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KDR 113 (known as 'Destiny') is a Series II Morris
Minor, one of over
270,000 such models built between 1953 and 1956 and commonly known as
‘split-screen’ Minors. The Series II features the smaller rear window
and was fitted with an 803cc overhead valve engine. In 1956 it was
replaced by the Minor 1000, which is easily identified by it's
single-piece windscreen and larger rear window. She is finished in
Empire Green and being a de-luxe model
model, she was fitted with leather seats, a heater and a passenger's
sun-visor!
She
was
completed on 10th January 1955 and three
days later she was dispatched from the factory at Cowley, Oxford, to
Barton Motors Limited in Plymouth, Devon where she was first registered. At
the time she
would have cost around £522 including taxes and delivery
charges. |
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The former Barton Motors building at
Mutley Plain, Plymouth.
© Torfaen Corvine |
A fold-out
brochure showing the new Series II model with updated 'slatted'
radiator grille
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An
entry in her logbook date-stamped 'Bristol Licences 3.3.69'
records
her as being owned by a gentleman in the St. George area of Bristol.
This same owner moved to Tolworth, Surrey and the logbook was
updated with a stamp 'Greater London 5/6/69'.
A
further entry shows the stamp 'Somerset CC Licences 6 Feb 70',
when the same owner moved to Cossington, near Bridgewater.
The image to the left was provided by City of Plymouth Archives and
Records.
At
some later point she was sold and in November 1971 was advertised for
sale by Byron Wynn Autos of 136a St. Johns Road, Bridgewater, Somerset. |
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On
5th November 1971 she was sold by Byron Wynn Autos for
£25 to John from nearby Durleigh.
John recalls "I was an
apprentice electrician and the car was used daily either going to "the
works" or Taunton Technical College. She
ran well and I did little work on her except water, oil and tyres. I
think the indicators had recently been fitted and the trafficators
still worked. I
had lots of fun with her - we used to go to Weston-super-Mare most
Saturdays as they had really good bands on there at the Winter Gardens
usually with a full car load. I traded her in for a 1959 Austin
Cambridge, two tone red and white at Byron Wynn".
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As
mentioned above, John traded her in on 5th February 1972, to Byron Wynn
Autos, for the sum of £15 and paid a further £80 towards the Austin
Cambridge.
Byron Wynn
Autos continue to trade
from the same address today!
My
special thanks to John, who contacted me in early June 2019 and
provided me with the above information as well as sending me the
original purchase and sale receipts from the time. |
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On 1st March
1972 she was purchased by a gentleman from the village of Stogursey,
near
Bridgewater.
She
remained in the Stogursey area for many years, changing hands
several times. On 12th March 1984 she was acquired by
Terry, also of
Stogursey, who recalls "I
remember the car well..... I acquired her from a workman who worked for
us at the time, but his name escapes me. The cylinder head had gone and
I replaced it but the workman had by that time lost his licence and he
said I could have it. Moggy's weren't worth a lot then! It was stored
for many years but would always start if it needed to be moved. A board
fell onto the bonnet and indented it. Two front wings were bought but
never fitted. We moved in 1987 and I sold the car."
On
2nd February 1987 she was sold to a gentleman from
nearby Nether Stowey,
who subsequently moved to an address in Dorchester, Dorset on 26th
October 1987.
She remained in
the same ownership, and in the Dorchester area, until 2nd August 1998
when she was sold.
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She
was purchased by a Morris Minor enthusiast from Corfe Mullen,
near
Wimborne, Dorset. He carried out restoration work between 1998 and 2000
and subsequently used her as an everyday vehicle, covering over 4,000
miles between June 2001 and July 2002. It was in 2001 that her 803cc
engine was replaced with the larger 948cc engine, as fitted to the
later Minor 1000 models.
In
January 2003 she was sold to a work colleague
of mine, who lived in Broadstone in Dorset, and during his
period
of ownership (three-and-a-half years), she travelled just under
200 miles!
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| My years of
ownership 2006-2024 |
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| I purchased KDR 113 in October 2006 and whilst
aware that she was a 1955 model, it wasn’t until I had bought her that
I discovered she was first registered on 8th February 1955 – the day I
was born - hence her name, 'Destiny'! |
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| Taken on our birthday, 8th February 2007 - aged 52 |
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'Quay for my
Car'
event on Poole Quay, Friday 18th May 2007,
It is pictured
in front of the then new Dolphin Quays monstrosity, the bulk of which
still
remains empty today. The view the other
side is rather better, with Sunseeker yachts moored along the Quay!
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| Destiny
ready for judging - and with her award for best Series II |
Morris Minor
Dorset Branch Rally
1st
July 2007
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CCOTP Lulworth
Castle
2nd
September 2007
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| Taken on our birthday, 8th
February 2008 - aged 53 |
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| a few general shots |
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| Tarryn and Callum's wedding - 6th April 2019 |
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| 8th February 2020 - celebrating our 65th birthday
with my eldest grandson |
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| 11th October 2020 - the 14th anniversary of my
ownership! |
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| Someone has found the trafficator switch! |
Someone is showing an interest! |
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| 'Quay for my Car' - Poole Quay, 23rd July 2021 |
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| 22nd June 2022
with Poole Harbour as a backdrop |
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| 8th February 2023 - Destiny's 68th birthday |
