National Rally photos

[chrisd87]

KIT CAR!!!!! KIT CAR? that's offensive and insulting! there is absolutely nothing KIT about it!

"Amateur built vehicle", if you'd prefer. Clearly, the vast majority of the underbody structure of the car is one you yourself have designed and built, rather than the one that came out of the factory. Mechanically it bears no resemblance whatsoever to a Minor. What the DVLA think of it is up to them - I'm actually quite surprised you've been able to avoid a Q-plate and SVA/IVA. You'll note that nowhere did I dispute the owner's right to modify the car. I'm concerned with how best to preserve the Minor, and I don't think that degree of irreversible modification really counts as preservation. You are of course right that breaking up easily restorable cars is even more inimical to that objective, and I've expressed that viewpoint before.

Chris' car is one I like a great deal. It very clearly is a Minor as it retains the original bodyshell and structure, is still RWD, has an A-series engine, still has torsion bar front suspension with leaf-sprung live axle rear, I could go on. Also, I suspect that most or all of the modifications would be fairly easily reversible.

You'll also note that I said I'm not against all modifications. Until I sold off the bits, one of my cars had a 12G295 cylinder head, 997 Cooper cam, HIF38 carb, Metro rocker cover, K&N filter, etc. My other one has an alternator, stereo, radial tyres and cigarette lighter socket. Point is, these are all modifications that are unobtrusive, bolt-on, and very easy to get rid of (as I did in the former case). I even tried to buy a ropey B-Series engined Minor about 5 years ago. This is a bit more radical but could still most likely be reversed, and in addition uses 'period' mechanicals (the particular car I was after had been converted in the 70s). Probably a conversion I wouldn't undertake myself now, however, with the ready availability of cheap MGB GTs.

[HotRod]

(Look what happened to some of the old 30s Fords, ie the Ford model B, the V8. Its next to impossible to get hold of a standard one, nearly everyone in existance now has a 'roof chop' or has been made into a 'hotrod'.) Fantastic! Customising cars has been going on for as long as cars have been in existance, so each has it's own place and each has it's own equal right to exist!

No not fantastic, its a crying shame actually. What were great cars in their day, like the ford V8, the first afordable V8 to go into a mass produced car, are now such a rarity, such examples can only really be found in museums. (Where they belong)
Someone mentioned about they customise their caar because they aint a sheep? But guess what, in the end, when everyone wants a 'custom' look car, you do become one of the sheep, (not true, if this statement was accurate all custom cars would be the same) and those who keep their cars original, like the old Fords, are not following the flock. (if people want their own motor museums, that's their choice)It looks like I am outnumbered, but that is only because the people on this particular thread have customised their Minors in some way, so of course are going to be biased. (on this site I very much doubt that, the other site is more likely)Personally, if you want to customise your Minor, then thats of course up to you, and I am not disagreeing that there aint any interesting examples out there. But note that the people who are true lovers of Minors dont customise their car. Purely because when you do customise, you take away the feel and spirit of the Original car.

True Minor fans love their Minor the way it was built, and the way it was intended, (Sir Alec Issigonis intended the minor to be front wheel drive) which wasnt doing 90 on a motorway, or by putting in a diesal engine capable of doing 50mpg.

[HotRod]

Ok, did anyone notice the bright yellow "Bumble" Morris Minor? opinions on this one then? is this still a morris minor or is it something else?[frame][/frame]

[jagnut66]

Did anybody actually enjoy the National rally for what it was or were they all too busy arguing that if you dare to replace a nut and bolt on your car then it's no longer a Morris Minor and has no place drawing breath on Gods green earth!!

Each to their own, for goodness sake!
Or would you lot rather see our strong club broken up into a lot of weak / pointless sub sections??

[kingzdjc]

(Look what happened to some of the old 30s Fords, ie the Ford model B, the V8. Its next to impossible to get hold of a standard one, nearly everyone in existance now has a 'roof chop' or has been made into a 'hotrod'.) Fantastic! Customising cars has been going on for as long as cars have been in existance, so each has it's own place and each has it's own equal right to exist!

