Ian's 1952 MM Convertible NTG 773

[Ian46]

I have just purchased this 1952 MM Convertible (NGT 773) which will be my next project. I hope to be starting it sometime next summer or as soon as my current project (below) is completed. The MM has never been welded (although it needs some now) and I am only the fifth owner in 57 years. The last owner had the car for 47 years and I have promised her a trip out in it when it is complete. Starting to compile a long list of the parts I'm going to need. Regards Ian<br><br><br><br><br><br>

[mmjosh]

the doors look very solid is there much wrong with it?

[Ian46]

Hi Josh,
Thanks for your reply.

I have tried to be very careful when buying this car as a project. I had looked at many early convertibles with a view to restoring one that hadn't been 'got at' and actually bought a 54 Series II about 18 months ago. However after 'dipping' to remove rust there wasn't a lot left to work with. I thought it would be beyond my restoration skills and sold it on to a fellow club member who is far more capable than I and he is now sending me photos of the excellent fabrication work he is doing! Ho hum!

The '52 Convertible (pictured as purchased) is pretty sound. The original doors are perfectly placed and gaps are spot on before I start! Generally the inner wings are very good with just surface rust to deal with.
Where the car condition does fall down is that it will need new cill sections and parts of the floor where the metal has gone thin. However with the body having never been welded I can still see the original shape of the cill panels and drain holes which look quite different from the replacement panels now on sale.

The previous owner had started a restoration which has ended with the car being stripped down to the state in the photographs. The front wings, front bumper and MM radiator are lost, the cheesegrater grille has rusted through the entire length of it's bottom edge and the petrol tank has a large unfixable hole in it. However they have spent a lot of money rebuilding the original engine and gearbox which look perfect on the internal surfaces/parts I have seen. The engine has also been converted to run on unleaded fuel which I understand is no mean feat being a side valve.

After this initial work, her project ambitions ground to a halt and she decided, reluctantly to put the car up for sale.

I heard about this car's existance through a chance conversation in March of this year at the Barnsley Branch Rally. I tracked the various leads down over a number of weeks and months, finally ending up with a phone number and managed to contact the owner in June. When I first went to view the car (in a garden in Loughborough) I felt like I was attending a job interview. The owner wanted to make sure I was going to be the right owner for her car even though it was now really just a rolling shell! I'd never experienced this before, but put it down to the fact that she was parting with something she had owned for 47 years. I intend to keep in touch with progress but what an extra pressure and responsibility!

As I mentioned in the initial post I am now trying to compile a list of parts I will need (correct MM/SeriesII front bumper anyone?). I can see I will be spending some quality time on ebay in the near future!

Regards Ian

[ASL642]

Ian - don't forget Club Spares - where we try to source the early parts that mm suppliers dont provide. Bryan may be able to help. Check out his details in the Mag.

[rich-legg]

The MM has never been welded

A '52 UK car that has never been welded is a rare thing! and a 'vert at that!

I have a '51 Beetle, 2 owner from new, which had never been welded, but that came from Sweden, where they don't use salt on the roads, which is what rots most UK cars.

Nice find! Are you planning on welding it yourself?

[Ian46]

Hi Rich,

I am going to have a go at welding. I have a small oxy gas kit and I did have a spot welder which I loaned to a 'friend' who couldn't find it when I wanted it back, but that is another story.

I haven't welded for some years so will practice again before I start on the car. I did attend a welding course at my local college some years ago so I'm hoping the old skills will come back.

I don't think I'll ever be as competent as 'Taupe' who is posting on this forum. His work is just awsome in the truest sense of the word.

As I posted earlier my main aim now is to get all the parts I need and tackle the car next summer. It is safe and dry and all wrapped up in my garage until then.

Regards Ian

[alanworland]

I am only the 3rd owner of mine (which I have had for nearly 40yrs!) and needed very little replacement metal and when it came to inner sills I remember making up a form tool to reproduce the original drain positions be cause the new parts didn't have any!
All gas butt welded, with me underneath! - no rollover jigs
Somehow I think this 'era' of Minor generally have survived quite well
Good luck with the project it looks like a good base to start with!

[Ian46]

Evening All,

I've just spent a lazy afternoon going through all the boxes of bits that came with the car, trying to identify what is present and what is missing and have found a rather sorry looking tonneau cover.

I have attached a few photographs of it as I haven't seen a Minor convertible with one before.

It looks to be professionally made/trimmed and sits inside the car at door top level. This is the only deviation from the 1952 standard specification. Can anyone shed any light on the matter please? Was it an after market accessory?

Secondly, the car has come with three split headlamp bezels and I was wondering when these were phased out in the production ie should my car, registered 29/11/52 have them?

