There are estimated to be as many as 4,000 Minors still on the road in Sri Lanka, a far cry from their heyday in the 1960s and 1970s when they provided reliable transport for many families and even served as taxis. "It was very, very popular before the arrival of the Japanese cars," recalls Somasiri, himself a former Minor owner. "It was reasonably priced, durable and people were very fond of it because it was easy to drive with low running costs."