No not fantastic, its a crying shame actually. What were great cars in their day, like the ford V8, the first afordable V8 to go into a mass produced car, are now such a rarity, such examples can only really be found in museums. (Where they belong)
Someone mentioned about they customise their caar because they aint a sheep? But guess what, in the end, when everyone wants a 'custom' look car, you do become one of the sheep, (not true, if this statement was accurate all custom cars would be the same) and those who keep their cars original, like the old Fords, are not following the flock. (if people want their own motor museums, that's their choice)It looks like I am outnumbered, but that is only because the people on this particular thread have customised their Minors in some way, so of course are going to be biased. (on this site I very much doubt that, the other site is more likely)Personally, if you want to customise your Minor, then thats of course up to you, and I am not disagreeing that there aint any interesting examples out there. But note that the people who are true lovers of Minors dont customise their car. Purely because when you do customise, you take away the feel and spirit of the Original car.

True Minor fans love their Minor the way it was built, and the way it was intended, (Sir Alec Issigonis intended the minor to be front wheel drive) which wasnt doing 90 on a motorway, or by putting in a diesal engine capable of doing 50mpg.

No, classic or vintage cars built the way they were designed and intended do NOT belong in museums. These cars founded modern day motoring, so pay them a little bit more respect!
They have a right to be on the roads than the montrosities created when when you 'modify' them.

Really, all you are doing is creaing your own car, but using Morris Minor panels, with a Morris badge on it. It aint a Minor!

And please, I dont care the way Alec Issigonis wanted the car to be. At the end of the day, it wasnt built with front wheel drive, and not with a diesal engine. And the result, a Morris Minor.
If the car were built with front wheel drive, and a diesal engine, then in a parrallel universe, it may be another car entirely.

In fact, I dont know why you have a 'Minor' at all really. You obviously dont like it originally, so therefore, dont lke the car. So please stop calling your car a 'Minor' because it aint. Yes, that piece of paper may call it a 'Morris Minor', but a piece of paper cant tell the amount of mods done on some of these cars.

Ok, did anyone notice the bright yellow "Bumble" Morris Minor? opinions on this one then? is this still a morris minor or is it something else?

To be honest, it looks like a beetle on steroids.

[jagnut66]

If you find other peoples cars so offensive why did you go?

[autolycus]

... I'm alive, I have my own individuality and personality, I build a car to stand out, to say "look at me, I'm no sheep"

Does anyone else remember Rik from "The Young Ones" telling everyone how really zany he was?

I agree with virtually everything that kingzdjc has written on this topic. No-one will stop an owner messing around with his car, unless, as sometimes happens, it makes it unsafe (particularly in the modifier's hands), or makes it uninsurable without lying to the insurers. Just don't expect everyone to admire the car or the owner.

Kevin

[HotRod]

At the end of the day we all have our own views, this is supposed to be a light discussion not a personal war kingzdjc so chill, you tell me where I ever said anything derogatory about standard cars, where did I say cars should All be modified or scrapped, where did I pick fault with the standard car? answer nowhere! all you have done is pull apart cars which do not conform to your own personal opinion as worthy to be on the road because they are bog standard, we "the custom rebels" do seem to have a better sense of humour and we are not stuck on the thread type of every tiny nut n bolt. you need to lighten up and accept there are many differnt things in life and you may not like them all but there are people on the other side of the fence who see purists as stuffy and boring, chill out and accept this isn't your island, it's everyones!

[kingzdjc]

If you find other peoples cars so offensive why did you go?

Thats a silly thing to say. If you read the rest of this thread, it started off by inquiring when does a car become a different car due to the amount of modifications.
Thats how we got to this.

Also, do you not think the person claiming cars in their original condition should belong in museums offensive, I certaintly do!

In fact, no one hates Minors more than those who customise them! They hate the original car that much, they want to tear them apart and make them into something else entirely.

Again, youve posted this without actually reading the rest of the thread.

[HotRod]

If you find other peoples cars so offensive why did you go?

sorry but who is this directed at?

[kingzdjc]

If you find other peoples cars so offensive why did you go?

sorry but who is this directed at?

I presume myself

And no, I dont hate all customised Minors like I stated earlier. As I said, some are really interesting.

[HotRod]

If you find other peoples cars so offensive why did you go?

Thats a silly thing to say. If you read the rest of this thread, it started off by inquiring when does a car become a different car due to the amount of modifications.
Thats how we got to this.

Also, do you not think the person claiming cars in their original condition should belong in museums offensive, I certaintly do!

In fact, no one hates Minors more than those who customise them! They hate the original car that much, they want to tear them apart and make them into something else entirely.

