IK Classics has restored and race-prepped the car far beyond its former glory

The Morris Minor celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, and visitors to the Goodwood Revival motor race in September will be able to see the world’s oldest racing Morris Minor in action. The car was originally built in 1949 and has competed in various forms of motor sport since the mid 1960s with different owners.

Following many years of neglect on a farm in North Yorkshire, the car was rescued by Ian Kellett and his team at IK Classics of Holmfirth, West Yorkshire. They have restored and race-prepped the car far beyond its former glory.

IK classics specialises in preparing historic race cars to the highest standard and will be competing another two vehicles at the Goodwood Revival. These two cars have been converted into race cars from standard 1950s saloon cars. The first is a 1959 Standard Vanguard Phase 3 which again was rescued from a barn in the south of England and bought on ebay. Kellett has spent the last three years developing the car into a competitive historic saloon racing car.

The third car was imported from America last year for conversion into a race car. The 1959 Ford Falcon two-door coupe will run the original 3 litre straight-six engine that has been developed jointly by IK Classics and Tim Adam’s Race Engines based in Market Drayton.

All three cars have been invited to compete in the two-driver St Mary’s Trophy race with a celebrity driver competing in the cars on the Saturday and the owners driving on the Sunday. The results will be based on the aggregate results of the two races.

Ian Kellett will be racing the Morris Minor on behalf of the owner, his wife Nicola, as she builds up her racing experience.

IK Classics