Help! What colour is my Minor?

Post by **Squeezebox** » Sun May 17, 2009 6:23 pm

My late 1952 Series MM is booked in for a respray in a week and the painter wants to know the paint spec so he can order it in. The trouble is, I don't know what the shade of grey is called so I can't get the ICI number off the list on the website. My car is pictured in the new May/June Minor Matters on p35 - It's the one parked in front of the No 10 Bus! I guess that it's either Clarendon Grey or Birch Grey but can anyone tell me for certain?

Many thanks for any help given - time is tight.

Mike

Post by **LouiseM** » Sun May 17, 2009 6:51 pm

I'm pretty certain it's birch grey - clarendon is a lot darker

Edit - Just checked Ray Newell's book, which has a photo of a clarendon grey car, and it's nothing like your car colour

Post by **pfgiz** » Sun May 17, 2009 6:59 pm

The full chassis number should give you a hint at what it should be, according to 'Worlds Supeme small car'

Post by **PSL184** » Sun May 17, 2009 7:17 pm

Clarendon was identified on chassis plates as a "J" and Birch as a "B" (third letter on chassis plate).

Post by **Squeezebox** » Sun May 17, 2009 7:30 pm

Thanks for this so far. Birch Grey is begining to look good. I seem to have the idea from somewhere that on the Series MM there wasn't a reference to the paint on the chassis number, that it came later on, but I'll still have a look.

Mike

Post by **LouiseM** » Sun May 17, 2009 7:33 pm

Here's a picture of a birch grey car - looks like yours. The car featured on page 51 of Minor Matters is clarendon grey.

http://www.minorpartsofoxford.co.uk/Por ... %20404.jpg

Post by **PSL184** » Sun May 17, 2009 7:33 pm

Late 52 cars would be series 2's. Unless yours was one of the crossover models that seemed to continue in production. As you say I don't think MM's had paint codes on the chassis plates (Mike Perry will know for sure) but if it is an MM then it could also be Gascoyne Grey ? This was discontinued with the MM's production run in June 52.

Post by **Squeezebox** » Sun May 17, 2009 7:53 pm

Louise has definitely nailed it. The photo of the Birch Grey car could have been of my own apart from the fact that mine doesn't have wing mirrors! I've also been out and checked the chassis number - FAB - which also agrees with the other post in refering to a light grey car.

Many many thanks to all of you for the help and advice. I'm very grateful.

Mike

Post by **PSL184** » Sun May 17, 2009 8:02 pm

Great but just to confirm yours is a Series 2 not an MM....

Post by **Squeezebox** » Mon May 18, 2009 7:31 pm

Mine is an MM - it also differs from the one in Louise's photo in the bonet ornamentation too, of course. Under said bonnet lurks a sidevalve. The chassis number puts it as late 52. When I bought it I was suprised how much it differed to my previous '57 948cc that I'd had 20 years ago. I didn't realise things like the brake drum arrangement, back axle and things like that were totally different. I was also less than thrilled to find out that when I needed to strip and rebuild the wiper motor system that it was all hidden away under the dash rather than being nice and accessible under the bonnet.....

Mike

Post by **PSL184** » Mon May 18, 2009 7:45 pm

Yes, sorry Mike - I was forgetting the chassis plates changed before the end of MM production - I was confusing myself there

Post by **Dean** » Mon May 18, 2009 9:36 pm

Anyone got a piccy of Gascoyne Grey? I'm intrigued now....

Post by **mike.perry** » Tue May 19, 2009 11:36 am

Just for the record Series II production started mid '52 at chassis no. 159190 and 4 door body. There were two or three batches of Series IIs produced in 1952. These early cars went for export.
Series MMs continued in production and were phased out by the end of Feb. '53. There was therefore an overlap in the production of Series IIs for export and Series MMs for the home market. The last MM 4 door was 176410, last convertible was 179820 and the last 2 door was 179839.
Visually, without lifting the bonnet the only difference was the straight gear lever on the Series II and the change of bonnet badge, the MM having the "LCV" badge and the SII having the M1000 badge

Post by **Squeezebox** » Fri May 29, 2009 8:32 pm

Well.....it's at the paintshop as we speak, so fingers crossed. Thanks again to all who offered help and advice.

Mike

Post by **Squeezebox** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 9:51 am

It's come back looking good, I'm well pleased with it, the only downside is that the bonnet side MorrisMinor badges didn't survive removal and it seems like they're an out of stock item with the various parts suppliers at the moment. Anyone out there know where I might find some ?

Post by **dalebrignall** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 12:35 pm

there should be some at the national rally

Post by **Squeezebox** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 6:36 pm

Can't make it, unfortunately, but it's a good thought. I can maybe see if one of the Lancs Branch is going and will have a look out for some. Thanks.

Post by **Tim_Hill** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 2:00 pm

Out of interest, did you have a full respray? If so how much did it cost you?

Thanks, Tim

Post by **Squeezebox** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:05 pm

It was just basically "outside" and inside the door openings, though the bonnet needed stripping back to bare metal as it was a bit rough. It cost me £600 which was agred before the job was started, and I'm pleased with the result. Incidentally, it's now got it's new badges on the bonnet sides thanks to club spares.

Mike