Reality of Morris Minor ownership
Discussion
I ran 2 in a row in the 1990s, one with a 1275cc Midget engine. In my opinion, a later model with full synchro gearbox is well capable of regular use. The addition of disc brakes and and telescopic dampers upgrades them enough for urban use with modern traffic, and with some of the best spares availability of any make (outside MGBs maybe), it's possible to keep them going no problem. There are thousands still on the road (over 10k apparently) to cannibalise if necessary and the fact there ARE so many led to unrealistic elevated values, by many sellers IMHO.
But don't expect to go on motorways or hold speeds above 60 mph too regularly, they were designed in a different era.
But don't expect to go on motorways or hold speeds above 60 mph too regularly, they were designed in a different era.
Lester H said:
Charles Ware has gone bust. He was the original Minor restorer who had many imitators, doubtless some better than others. Does this suggest that running a Minor saloon as a hobby is impractical? Asking on here as there are too many urban myths/pub bore views on the Minor and 2CV. Could a safe and tidy Minor not bought via a glossy magazine be ok as a hobby car? Not thinking of a show queen or a banger.
It's the restoration side of the business that's no longer trading, spares and car sales & hire are still operating.A Morris Minor is an excellent classic to own and run; easy to maintain and repair with parts readily available from numerous sources and not too expensive either.
Johnspex said:
I agree. How does one specialist going bust ( which apparently hasn't happened anyway) prove anything about MM ownership?
I also think you should be careful what you say on forums like this about companies ' going bust'.
Point taken and withdrawn as you will see below, with apology. Riley Blue has summed up the situation more clearly. It was simply something I read. The connection was to ask if Minors were less in demand, hence the news item about a major restorer.I also think you should be careful what you say on forums like this about companies ' going bust'.
Edited by Lester H on Wednesday 24th November 22:20
Had one as my first car as a 19 year old student and loved it.
Barn find for my Dad who taught himself to weld and spray. Turned out to need more work than he thought to get on the road, but was all bodywork. Mechanical stuff was fine.
Surprisingly practical and fun, despite the power limitations compared to contemporary stuff in the late 80s.
From memory it was the rusting roof guttering that was the difficult/expensive thing to get fixed. Sold it before that got too bad.
Barn find for my Dad who taught himself to weld and spray. Turned out to need more work than he thought to get on the road, but was all bodywork. Mechanical stuff was fine.
Surprisingly practical and fun, despite the power limitations compared to contemporary stuff in the late 80s.
From memory it was the rusting roof guttering that was the difficult/expensive thing to get fixed. Sold it before that got too bad.
Mum and dad both ran a Traveller and a saloon as their only cars, until one day my dad had had enough of fixing and repairs almost every weekend and traded his Traveller for a year old S plate Escort Estate, my mum soon followed with a similar aged Escort hatch.
Dad did everything, welding paint spraying, engine rebuilds, all out of the garage attached to the house, we had a full wood kit in the lounge for about 2 years, I was embarrassed to be seen in the things but look back fondly now and kind of would like one but wouldn't want all the hassle of ongoing repairs and maintenance; A) I don't have either the time or space and B) I have no interest in mechanics.
Dad did everything, welding paint spraying, engine rebuilds, all out of the garage attached to the house, we had a full wood kit in the lounge for about 2 years, I was embarrassed to be seen in the things but look back fondly now and kind of would like one but wouldn't want all the hassle of ongoing repairs and maintenance; A) I don't have either the time or space and B) I have no interest in mechanics.
I agree with many of the comments, and we had one in the family and one was also my first company car in 1970, but as regards prices, well, seeing a Traveller and an asking price of £18,000 would turn me right off. They aren't as good as all that! I loved my Vitesse in the day and would seriously consider another now I am about to get ready to sell off the serious stuff here. A far better car to own and drive than a Moggie.
It's always a shame when this sort of thing happens but I wonder if, as with numerous classic cars, the demographic of the cutomer-base is also a factor.
They've never been my sort of thing but I can see the appeal of a relatively easy to maintain car with good spare parts availability; an acquaintance had one restored a few years ago, numerous updates, leather seats etc.. It was done really well and he was very pleased with it, it taking him back to his earlier motoring experiences; I was taken out in it, my first time in a Minor, and I was surprised at how noisy and old fashioned it was. Beautifully executed but very expensive, IMHO; the owner was in his early 80s and had always wanted his 'dream' Minor and was very happy with his 'value for money' but obviously the demand has dropped.
