in the late 60s as the Mini became a staple of popular culture driven by celebrities and pop stars.
Last year, Morris Minor owners were invited to drive their vehicles at the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant.
This year, a string of events are being held by Morris Minor enthusiasts to mark its 75th birthday.
Greg said: ‘The car has so many memories as my fiancée, now wife Nicky learnt to drive in it in 1981 and our daughter Emily was taken home in it from Poole Hospital as a baby in 1986’
The Morris Minor in 1979, three years after Greg passed his driving test
Greg with the Morris Minor on a camping trip in 1977
Greg’s grandmother, Amy Hoar. She drove the car for almost a decade until her eyesight declined and it was lent to her then 17-year-old grandson
Greg (pictured with his wife) said: ‘In the early years it was easy to source Minor spare parts from scrapyards, and there is a Morris Minor community today’
Gregon a drive in the countryside. He plans to keep hold of his Minor for as long as it keeps running
Greg plans to keep hold of his Minor for as long as it keeps running.
He said: ‘In the early years it was easy to source Minor spare parts from scrapyards, and there is a Morris Minor community today.
‘I’ve restored it every 10 years, with the latest one being in 2017, but it still has a lot of original parts including its core frame.
‘It is approaching 200,000 miles on the clock and my wife and I still drive it around on a weekly basis.
‘Whenever you are out and about in it puts smiles on people’s faces and we get approached in car parks by people saying they owned one or their family did.
‘The Minor is a part of British heritage and we will keep it running as long as it goes.’
The Morris Minor in the snow in 1986. Last year, Morris Minor owners were invited to drive their vehicles at the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant
Morris street scene from 1967. Over 1.6million Minors were produced by Morris Motors between 1948 and 1971, becoming a favourite of British households
Greg’s grandmother Amy Hoar. Greg said of the car: ‘It is approaching 200,000 miles on the clock and my wife and I still drive it around on a weekly basis’
Husband and wife Greg and Nicky Hoar with the Morris Minor. Greg, a heritage consultant from Corfe Mullen, near Poole, Dorset, and Nicky still regularly drive the Morris
Greg’s grandmother bought the classic British two-door car brand new in 1967 for £628
Husband and wife Greg and Nicky Hoar with the Morris Minor
Greg said the car ‘puts smiles on peoples’ faces’ and he is often approached by members of the public who reminisce about owning one
Greg drives his Morris Minor along a tree-lined road in the countryside
