Monday, June 27, 2022

We used to make things in this country, Netherlands edition. Morris Minors


 Now better than ever! proclaims the ad. The Morris factories in England were working at full production in the postwar years and it became practical to manufacture components for shipment overseas to be assembled in other countries.

 In Holland a car could be imported if it cost less than £420 so CKD (Completely Knocked Down) cars were assembled by the Molenaar company. Production started in 1949 but as production increased, a dedicated factory was soon built at Amersvoort. Molenaar used as many local parts as possible, sourcing tires from Vredestein, glass from Staalglas, lighting from Philips and paint from Valspar. The company produced Morris Minors till 1966. I've not been able to find production numbers.

 As an aside, the cars were built down to a price to the extent that although the CKD cars were built as left hand drive, the single door lock remained on what was now the passenger side. 

  Below, crates of parts and completed cars fill the factory yard.





In the paint drying booth.

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