A UNIQUE piece of British motoring history is going under the hammer.

A model of the Mosquito – the forerunner of famous Morris Minor – is being sold by a man whose father helped to design it.

The sole surviving example of the ‘narrow bodied’ prototype Mosquito, dating back to 1943, will be sold at auction alongside a 1956/7 large-scale factory model of the classic Mini.

The models have been treasured for decades by David Daniels, 82, of Swanmore, whose father, Jack Daniels was a close associate of Sir Alec Issigonis, the British car engineer and designer behind both cars.

The Mosquito prototype, which has an estimate of £2,500-£3,000, and the model of a Mini, which has a guide price of £750-£1,000, will be sold at Derbyshire’s Hansons Auctioneers on November 23.

Mr Daniels, who was an Austin apprentice and worked in the motor industry as an area sales manager before his retirement, said: “I’m 82 now and have no-one to leave these models to, so I hope they’ll go to someone who will value them.”

David Daniels said: “The Mosquito was the code name given to prototype vehicles which Morris Motors Ltd started to develop during the war years.

“The metal scale model I am selling, dating from 1943, embodies the principle ideas from that period for the production vehicle which was launched in 1948 at the Earls Court Motor Show in London as the Morris Minor."

Some 1.6 million Morris Minors were sold during a 22-year production run.

Issigonis and Jack Daniels were both involved in the design of the Mini which entered production in 1959.

The model offered for sale is a pre-manufacture design prototyp

“It’s a reminder of a bygone age when the Mini was the car of choice for people from all sections of society in Britain and around the world. The Mini lives on in other guises but the model being sold represents the original vision of Alec Issigonis - a small car for the masses,” said David Hanson

The Mosquito/Morris Minor and Mini prototypes will be sold at Hansons Auctioneers, Heage Lane, Etwall, Derbyshire, on November 23. To find out more, email dwilsonturner@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk or call 01283 733988