Hi there everyone. I'm new here and new at being a Morris owner.
I've just bought a lovely 1966 Morris Minor 1000 and want to get it restored.
Can anyone recommend a good garage/mechanic in the London area ??
Thanks
Dave
Restoring a Morris Minor 1000 (London)
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I don't want to dampen your enthusiasm, Dave, but may I suggest that, before you get too determined to have your car restored, you seriously consider selling it and buying one that's already in the condition you want?
Unless you want your car to be heavily modified, you will almost certainly find one cheaper than it will cost you for a restoration. In London, especially, you won't get much restoration done (at £40-£50 per hour plus parts) for the price of a near-concours car. Just think how many man-hours are required to prepare a car for a respray, let alone all the welding, mechanical overhauling, electrical work, and re-trimming that restoration implies.
Restoration is fine if you can do most or all of the work yourself, and if you treat it as a hobby that will either make you or lose you a few bob, like hobbies do. Watching the bills mount up to far more than a car will be worth, as times drags inexorably by and the restorer, no matter how honest and competent, finds ever more hidden snags, is a soul-, wallet-, and sometimes marriage- destroyng business.
And then you get it finished and realise you either hate driving it, or daren't park it anywhere because you've spent so much on it - you wouldn't be the first or the last.
Kevin
Unless you want your car to be heavily modified, you will almost certainly find one cheaper than it will cost you for a restoration. In London, especially, you won't get much restoration done (at £40-£50 per hour plus parts) for the price of a near-concours car. Just think how many man-hours are required to prepare a car for a respray, let alone all the welding, mechanical overhauling, electrical work, and re-trimming that restoration implies.
Restoration is fine if you can do most or all of the work yourself, and if you treat it as a hobby that will either make you or lose you a few bob, like hobbies do. Watching the bills mount up to far more than a car will be worth, as times drags inexorably by and the restorer, no matter how honest and competent, finds ever more hidden snags, is a soul-, wallet-, and sometimes marriage- destroyng business.
And then you get it finished and realise you either hate driving it, or daren't park it anywhere because you've spent so much on it - you wouldn't be the first or the last.
Kevin
Hi Dave,
As Lou says, let us know whereabouts in London you are and can you also be a bit more specific as to what work needs doing? 'Restoration' can mean different things to different people. Does the car require welding / structural work, mechanical attention, body work, paint work etc? Are you looking to have the work done all at once or thinking of a staged restoration? As Kevin has pointed out, London labour charges are pretty high so if you aren't planning on doing any of the work yourself it certainly won't be cheap
Lou
As Lou says, let us know whereabouts in London you are and can you also be a bit more specific as to what work needs doing? 'Restoration' can mean different things to different people. Does the car require welding / structural work, mechanical attention, body work, paint work etc? Are you looking to have the work done all at once or thinking of a staged restoration? As Kevin has pointed out, London labour charges are pretty high so if you aren't planning on doing any of the work yourself it certainly won't be cheap
Lou
Eric - 1971 Traveller
