Are there any plans to redesign the Morris Minor?

[Fingolfin]

I've toyed with ideas including a hatchback, SUV, extended-cab pickup, various sedans, and a grand tourer. Of these, my favorite by far was the last one. I give you the New Minor GT:

[frame][/frame]

Of course, that's only a preliminary profile. But I think it looks pretty darn good. I'd drive it. This would be the entry-level luxury version of the New Minor, sort of like a Buick is in the States; better than a Chevrolet but less than a Cadillac.

That's the only design I've gotten close to finished yet. Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks.

[jonathon]

Used your drawing and sketched this version using your sizes. Its only a 2dr now with bigger wheels, but essentially the same dims

[frame][/frame]

[new_adventures_of_arthur]

That looks really cool Jonathan!

[Fingolfin]

I'm diggin' it, Jonathon. So, anyone suppose this is what a modern Minor would look like? I'd love to see some more doodles! (Jon, if you've got any more, fire away.) I do need to work on my sketching ability...

[jonathon]

I think folk will have very differing opinions of what a modern Minor is. We all approach from our own directions but a compromise can always be struck. If you are of the radical persuasion , then these will be up your tree . Borrowed from Rod's and Sods website. Go have a look at it ,there is some fantastic work on there, and the forum is very openly structured, ie allows trade ads in a seperate section. Some features could easily be integrated into this MMOC website.
I'm always happy to doodle ideas Fingolfin although, dragons and olde world illustrations are more my bag rather than cars.


[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[marcusthemoose]

firstly, love the sketch jonathon!
i know it is only a sketch, but the front is brilliant, then it looks like you got bored when you moved onto the back. i think more needs to be made of the notch where the roof joins the boot- and this would the make a good car great!
would your design be a two seater? it looks a little bit on the small side for a compact family car (as in the original)
keep the sketches coming! i need to work out how to upload mine without a scanner

[Ondergard]

Love the sketch, Jonathon, but the back end is wrong. If you continue the line of the rear wheel arch down, you could make the back end reflect the ghost of the minor rear end... and make people think, "it looks like a Minor, but not..."

[Ondergard]

Love the sketch, Jonathon, but the back end is wrong. If you continue the line of the rear wheel arch down, you could make the back end reflect the ghost of the minor rear end... and make people think, "it looks like a Minor, but not..."

Sorry, I meant fingolfin's intitial sketch, not Jonathon's...

[jonathon]

Blimey, it only took 5 mins, whilst I was doing paperwork, spraying a car and fitting a Zetec, you want more !!!!

[Fingolfin]

Haha, you all are funny.

That's a fascinating concept for a Minor...(the Rods and Sods, is it?) A little frightening! But Jonathon, you're a good artist, or at least a good sketcher. I do all the dragon stuff too.

Ondergard, did you mean this...

[frame][/frame]

...or this?

[frame][/frame]

Or am I missing your point completely? I hadn't done that last one to begin with because I thought the boot space would be too minimal.

[jonathon]

Used to be my main profession, but gave it up 16 years ago and started JLH. Only dabble now and again, mainly designing mechanical parts for the conversions we do. Not too sure if the engineering shops like my style of tech drawing too much
So what illustrations have you ??

[Fingolfin]

What illustrations have I...haha...on that pseudo-suggestion, I began a deviantArt account. http://sheighness.deviantart.com/ There's not much, because my drawing books are almost entirely back home, but I'll put most of my best stuff up over spring break, which is in 16 days. I'll probably doodle some more too.

Anyway...back to Morris Minors...

[Fingolfin]

Incorporating elements of both my design and Jonathon's. And my first actual drawing-drawing![frame][/frame]
Now I see it on here, I think the front dips down too much. Grr. Still, not bad for an hour's work. Graphite and ink. Full size, and with the smudging cleaned up, at http://sheighness.deviantart.com/art/Ne ... -159020131.

"Featuring a spacious and luxurious interior, a powerful but economical engine, and that classic Minor charm -- you can own the New Minor for less than £17000. Pick up a snazzy New Minor from any Kincaid Motors dealership near you. Because the New Minor is the world's biggest small car."

[limegreen]

Incorporating elements of both my design and Jonathon's. And my first actual drawing-drawing![frame][/frame]
Now I see it on here, I think the front dips down too much. Grr. Still, not bad for an hour's work. Graphite and ink. Full size, and with the smudging cleaned up, at http://sheighness.deviantart.com/art/Ne ... -159020131.

