A time warp 1981 Morris Ital, which has a notorious reputation of being known as Britain’s “dullest car”, could fetch up to £10,000 at auction.
The 1.3 HL four-door saloon has been kept in pristine condition by its owner and has clocked up just 4,550 miles – an average of two-a-week – over the last four decades.
The bright orange motor is one of only 55 still be driven on the roads today and is a survivor of the now-defunct British Leyland motor company.
It still sports the tax disc dated March 30, 1984, on its windscreen and boasts a rarely seen Ziebart anti-rust guarantee sticker on the back.
The Ital, which was built on a lean budget, was dubbed “boring and dull” by car critics at the time on account of it’s boxy appearance and no-frills interior.
The orange model going under the hammer had just one owner for 36 years before bequeathing it to his neighbour in 2017 who has cared for it ever since.
It has no reserve price but it is expected to sell for between £7,000 and £10,000 at Classic Car Auctions in Warwickshire on December 9.
Auctioneer Simon Langsdale said: “This is an interesting car given it’s history in that one man and then his wife had it for years before it was bequeathed to their neighbour.
“It really is a time warp example, much like the lovely Beetle we sold in our recent sale, and so we are excited to see what this cracking car might achieve.
“This, very smart, 1300 HL four-door is finished in Vermillion with a Charcoal half-Vinyl and half-cloth interior. Bequeathed to our vendor by his neighbour, he has enjoyed the car since 2017.
“The odometer displays just 4,550 miles from new which we are told is correct as it was dry stored for many years. Although the log book states three keepers, in essence it is just the first gentleman and then our vendor.
“It comes with some original documentation and interestingly shows a Ziebart sticker in the rear window which has clearly helped to preserve this time-warp Morris. It’s almost certainly the very best and most original one to exist today, anywhere in the world, so we will be keeping a keen eye on its result on the day.”
