No Minor matter - Shropshire car enthusiast's historic discovery

The Morris Minor van is the oldest existing right-hand drive in the world. And Shropshire car enthusiast Mike Sergeant found it abandoned in a barn.

Mike, 63, of Alvin Close in Wem, says it is his pride and joy. He began his collection in 2008 when he first bought one of the vans and now has about 10 all together.

This example trumps the others in his collection. It was parked up in 1967 and was left untouched until Mike saved it.

He now intends to keep it in its present state rather than restore it, carrying out just minor repairs ahead of an outing at next month's Shropshire Vintage Show.

Mike found the vehicle in a barn in Suffolk covered in straw and with ivy growing out of it.

It hadn't moved since being parked up there in 1967, covered in dust and straw.

Mike was already thrilled with the find, but on closer inspection he discovered the van was the 184th Morris Minor off the production line in 1953.

It is also the oldest surviving right hand drive vehicle of its type that survives anywhere in the world, with only one left hand drive beating it to the oldest overall.

And while some might expect to see it in pristine condition, Mike has decided to keep it exactly as it is.

He said: "We haven't restored the van because of its rarity. We decided to keep it as it was – a barn find. It had no seats, no engine or gear box but we have sourced these from a Morris Minor vehicle of the same month of manufacture.

"We took the van to the NEC Classic Car Show last year with the sole intention of asking people what they thought we should do – restore or conserve it.

"We were there for three days and there were at least 40 people round it at any one time. Only four people thought we should restore it as once you have gone down that road you can't go back.

"The only safety repairs we have made are using panels made from old oil drums – which is how they would have done it in the 50s and 60s. You can see all its old war wounds and character and the straw that's still in it. I wanted to get it because it matches our collection of five early Morris Minors, although this was our first van and I didn't want it to fall into the wrong hands and not be conserved properly."

The vehicle has still not yet been driven and Mike, from Wem, is bringing the classic vehicle to the Shropshire Vintage Show in June when it will make its maiden voyage in front of visitors.

He said: "We are really excited to be bringing it to the show and introduce people to it."

Richard Haynes, vintage show chairman, said: "Although Mike will be bringing the Morris Minor to the show on a trailer, we are hoping people will get to see it drive in action during the weekend.

"There are always stories behind the hundreds of vintage vehicles which are brought to the show, but we are especially pleased when we get to see one from the same county – and the oldest one in the world is quite a coup.We can't wait for people to see it."

The Shropshire Vintage Show will be held on on June 6 and 7 at the Greenhous West Mid Showground.