They've never been my sort of thing but I can see the appeal of a relatively easy to maintain car with good spare parts availability; an acquaintance had one restored a few years ago, numerous updates, leather seats etc.. It was done really well and he was very pleased with it, it taking him back to his earlier motoring experiences; I was taken out in it, my first time in a Minor, and I was surprised at how noisy and old fashioned it was. Beautifully executed but very expensive, IMHO; the owner was in his early 80s and had always wanted his 'dream' Minor and was very happy with his 'value for money' but obviously the demand has dropped.
I've currently got one in the garage. Being welded back together (for about the third time by the looks of it!)
They rust like mad. I've taught myself to weld repairing this one, they are fantastic for getting welding practice on. Did I mention the rust?
As for every day driving it's fine. Does have a mildly tuned 1275 engine and 5 speed Ford Type 9 gearbox plus disc brakes on the front.
Happily keeps up with modern traffic, cruises at 70 on the motorway etc. Good fun as well, steering is direct and light, rear wheel drive so all good.
Spares are cheap and plentiful, ESM is great and quick for that.
They rust like mad. I've taught myself to weld repairing this one, they are fantastic for getting welding practice on. Did I mention the rust?
As for every day driving it's fine. Does have a mildly tuned 1275 engine and 5 speed Ford Type 9 gearbox plus disc brakes on the front.
Happily keeps up with modern traffic, cruises at 70 on the motorway etc. Good fun as well, steering is direct and light, rear wheel drive so all good.
Spares are cheap and plentiful, ESM is great and quick for that.
Tiff's nostalgic look at the Moggie, with help from Charles Ware: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyVP6mT9iFc
austin said:
I've currently got one in the garage. Being welded back together (for about the third time by the looks of it!)
They rust like mad. I've taught myself to weld repairing this one, they are fantastic for getting welding practice on. Did I mention the rust?
As for every day driving it's fine. Does have a mildly tuned 1275 engine and 5 speed Ford Type 9 gearbox plus disc brakes on the front.
Happily keeps up with modern traffic, cruises at 70 on the motorway etc. Good fun as well, steering is direct and light, rear wheel drive so all good.
Spares are cheap and plentiful, ESM is great and quick for that.
When mine needed welding for the MoT in 1994, I paid a mobile welder who sighed with satisfaction on the drive. He explained that the metal on older cars was thicker and that it was much easier to do. Trying to weld up a Ford fiesta for example, he'd said, was so much more difficult. Metal so thin you keep blowing through it. They rust like mad. I've taught myself to weld repairing this one, they are fantastic for getting welding practice on. Did I mention the rust?
As for every day driving it's fine. Does have a mildly tuned 1275 engine and 5 speed Ford Type 9 gearbox plus disc brakes on the front.
Happily keeps up with modern traffic, cruises at 70 on the motorway etc. Good fun as well, steering is direct and light, rear wheel drive so all good.
Spares are cheap and plentiful, ESM is great and quick for that.
My first one was a 1963 Moggy in 1993. With a 1275cc and carburettor from a 1.3 Marina, it would do 90 mph, with no seatbelts!! 
It was My Grumpys for spares back the near me. Charles Ware were in full swing back then with their theory of sustainable motoring. Probably more apt nowadays.My most recent 'classic' is a Triumph Toledo. 12 months now. Spares not as easy to find (despite most things being the same as a Dolomite) but with proper damper / spring combination on each corner at manufacture and standard disc brakes (although no servo
), it's OK for urban use as it is. And it was much cheaper than an equivalent Moggy.My first car aged 15 back in the mid eighties - hauled out of a pensioner's garage where it had been sat for the best part 10 years. Absolutely rotten, drivers door was held shut with a garden bolt (I have a picture somewhere) but it ran and it was mine!
Unfortunately Mum went ballistic particularly at my Dad who had 'brokered' the whole deal and insisted it went - paid £15 and got back £20 from the scrappy in Fence Houses where it sat wistfully atop a Vauxhall Victor for another few years...
Unfortunately Mum went ballistic particularly at my Dad who had 'brokered' the whole deal and insisted it went - paid £15 and got back £20 from the scrappy in Fence Houses where it sat wistfully atop a Vauxhall Victor for another few years...
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