Some cars are more than metal, rubber, and paint—they carry memories, stories, and dreams. For me, cars have always been about family, and my journey with them starts with my dad, Neville Hallett.
My earliest memory of cars is sitting on my dad’s lap in his 1953 Morris Minor, steering it around with the biggest grin on my face. That little car wasn’t just a vehicle—it was where my love for cars was born.
Nearly 30 years ago, Dad sold that Morris to buy another project: a 1949 4-door Anglia. Since then, the Anglia has been at the heart of our family’s garage. Over time, it’s been transformed with a boxed and strengthened chassis, a Volvo diff, a 4-link rear end, LJ front suspension, and a worked Holden VN Buick engine paired with a turbo 700 transmission.
But life doesn’t always go to plan. Dad’s health eventually kept him from working on the Anglia, and the project has been sitting, waiting for its day to shine.
I’ve recently started my own restoration shop, and one of my biggest goals is to finish what Dad began. Right now, I’m fabricating a new firewall and working on the floor. Every weld and every cut feels like I’m helping to complete his dream. More than anything, I want to see my dad behind the wheel of the car he’s poured so much into.
Just last week, something incredible happened. By pure chance, I came across a listing on Facebook for a rusty old Morris Minor. As I looked closer, I realized it was the Morris my parents had sold nearly three decades ago.
It still had the same Datsun 1200 engine, manual gearbox, and EH diff that were in it back then. Dad even dug out the original receipt, and sure enough—the VIN and motor numbers matched perfectly. Even the rear end setup was exactly the same.
I couldn’t let that piece of family history slip away, so I brought it home. Now, after all these years, the Morris sits in the shed once again—this time parked right beside the Anglia.
My plan is to get the Morris running in time for Chopped this year, while also finishing the Anglia for Dad. Together, these cars represent more than restoration projects—they’re the continuation of family memories and the beginning of new ones.
Cars connect us across generations. They’re the rides we share, the projects we sweat over, and the stories we pass down. For me, restoring these two cars isn’t just about engines and metal—it’s about giving my parents the joy of cruising in the cars they’ve always loved, and sharing that same passion with my kids.
Because at the end of the day, cars aren’t just machines. They’re family.
