Bonnet fittings

Post by **psjorge** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 3:05 pm

Hi,

Can anyone shed some light regarding bonnet fittings?

I was under the understanding that MM moggies had a bonnet top chrome flash and the smaller morris symbol but series II had a different and slighty larger symbol and a top bonnet badge with a red "m" on the sides, without the flash. In fact, this was the only external difference between MM's and early series II with cheasegreater grilles.

Can I get a confirmation of this? It seams my bonnet has the holes for the flash but is a series II... of course I can have the wrong bonnet!

Thanks,
Pedro

Post by **PSL184** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 3:09 pm

AFAIK the difference was in the side mouldings... MM no moudings, Series 11 did have. Top chrome and badge were the same.....

Post by **psjorge** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 3:24 pm

What efficiency! I hardly had the time to log out and the answer was there!

So, you're saying that both MM's and cheasegreater grilled Series II had the same bonnet fittings (same symbol and chrome flash)... interesting! I was really convinced otherwise...

When did they change to the later style fittings?

Pedro

Post by **PSL184** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 3:41 pm

1948 - 1950

1950 - 1954

1954 - 1961

1961 - 1963

1963 - 1971

Post by **psjorge** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 3:59 pm

What else can I say?! Thanks!

Post by **PSL184** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 4:02 pm

My pleasure

Post by **bigginger** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 9:35 pm

The separate badge and flash (as used on LCVs until the end) and the 'handle' use the same holes in the bonnet, FWIW

Post by **Sidney'61** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:10 pm

I was under the impression aswell that all the series 11s had the M 'handle' on the front and only the series MMs and the LCVs had the smaller badge and the chrome strip. Are you sure that isn't just an MM series in the 2nd photo PSL?

Post by **PSL184** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 11:58 pm

I'd never say never as all things can change. There is some evidence that cars upto 52 had trim and small badge and I've seen some cars like this and some with M Handles and some as far as 54 with trim and small badges. It's always difficult to know exactly what is correct these days but offered the advice as my general belief.....

Post by **FrankM83** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 12:37 am

as far as I remember acording to the original Morris Minor , the only difference between later series MMs and Series II was the bonnet flash later MMS having the LCV type of bonnet till October 1952 till the Series II came along with the new bonnet flash , might have also been till facotry stocks ran out!

Post by **tortron** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 7:56 am

my 51 sidevalve has the flash and the morris emblem without the large spike

Post by **psjorge** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 6:38 pm

There is clearly no definite truth here, it seams!

I investigated this matter further (basicaly re-read Original Morris Minor by Ray Newell...) and he states the following:

- In 1952 the Austin and Morris brands were merged into the British Motor Corporation, under Lord Nuffield. As a consequence, the 803 cc overhead valve engine (originaly an Austin engine) became available to Minors. Hence, from July 1952 onwards, 4 door saloons destined for export were equiped with the 803 cc engine and named Series II. The rest of the production (home market 4 door saloons and all convertibles and 2 door) remained with the 918 cc sidevalve engine until February 1953. This means that both MM and Series II production lines were simultaniously operating for under a year.

Although Series II had no bonnet flash but the "new" handle-like "M" fitting and a revised symbol with an upper spike, maybe some Series II's were produced with the previous MM bonnet fittings? At least that my guess...

This could be a logical explanation especialy because my car is an original export model. It was registered here in Portugal on the 2nd of February 1954, whitch means that it had to be produced at the factory in England at least in January that year but, eventualy this couldn't have been the case and the car was produced earlier, say in late 1953, when both MM and Series II were running in parallel...

Who can add something to this?

Pedro

Post by **jaekl** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:19 pm

It reads to me that everyone is in agreement but never answered the question. The question pertains to the holes in the bonnet. Both styles of trim use the same holes. Everything is interchangeable. All bonnets are the same in this area. The sole reason for the trim change was a marketing directive to distinquish the different engines. Engineering was tasked to make them fit the same holes.

Post by **psjorge** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 9:08 pm

Now, here's an answer I wasn't anticipating!!!

Aren't these little details the ones that make classic cars fun?

Pedro