Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

Evening everyone. Next for the random memories/anecdotes/ownership stories/general chinwagging, Issigonis' little creation from 1948 onwards, the Morris Minor. What experiences do you all have of the MM?

As a nipper I remember riding in a neighbours' white four door MM, en route to see the Queen as she glided by in a motorcade during the summer of '77. For a brief time in the late 70s mum had a MM, finished in Rose Taupe, but for some reason she didn't like it at all, and dad soon sold it on.

I was amazed how well they drove when I first sampled one a few years back, although I've never run one for myself. If I look out of my window here, I can just make out in the distance the remains of a white MM Traveller, gently disintegrating into a hedge at the edge of someone's field

One of several old Morris Minor photos on the main site, this one shows a Libyan-registered example...



RJ
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[Brian M]

In my last year at University, in 1971, I was running an Alfa Romeo Guilia TI, that had cost me £200. It started running on only two or three cylinders and was diagnosed to have burnt out one or more of its valves. Probably due to too much red-lining the rev counter!

Each valve was going to cost £70 as they were a special sodium filled type.

As this sort of money was out of my reach, I started scouring the local paper for a cheap banger runabout that could last me a maximum of six months, by which time I would be able to afford to repair the Alfa. After a couple of weeks searching I found a 1959 Morris Minor Traveller with 9 months MOT that I got for £40.

It served me well for the nine months, and then only required a couple of new tyres and a silencer to get a new MOT. During this time I sold the Alfa for £75 to a mechanic who rebuilt the engine - it needed 5 new valves so I was glad I didn't start the repairs.

The Traveller was used to move my belongings from my student flat into our first house, and served as the decoy vehicle at our wedding. My friends decorated it during the reception, thinking we would be leaving in it, but they didn't know that the Hillman Imp parked next to it was a wedding present from my in-laws, and we were going for our honeymoon in the new car. I'll never forget their faces as I took our suitcases out of the Traveller and drove off in the Imp.

Six months later my new job sent me to Germany for a year so the Imp was sold to finance a Vauxhall Victor FB that we took to Germany and the Traveller was left in our garage.

When we came back to the UK, we had to get our more valuable items back from the in-laws house to our place and so the Traveller's battery was charged up and it started first time, but as the brakes needed bleeding and the front wings were starting to rust so I decided that I would use it for the removals and then scrap it.

On the third trip, I was a mile from home with a heavy load in the back when the front trunnion parted company from the upright and the nearside wheel disappeared into the wheel arch. As it had no tax or MOT I couldn't leave it on a main road overnight and had to call out a breakdown truck to tow it home.

It went to the breakers yard the next day - but it had served me very well.
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Brian
1970 Volvo Amazon and 1978 Safari 15-4 Caravan
Classic Safari Forum: www.classicsafaris.co.uk

[peppiB]

My first car was a 1954 split screen 2 door saloon - my father gave me it when he bought a Morris 1100. During his ownership it had taken a family of 3 adults and a 16 year old (me) camping around 5 european countries, the 804 engine managing all the passes that Austria, Italy and Switzerland threw at her. In my ownership, whenever the rear shock absorber would 'rattle' I would pull the arm out, slide a half inch section of garden hose on, and then slide it back and it was good for another 6 months. I sold it for £50 in 1966 when the offside rear spring shackle put in an appearance behind the drivers seat! (I couldn't weld in those days)

My current 65 Moggy is the only one of my collection I would never consider selling - driving her is such a stressless experience - as long as I remember to put my full weight on the brake pedal and throw out several anchors to get her to stop!

[Bengt Axel]

I've always fancied a Moggie but never driven one until last month.

I was with the present Mrs Axel on a relaxing weeks holiday in the Cotwolds (combined with a trip to the VSCC hillclimb at Prescott naturally) and fancied a suitable vehicle for pottering around picturesque villages, stately homes, tea rooms etc etc. So for a couple of days I hired a 1957 Traveller from Great Escapes Classic Car Hire.

We picked it up from an iffy industrial estate in the p1ssing rain and with no idea of what any of the switches did. The car instantly, and totally, misted up and we had a somewhat tense journey back to our guest house.

Anyway over the next couple of days I got to really appreciate the qualities of the Morris. The steering in particular was superb - pin sharp and not a hint of play. It makes me regret my VW Beetle phase of a few years back because frankly they are rubbish compared to the Morris.

It coped with the hills OK considering it was only the 948cc version, personally I'd want the 1098 or even one of the laterly converted 1275s.

Due to a pending house move I'm currently classic-less, but had in mind to get another next year to go in the double-at-least garage which is frankly my only prerequisite for any home of mine. After my experience with this car my final choice is down to a Moggie of my own (or possibly an Austin 7 if I can put up with the sloth).

One word of warning for any prospective Moggie owner - everywhere you go you will have to run the gamut of old boys regailing you with fond recollections of how 'I had one just like it in 1848' etc etc etc etc etc

Anywho, have a look on the link below to see the car I enjoyed so much (and no I don't have any connection with the hire company!).

http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/cars-morrisminor.asp

[Rick]

One of the more unusual Minor conversions



RJ
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[Bengt Axel]

Rick, that camper is absolutely fantastic!. Do you know whether it is a proprietory conversion (Dormobile, Devon etc) or a home built job?

[Rick]

to be honest I'm not sure, I've not seen it in the metal myself, it was on a CD of photos I bought and popped onto the main site. Neat job whoever did it!!

R
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[exbmc]

That camper does look good, I have never seen one like it. I do recall seeing a mini van in similar guise, going around Derby in the 60's. It was "shocking" pink, and had a manufacturers plate on it, but I can't recall the name. Certainly not a homebuilt anyway. I also recall a "Martin Walters" HA Viva van conversion in town a lot.
My 2nd car was a 1956 series 2 minor, split screen and 803cc engine.
A bunch of us were into stock car racing at that time, and the little mog took four people all over, from Manchester Belle View, to Swindon, with Coventry, Long Eaton,Northampton and Hednesford in between. The only time it faltered was, on the way back from a Swindon meeting, the su fuel pump gave up. Four mechanics on board, without a screwdriver between them!! It came alive with a thumping, and got us home ok, with a few more thumps every 20 miles or so.

[Richard H]

[exbmc]

[Rick]

Continuing with oddball Minors, how about this gown van!!



RJ
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[Penman]

Hi
I remember seeing an articulated minicamper, it was a pickup with a fifthwheel type hitch arrangement above the load deck
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10