Advice on buying a Moggie PLEASE

[ktoscana]

Hello everybody

I had a lovely Moggie 20 years ago in which I drove all the way to Corsica and back! I am now in the market again and have so many questions and would welcome ANY advice/top tips you could share with me. (I am a girl so more likely to be swayed by the colour of the car than the condition so need the advice.) Twenty years ago Morris Minors were all over the roads -- they seem rarer and rarer now. Also they were never on e-bay - a search yesterday revealed over 50 for sale. What should I be on the alert for? Previous MM had bodywork issues and so any advice on detecting fibreglass, the value of waxing underneath etc etc gratefully accepted.

I would like anything other than a traveller including a convertible or van. I am living in Chelmsford, Essex .... so any local recommendations also great.

I feel very out of touch with the MM world but am desperate to get another little car before they are all gone so any advice accepted with huge and grateful thanks.

Kate

[Alex'n'Ane]

Budget? Best of luck with the search

[chickenjohn]

Hello Kate, welcome to the forum.

The best advice anyone could give is to join the Morris Minor club and go to your local branch meeting- best place to hear about local Minors for sale, plus you can look at the other members cars and they will show you what to look out for or maybe even inspect a car for you.

I would try your local branch before resorting to Ebay and the like.

cheers
John

[LouiseM]

Welcome to the messageboard Kate

Take a look here for some useful advice on buying a Minor: http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=37815

Always best to take someone with you who is familiar with Minors and can give you an honest appraisal of the car. Inspect a potential purchase thoroughly - don't buy it just because it looks nice. And take a fridge magnet with you to help detect fibreglass and filler!

[mike.perry]

Bodywork is more expensive to repair than mechanics

[ktoscana]

Thanks everybody - had a good look on the message boards too and seen the very useful detailed post about what to look out for when buying a Morris Minor.

One more question -- does everyone run their Moggies on unleaded petrol these days or use additives? The reason I ask is 20 years ago when I had mine and considered converting, my step-father was horrified and said the car would never run the same again and strongly advised against it . So now I am curious as to whether everybody's converted having no choice in the matter.

Thank you all again and hopefully get to meet some of you locally or at Knebworth in July

Kate

[chickenjohn]

As long as you don't thrash the car, it will be fine on Unleaded. If you re concerned, use an additive.

My Traveller is not converted to unleaded and I've had no valve seat recession problems over the last ten years (and tens of thousands of miles mixed driving).

Really though, the first step even before you get a car is to join the National Club and especially your local branch.

[andrewwita]

http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=38366

just come up on here