Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[clascar]

Although it is not as rare as some of the exotic cars on here I thought I would tell of the rolling restoration my my 1960 Morris Minor.
[img][/img]

I bought the car about 18 months ago. I wanted a car I could use straight away but with scope to improve. I saw the Moggie on ebay, I went to see it in Southport about a 1 hour journey.

It was a horrible day, persistent rain but the car was in a large dry workshop and I could examine it as much as I wanted. I couldn't have a test drive due to an expired mot and the fact the owner didn't want to get it wet. Mistake No 1. The next mistake was being dazzled by the new paint job and superb underneath condition. I agreed to pay the buy it now price, subject to a new mot

I made arrangement to collect the car by trailer although the owner insisted that the car would be quite ok to drive home. I brought the car home and as I unloaded the car I noticed that brake fluid was streaming down the inside of the front nearside wheel.

The car was home but off the road straight away. I was just glad I didn't drive it. Whilst the car was supposed to have all new brake cylinders and shoes. The cylinder had in fact been re sealed. I found a split steering gaitor and the headlight relectors were badly corroded. Thar's 3 reasons for an mot fail. Over the months I found a lot of bodges which had been described as restoration and I will tell about them next time.
_________________
When I exhibit a car I get the Shudders. People queue up to tell me.
You should have done that, you should have done this. Ray

[Rick]

Hi clascar, good to see your Moggie get an introduction! that shade of blue is one of my favourite MM colours, looks very well (is it the same blue often seen on Frogeyes?).

Rick
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Rick - Admin
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[clascar]

It's called clipper blue. The previous owner gave me a formula for the 2k version. It took over 12 months to find someone willing/able to mix it for me.
_________________
When I exhibit a car I get the Shudders. People queue up to tell me.
You should have done that, you should have done this. Ray

[clascar]

In case anyone other than Rick is interested, I'll continue the saga. The story that came with the car was that for many years it was owned by one family, but until 12 months ago it had been off the road. It had undergone extensive repairs to the body. There was a stack of receipts with the paper work. All the work had been done by a man in his garage at home.

This was the standard of the work he had done[img][/img]

It was all very neat and well done. I was told that age caught up with this man and he offered the car to the man at Southport to finish off. The next phase of work was where the bodges started. As I said earlier I first saw the car in a wood work shop. The ready suppy of this material enabled ingenious methods of fastening trim and fittings with all sorts of off cuts. The paint job was good and the car looked well[img][/img]

[img][/img]

One big concern was the passenger door which didn't fit very well. When I took it off the vehicle I found the bottom of it badly repaired with a plate roughly welded over the rusty frame. The frame was badly corroded and had distorted when it was welded. I found a replacement door on Ebay with the added bonus of two stainless window frames.
[img][/img]
_________________
When I exhibit a car I get the Shudders. People queue up to tell me.
You should have done that, you should have done this. Ray

[Rick]

Oh I'm sure plenty of people are interested to read about the MM, even if they don't reply So I need to look out for this on the local roads this year eh??

Rick
_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop

[scott_budds]

Maybe a bit more than you barganed! Work that is!!

Thats the trouble with buying a car thats been restored. You just dont know how well its been done. Well Im sure you will continue to do the right thing with this little moggie.

Chin up it will be worth it in the end!

Buddsy

[peppiB]

I am always keen to read about any restoration, especially Minors!

Sometimes the only way with these things is to discard previous 'restoration' and do the job properly yourself. The car is well worth all the effort you are putting in.

[emmerson]

clascar, have a look at the MMOC website. Heaps of good stuff on there.

[clascar]

Cheers for the replies, with having no counter to the number of viewers I wasn't sure anyone was interested. There is a fair bit more to this saga. The MMOC site has been a valuable source of info for me. The great thing about the moggie is that spares new and used are plentiful. It's a different story with my Rapier.
_________________
When I exhibit a car I get the Shudders. People queue up to tell me.
You should have done that, you should have done this. Ray

[47p2]

There are plenty who just read the forum and don't post anything, so just you keep on updating and we will read
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ROVER
One of Britain's Fine Cars

[buzzy bee]

Hi

I am reading it, waiting for your next installment...


Cheers

Dave

[Penman]

Hi
190 views so far

[Rick]

You mention window frames, when did MMs have stainless frames, and when were they just painted??

R
_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop

[clascar]

I'm not sure Rick, I have a feeling it was only on certain later models. I used them even though my model definitely didn't have them originally. I matched them with stainless cill finishers. A lot of people, including me, don't realise that the top of the sloping cill should be painted silver.
I want an original looking car without being anal about the finer details. I don't mind subtle upgrades.
_________________
When I exhibit a car I get the Shudders. People queue up to tell me.
You should have done that, you should have done this. Ray

[clascar]

The next job I tackled was the seats, at least I knew they were worn. The drivers seat was actually a passenger seat with no leg adjustment. I found another frame on Ebay and ordered a set of covers from ESM. I also got some replacement rubber support straps. The old ones were so bad it felt like I was sitting on the floor.

I was warned that fitting the covers would be difficult, as it turned out I found it quite straight forward. I am very happy with the results.
_________________
When I exhibit a car I get the Shudders. People queue up to tell me.
You should have done that, you should have done this. Ray