"Featuring a spacious and luxurious interior, a powerful but economical engine, and that classic Minor charm -- you can own the New Minor for less than £17000. Pick up a snazzy New Minor from any Kincaid Motors dealership near you. Because the New Minor is the world's biggest small car."

I like it, but I feel it is a little too curvy, somehow P: the curve in the sills makes me feel weird.

[Fingolfin]

Yeah, I know how you feel, Lime. I thought it looked kinda neat, but I can't really see the point. But I do want some variation on the classic straight line.

Well -- back to the drawing pad -- which is where I was going anyway!

[limegreen]

the drawing pad is the best place! (:

[rossrox]

im not sure if anyone has recently said or thought this but the PT cruiser kind of looks like a modern moggy, its just the front and rear wings and slightly the bonnet, just take a look...

[chickenjohn]

There is only one Morris Minor,lets keep it that way

Agreed! and after the modern safety regulations it would need to pass (NCAP etc) the Minor would end up looking just like the Chrysler PT cruiser! And that is a car that is not to everyone's taste.

The Minor design was influenced by US car design from the 1940's/late 30's and the PT cruiser looks to hark back to that era. With modern safety requirements it is not possible to bring out a "new" Minor that would look good. I don't like either the Beetle or the New Mini- both look wrong, and new Fiat 500 is better, but even then the original looks so much nicer.

The best plan for a "new" Minor would involve an original car that has been completely restored body wise, including dipping and e-coating, re-sprayed in cellulose for , and sensitive completely reversible upgrades. I.E. an A plus 1275 engine and disc brakes-, anti roll bar etc, being very careful not to fall foul of the BIVA nightmare regulations. The car would keep its registration and historic tax status. No cutting of the body, perhaps more comfy seats for those that need them (I don't, the standard Minor seats are fine). All components would be restored or replaced with new. The car would in effect be a new Minor, no need for a redesign!

[chickenjohn]

Incorporating elements of both my design and Jonathon's. And my first actual drawing-drawing![frame]-snip-
I like it, but I feel it is a little too curvy, somehow P: the curve in the sills makes me feel weird.

Makes me feel a bit ill actually!!! this is how the Allegro got to look like it did. Sorry, don't want to upset anyone but not to my taste!

I think that looking at some of the extremely modified cars such as the Le Mans racer type Minor that Jonothan showed pics of that where the market for highly modded new Minor based cars like this is a kit- car series based on the look of the Minor. You would have a space-frame chassis designed to accomodate a range of suspensions and engines and take the idea of the Minor flip front in fibregass and expand it to a full copy of a Minor body in fibreglass, including standard and flared wheel arches and wings. The modifiers could then do whatever they want and not ruin an original Minor in the process.

There seems to be nothing to be gained by using an original Minor body now that the nightmare BIVA test will remove historic free tax status from the modded cars and impose a horrid "Q" plate. Might as well go the whole hog- not compromise by using 40+ year old parts, and create a true hot-rod kit car based on the look (but none of the components) of the Minor.

Would be like a road going "Legend" type car and you could even have a Kit-Minor race series. Just think of the possibillities!! The engineering and design! a proper tubular chassis. You could do a roof chop and low as you like and no real Minors would be harmed.

This idea and these cars should be welcomed by the club as it helps the preservation and use of original Minors.

[jonathon]

John, this space frame Minor is exactly what we are working on over the next few years. Hopefully ending with a chance to run a series similar to the Beetle 'Fun Cup'. We can see a huge potential for this type of car both for road and track applications.
I disagree that steel minors should be left alone, its my policy to develop the minor with modern running gear to create a fun, quick and reliable car, and to be honest I'm amazed as to how well the chassis can handle 310bhp with just a small amount of tweeking.
The only issue I and customers have is the cost to one, rebuild a minor plus two the new mechanics. This is the only reason we have decided to persue the 'kit' style of building what customers require. On the other hand many customers revel in the kowledge that their almost original minor can be a Ferrarri beater, but we are talking 'petrol heads here, not custodians of of museum pieces, all power to them too.
Don't forget Castle Coombe 13th April, a chance for you to sample a passenger ride in an 'almost' standard minor with 240bhp and a few tweeks.