Introducing Bessie

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plastic_orange
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Introducing Bessie

Post by plastic_orange »

Picked up 'Bessie' from James in East Kilbride last night after spotting his ad here.
I wasn't really thinking about another one, but it was a 1957 model (same as my wife), so I thought why not.
The car has only had 2 owners prior to me - originally from Caithness, then to James's dad in Thorntonhall. He had the car restored in 2001 after a long lay up (and at no small expense), but didn't seem to use it much judging by the mileage between MOT's.
When I collected Bessie, she wasn't running too well, and the thought was it was perhaps just stale fuel, and needing a good run - well it took me until Dunblane (45 miles) for it to perk up enough to cruise at 50 - 60. Prior to that it was 15mph up hills - not recommended in todays traffic. Fortunately my wife was riding shot gun for me, and ran her car behind me with hazards on (illegal I know, but kept me safe).
In fact I thought about calling the AA at one point (prior to a long hill outside Auchterarder), but the car must have known and picked up.
Driving impressions were pretty favourable - quiet gearbox and rear axle, plus engine seemed ok, just down on power. Brakes were a bit iffy, but again through lack of use.
The car came with an MOT fail certificate - brakes and a bit of welding, so today I got stuck in.
Brakes are now sorted - new drums had been fitted all round, plus shoes and some cylinders, so it was just freeing things off and adjusting properly. Engine is now running like a watch - just fouled plugs, and no oil in carb (suspected this), but it is quite oily, so will need some new gaskets (and cleaned).
I also valeted the interior, and it came up lovely, plus a quick T cut produced some shine on the paintwork.
The tyres were pretty old (esso crossplies on front), and had sidewall cracking although plenty tread. I therefore swapped the wheels over with some I happened to have lying around.
Future plans are to just run it as is, but with sensible updates.

Here's some pics:


As purchased
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Cleaned up a bit

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Filter off the fill carb - pretty oily

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Now fitted with a set of slot mags from my son's Minor (still being sorted)

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That's 8 x13's in there

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Smaller wheel fitted
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[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/sinky_aps/4e634210.jpg[/img] [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/sinky_aps/MorrisRain4.jpg[/img]
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bmcecosse
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Post by bmcecosse »

If I had known it was in EK - just 10 miles from me - I would have had it before you!! The seller never answered my PMs!
But well done - looks great!
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ferret76
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Post by ferret76 »

Out of curiosity, what did you do with the old steering wheel?
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plastic_orange
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Post by plastic_orange »

It is stored in my garage for the future.

Pete
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/sinky_aps/4e634210.jpg[/img] [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/sinky_aps/MorrisRain4.jpg[/img]
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GAS
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Post by GAS »

Pretty little car Pete.
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Peetee
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Post by Peetee »

Smashing bargain.
Well done. :D
Older and more confused than I could ever imagine possible.
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tickman
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Post by tickman »

Nice one Pete, I had also considered this but think I would have been shot if I had got it :)

How is the mm going?

John.
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plastic_orange
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Post by plastic_orange »

MM isn't going far just now, but will be soon - I hope.
Drop down for a look at Bessie if you like.

Pete
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/sinky_aps/4e634210.jpg[/img] [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/sinky_aps/MorrisRain4.jpg[/img]
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Sidney'61
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Post by Sidney'61 »

Fantastic car, I love the interior on the late fifties models, my favourite
Andy W____________1961 2-door 948cc (Sidney)_____________1963 2-door 1275cc (Emily)_______

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plastic_orange
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Post by plastic_orange »

I've being doing a bit of work on 'Bessie' to get her ready for MOT.
So far I've done the brakes, sorted out the wipers (stopped working after jizering engine bay, and I discovered they were wired in a strange manner), fitted new blades and arms, replaced missing badges with new items (essential :D ), changed all fluids, rewired horn, fitted new plugs, cleaned carb out and adjusted valve clearances and at the same time did a compression test - all 145. Just to fit a new exhaust tomorrow then see what happens. Some of the previous welding could do with a tidy up (front of the front chassis legs), but I'll wait and see if it passes first. I'm not going to re grease the front suspension until after MOT in case it loosens it off, then I'll strip it all down properly and fit bushes etc if required.
Total spend so far just under £100.
I'll report further progress.

Pete
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/sinky_aps/4e634210.jpg[/img] [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/sinky_aps/MorrisRain4.jpg[/img]
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bmcecosse
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Post by bmcecosse »

If the tyres are still sticking out past the wings (as per pics) - they should fail it for that! But as ever - good luck with the MOT.
Whatever happened to the idea a while back that the MOT would become a two year certificate ???
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Peetee
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Post by Peetee »

She's loverly - and would have been a perfect partner for Albert. :roll:
Older and more confused than I could ever imagine possible.
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plastic_orange
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Post by plastic_orange »

bmcecosse wrote:If the tyres are still sticking out past the wings (as per pics) - they should fail it for that! But as ever - good luck with the MOT.
Whatever happened to the idea a while back that the MOT would become a two year certificate ???
Never bothered the testers before :D
Plenty hotrods with no wings going around - Police don't really know how to deal with that :lol:

Pete
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/sinky_aps/4e634210.jpg[/img] [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/sinky_aps/MorrisRain4.jpg[/img]
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MGFmad
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Post by MGFmad »

Good luck with the MOT, a nice looking Minor you have there.
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bigginger
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Post by bigginger »

plastic_orange wrote:
bmcecosse wrote:If the tyres are still sticking out past the wings (as per pics) - they should fail it for that! But as ever - good luck with the MOT.
Whatever happened to the idea a while back that the MOT would become a two year certificate ???
Never bothered the testers before :D
Plenty hotrods with no wings going around - Police don't really know how to deal with that :lol:

Pete
I *think* it's a construction and use issue, not an MOT one, so it's the VOSA checks you'd need to look out for
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plastic_orange
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Post by plastic_orange »

I was pulled for a similar thing about 30 years ago - but argued that the amount sticking out was sidewall. They accepted my argument back then. I don't think they would even bother nowadays. Wheels were fitted to my son's Minor with 2 inch oversize rear wings (will be going back on when it is fixed), so were fine. I could really do with a pair of 6 x13's to match the front, or I've got a full set of 51/2 x13 steel wellers to put on it - decisions decisions.

Pete
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/sinky_aps/4e634210.jpg[/img] [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v436/sinky_aps/MorrisRain4.jpg[/img]
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d_harris
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Post by d_harris »

The testers have a right to refuse to test any vehicle which has tyres protruding outside the wing.

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plastic_orange
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Post by plastic_orange »

Mine won't though.

Pete
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plastic_orange
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Post by plastic_orange »

Mot'd today :lol:

Pete
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bmcecosse
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Post by bmcecosse »

Well done - a great buy!
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