Again, youve posted this without actually reading the rest of the thread.

Actually I think it's you that doesn't quite get it, customizing cars is not about disliking or hating the original, that's ridiculous! it's about personality, I like original cars but I like to be different too, I'd gladly chop any car if I thought it was a good candidate, a mog is, so is a ford pop, but I really can't see a vauxhall cavalier making the grade as a custom car.
and I do agree with Jagnut, all you've done so far is verbally abuse other people's cars, so why did you go?

[kingzdjc]

If you find other peoples cars so offensive why did you go?

Thats a silly thing to say. If you read the rest of this thread, it started off by inquiring when does a car become a different car due to the amount of modifications.
Thats how we got to this.

Also, do you not think the person claiming cars in their original condition should belong in museums offensive, I certaintly do!

In fact, no one hates Minors more than those who customise them! They hate the original car that much, they want to tear them apart and make them into something else entirely.

Again, youve posted this without actually reading the rest of the thread.

Actually I think it's you that doesn't quite get it, customizing cars is not about disliking or hating the original, that's ridiculous! it's about personality, I like original cars but I like to be different too, I'd gladly chop any car if I thought it was a good candidate, a mog is, so is a ford pop, but I really can't see a vauxhall cavalier making the grade as a custom car.
and I do agree with Jagnut, all you've done so far is verbally abuse other people's cars, so why did you go?

I went to appreciate the many other standard Minors, and also, yes, some of the customised ones. Verbally abuse????? No, I think not, merely stated my interest in why you call your cars 'Minors', when they are not.

As I said, I dont dislike EVERY customised job. Some are skillful, and interesting. How many times do I have to tell you this???

So youve admitted. Your interest isnt the Minor itself, its just the fact that they are easy to 'chop up'.

[HotRod]

Still not there are we? easy to chop up? NO! a nice looking car as a base to a nice looking personalized car, get it? if I didn't like to look of the minor why would it still be identifyable as a minor by it's appearance, if I didnt like the look of the minor I'd "chop up" something I did like the look of! You are trying very hard to twist things, but sadly you are making yourself look very silly

[kingzdjc]

Still not there are we? easy to chop up? NO! a nice looking car as a base to a nice looking personalized car, get it? if I didn't like to look of the minor why would it still be identifyable as a minor by it's appearance, if I didnt like the look of the minor I'd "chop up" something I did like the look of! You are trying very hard to twist things, but sadly you are making yourself look very silly

Trying very hard to twist things? No its what you said. You said they are easy to chop up That aint twisting things. What you really like then is the panels and appearance of a Morris Minor, to use over your 'custom' car. A body and some panels from a Minor doesnt make it a Minor.

It is you who are looking silly, and arrogant. It is quite clear to see that anyone who doesnt like the idea of 'chopping up' and customising their Minor, you cant see their point of view.

Sad really.

[Dean]

All I can say is with all the testosterone and passion for all thing Minors flying around.. the little luvable moggy in whatever form will be around for a long time yet.

[kingzdjc]

All I can say is with all the testosterone and passion for all thing Minors flying around.. the little luvable moggy in whatever form will be around for a long time yet.

Well I hope so. But with 'Hotrod' here, if he gets his or her way, they'll see every Minor with a roof chop, flared wheel arches and painted some psychedelic colour!

With an original, standard Minor staring out from a museum window!

[HotRod]

Where did I say "easy"?

[kingzdjc]

Where did I say "easy"?

I'd gladly chop any car if I thought it was a good candidate, a mog is

In other words, easy. Your just tyring to nit pick now, which aint cool.

[HotRod]

All I can say is with all the testosterone and passion for all thing Minors flying around.. the little luvable moggy in whatever form will be around for a long time yet.

Well I hope so. But with 'Hotrod' here, if he gets his or her way, they'll see every Minor with a roof chop, flared wheel arches and painted some psychedelic colour!

With an original, standard Minor staring out from a museum window!

I have already stated I like the standard car, I was referring to 30s & 40s fords being so rare that they belong in museums "safe n sound" not every classic car on earth, why do you take everything so literally, do you only see black n white? would you like me to write a list of cars I like in standard form? that could take some time, there are some lovely standard mogs out there, I would never chop a good one, I just did up a standard traveller with alternator and headlight mods only, so I'm not the monster you seem to be painting me as. Stop taking everything I say and twisting it into something negative.