Am I crazy?

Post by **RustyandTad** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:34 pm

Hello,

My illness doesn't seem to end with vintage Land Rovers and Triumphs. A friend has located a Morris Minor pickup and I think that I need it. I have heard about the longevity of the Minor, but just like the rumor that Land Rovers never get stuck I want to know the facts.

I would be using the pickup as a daily driver and to run to the local farmer's market.

I don't know much about the pickup and will be finding out more, soon. All I know is that it is Arizona's dry desert, it is unrestored, and at first glance from my friend looks rust free. I trust his British car judgment as he is the owner of several.

So what can I expect to find wrong? What goes wrong? And should I just run out and find a doctor's help?

Thank you!
Tad

Post by **bigginger** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:47 pm

I'm sure the desert helps. but "rust in all the usual places", plus the lowest edge of the cab back and the tail gate, and inspect the chassis very carefully too. They're the same gauge steel as the body, and like to rot from the inside. For some reason, on mine the area between the rear of the damper and the bulkhead is a favourite spot as well, and a pig to repair. The body does unbolt from the chassis (unlike the cars) which makes some things a little more simple. As for the doctor, I think he'll be too busy with me (5 of them), so grab it while he isn't looking

a

Post by **dunketh** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:57 am

In answer to your question, Yes!

As for longevity - the rumours are true when applied to mechanicals. Bodywork is another, more painful, story. There's no option for galvanised chassis and alloy panels here.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 1:51 pm

As long as the chassis/body are not rotten - then yes, the mechanicals are well proven and well provided for with spares !

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:30 pm

Hi Tad

welcome to the forum, you're in the right place for tips and advice

There's a PDF file "Updated Buyers' Guide" on the Club website Technical Tips page, http://www.mmoc.org.uk/technicaltips/index.html - you might find that useful

If you go and see it take a digital camera and take LOADS of photos, and post them here, experienced peeps will then be able to comment on the pick-up's condition to some extent

Running a Minor is much more practical if you are handy with the spanners, and restoration is obviously more bearable if you have welding experience and a lot of time and patience. There are several good books you can get which will help with learning about Minors in particular ("British cars" in general are quite an assorted bunch!) - check out this forum's "Useful Tips section for recommendations.

Good luck and let us know how you get on!!

wibble xx

Post by **RustyandTad** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:47 pm

Thank you all very much. My mate in Arizona is going to take some time in the next couple of days to really inspect the pickup. I do really trust him to give me a load of pictures and a good, critical, advice on the condition of the pickup.

As soon as he sends the pictures I will post them here.

And speaking of pictures, here is my other on going project... Rusty (named for former colour) the 1965 IIA...

Post by **MoggyTech** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:53 pm

You could always ship the Pickup over to Boyd Coddington in California if it needs chassis/bodywork. He would probably want to stuff a Chevy big block into it, but he can be kept in check with a big enough stick.

Post by **RustyandTad** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 1:22 pm

Yeah, but then I would wind up on the telly, become famous, and I would have beautiful California girls hanging around me all the time. Hmmmm, doesn't sound that bad... although my wife might feel different.

I have always wondered what one of the car rebuild shows over here would do with my Landy... would they want to stuff some monster V8 and a 12 inch lift kit into it? I would be so upset if that would happen. Just like my mate that found the pickup, he says I should put Mazda drive train in it... I just want a simple, slow, little pickup! I guess I am just a traditionalist.

Post by **markattard** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:21 pm

Hy Rusty, I bet you would have loved to own this one :

One of the earliest landy's ever, 1949 series 1. Unfortunately with other seven moggys and counting I have no time to restore this one as well, so I'm up to find her a nice new owner!

Post by **MoggyTech** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:47 pm

Yeah, but then I would wind up on the telly, become famous, and I would have beautiful California girls hanging around me all the time. Hmmmm, doesn't sound that bad... although my wife might feel different.

Well Overhaulin' would turn it into a pimped ride. Cris Barry Speed Shop would stuff a Hemi into it, and Boyd would want it to look like a hotrod, so the roof would get chopped and lowered, but I do think Bernts paint jobs are second to none. The closest you would get to original, is to turn over to the Cajun community done south

Really though, with most of the body panels being available, and even decent chassis, any half decent Mig Welder guy, can get a pickup into good shape. Worth saving IMHO as the pickups are very rare. I don't know what I would do without my traveller, I have as much fun tinkering, as I do driving.

Post by **Orkney** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:20 pm

PUKE PUKE PUKE
not really jealous or envious

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours trav

Post by **MoggyTech** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:47 pm

Orkney wrote:PUKE PUKE PUKE
not really jealous or envious

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours trav

Awe shucks. Actually it's not that great from under 10 feet, as some of the Celly is getting tired looking, but then I keep seeing those unbelievable paint jobs that Bernt does on American Hotrod. I did rescue most of the paint work by colour sanding the roof, and buffing up with G3, but the paint is pretty thin now in some places. Still, it was last painted in 1997 so it's doing well for Celly paint.

I am going to respray it at some point, but as I intend to go back to bare metal, epoxy prime, Celly prime and do 5 topcoats it will be a huge job.

Post by **RustyandTad** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 5:10 pm

Wow!!!

Just Wow!

I want them all! The Series 1 and the Traveler! Both are beauties.

I don't think you will have any problems selling the S1. Engine parts are getting harder to find, so they tend to go to restorers now. The most famous S1 is HUEy - The first Land Rover. Still around and still running. If you are willing to sell it in the States i know you will get a premium price!

The problem is I see the pick up as a daily driver and think that that is just fine, then I see that beauty of a Traveler and think, hmmm, I should do that, a full restoration. But that is what I have my GT6 for.

Too many cars... too little money...