Since my last post I have found an excellent bootlid and cheesegrater grille with radiator supporting panel so I've started to make a dent in my parts required list!

Regards Ian<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

[RobThomas]

I've got a late '52 and it has the split rim headlamp covers with the chrome screw through them.
Are there any particular bits you are looking for?

[Ian46]

Hi Rob,

I am looking to aquire all the outer panels I need before starting with welding so my wish list currently comprises -

A better Splitscreen bonnet than I currently have

Correct MM/Series II front bumper complete (valance must be good)

I understand the rear bumper on these early models is ever so slightly different to the later Minors and I need one of those. (something to do with the way the ends are shaped?)

1No rear right hand 'high cut out' wing. I already have a NOS left hand wing.

Late MM/Series II front wings (pair). All I could save from the ones I had was one headlamp surround which I am using as a pattern if all else fails.

Other parts I would like to track down are an original petrol tank, sidevalve radiator, gearbox tunnel cover, correct 'painted' door tops in good condition and finally what everyone probably wants - a good condition steering wheel.

Luckily I do have time on my side at the moment.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Ian

[Ian46]

Has anyone any thoughts/ideas about the tonneau cover that came with my splitscreen convertible?

I was asking if it might be some sort of after market accessory from the 50's and whether anyone has seen one on a convertible as I haven't. (see previous posts).

I'm not sure whether to keep it as part of the restoration?

Thanks Ian

[Ian46]

I'm not sure how to 'bump' posts but I didn't get any replies/suggestions to my last post about the tonneau cover that came with my project.

I would like to know if anyone has seen a tonneau like mine on any other Convertible splitscreen or later? I'm not sure to keep it after restoration or not.

Any suggestions/ideas/leads very welcome.

Regards Ian

[MarkyB]

I'd say keep it in either case.
Period accessories add interest at single marque shows.

[Jonah681]

I would like to know if anyone has seen a tonneau like mine on any other Convertible splitscreen or later? I'm not sure to keep it after restoration or not.

Hang on to the cover. Even if it is beyond use, if you decide you want one to complete the car, it will be a very useful aid for a pattern for a new cover. Any local chandlery/sail maker should be able to reproduce one.

There is a local sailmaker here in Newcastle that could probably do it - the owner has also got a Cobra in his garage!

[mikeysmorris]

Hi Rob,

I am looking to aquire all the outer panels I need before starting with welding so my wish list currently comprises -

A better Splitscreen bonnet than I currently have

Correct MM/Series II front bumper complete (valance must be good)

I understand the rear bumper on these early models is ever so slightly different to the later Minors and I need one of those. (something to do with the way the ends are shaped?)

1No rear right hand 'high cut out' wing. I already have a NOS left hand wing.

Late MM/Series II front wings (pair). All I could save from the ones I had was one headlamp surround which I am using as a pattern if all else fails.

Other parts I would like to track down are an original petrol tank, sidevalve radiator, gearbox tunnel cover, correct 'painted' door tops in good condition and finally what everyone probably wants - a good condition steering wheel.

Luckily I do have time on my side at the moment.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Ian

Hi Ian, please take a look at my post on front bumpers, i have been told by other members that the valance is from a car like yours,
if you think it would fit your car i would be willing to do a deal for the correct one for my car(you post yours i post mine), my
valance is in very good condition no rust or splits, please let me know what you think best regards Mikey,[frame][/frame]

[Ian46]

Hi Mikey, thanks for the offer.

Your valance does look like a Series II one, however the raised rear edge of the valance has been thinned back for some reason behind the overrider. Things like that can be rectified if the part is as rust free as you say.

I would only require the valance itself as the front bumper chrome blade is different on these early cars aswell. Drop me a PM to discuss.

Cheers Ian

[LouiseM]

Ian,

Did you see this tonneau cover at the National? It was on a convertible prototype and I took this photo on the campsite. There was a board giving details about the car but I didn't get a chance to read it. Someone else on here might be able to add more details though. The owner lives in Essex I think.[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[alex_holden]

IIRC the board said it was the factory prototype for the Minor 1000 convertible.

[Ian46]

Thanks for the post and photo Louise and I did read your comment about the National Rally.

The tonneau on the 1000 convertible prototype does look very similar to the one on my car (see earlier in this thread). I didn't get to see the car (AJO) in the flesh at Harewood as I was just too busy on the day. Doh!

I did however get a chance to speak to Sandie Hamilton who has suggested that my tonneau will probably be a one-off and ordered by one of the previous four owners of my convertible, so there will now be a period of investigation to try and find which one it was.

Regards Ian

[Judge]

I too have a tonneau which as far as I can remember looks like the one in the picture. If I can find it I'll photograph it.