"Betty Bones" - 55 splitscreen

[the_count]

Well.. hello there!
Im new to the forum & just joined my local branch (north east)
names Martin, always loved cars & owned a few old Mini's through my teen years (and Autograssed a few).

Onto the car...
Just bought my first Moggy 1 month ago, a 55 splitscreen which I have dubed "Betty Bones".
she's not all that original, but its kinda why I bought her. I have a soft spot for 50's style Americana so the moggy is getting a hotrod / retro-esq kinda vibe, with hints of military stuff too.

How she was when I bought her:







Some additions & toys so far:













added a Torpedo style hood ornament (not properly fitted yet)

Overall loving the car, had a few tinkering issues (fuel pump, gas sender leak, etc) but nothing major. despite that havent traveled very far yet... infact only done a couple miles! Just breaking myself (and it) in gently, hasnt been on the road properly in about 20year so just working out the bugs![frame][/frame]

[mike.perry]

There are too few good condition Series IIs left to customise, OK so it has the wrong rear wings and front and rear lights but they are easily rectified.

[chesney]

It's his car - let him do as he wishes!
Welcome btw

[David53]

Welcome to forum!

Sorry, but I have to agree with Mike. Split screens are getting more and more rare - would be nice to see this one restored to original

[Alex'n'Ane]

Stop being boring and negative you lot, nothing duller than a row of morris minors all looking the same. A morris minor is not a rare car.. I like what your doing personalising it, best of luck, and keep us updated.

[David53]

Well, 1000's may not be rare but Series II's, even late ones like this certainly are.

[mach2]

Ive got a customised Series 2 and I love it, its just a car at the end of the day and its MY car and I will do what I want with it. If you dont like someones car then dont put them down after all the hard work they've put into it to make it THEIR OWN CAR, if you dont like it go and cry whilst polishing your inner wings!

Welcome Martin, awesome car you have there and the perfect base for a hotrod, very cool car and very cool plans.

[David53]

Gees, chill out man. sheesh! Just offering an opinion.

[mach2]

Well its just theres certain people on here that have a tendency to put someones car down after theyve put in hard work on it, just because its not a standard colour or becuase something on there isnt oringinal. If you dont like a car fine, just dont put down a person for making something how they want it, at least comment on the workmanship. This isnt a personal dig at anyone in particular.

[David53]

I really don't think I was putting anyone down - merely said it would be nice to see this one restored, that's all.

[mach2]

very sorry if it seemed like a personal dig at you David53, it was not meant to be at all. I apologise if you took that way

[David53]

No worries, all cool

[LouiseM]

Welcome to the message board You’ll find, same as on other car forums, that some prefer their cars standard, others prefer their car non-standard, but the vast majority don’t care in the slightest what anyone else does to their car!

the moggy is getting a hotrod / retro-esq kinda vibe, with hints of military stuff too.

Interesting, what are your plans - to continue to add easily removable items such as badges/accessories or to do something more radical?

If you dont like a car fine, just dont put down a person for making something how they want it

People like to express their opinions - that’s what messageboards are for - but I can’t see any comment here that is ‘putting down’ the original poster (if you have seen posts elsewhere that contain those sorts of personal comments please let me know where they are and I'll remove them).

[the_count]

No worries guys,
to be honest im not massively familiar with the different models of moggys, I had some idea that the splitscreen might be slightly more rare than others... so any info people are willing to offer im all ears ;)

I must say tho, as much as I respect people for restoring cars to the original spec, im really not into that ;)

Im planing on some custom lights eventually, to give it a more American vibe

also, if I can afford it in the future, im planning a roof chop... so I would probably say any purists should probably look away!


but dinnit worry about opinions etc, im an easy going young-ish guy, take it all in me stride! dont expect everyone to like my vision for the car

[Robbiet9999]

liking the car. i too like the hot rod 50's style mine is off the road being worked on as we speak now. its my car so i have it the way i want it and so should you keep up the good work. its still a minor on the road.[frame][/frame]

[the_count]

cheers mate, loving the look of yours!
the checkerplate works well on the front panel, I was going to do a checkerplate job on the glovebox etc

I agree with your outlook, the cars survived & is being enjoyed thats the most important thing

[customjob]

I'm not a puretine by any means, i've moded a moggie before even my series II is not quite original. but i do agree on both sides of the fence here. Yes people should be allowed to do what they want with their cars, wether it's the hot rod/mod look or the resorted original. I have an early November 54 splity and read somewhere recently that there are less than 24 of this age of splity known to be left. As to the comment from Alex & Ann. The Morris Minor is a rare car as i've just said above. The Morris 1000 however the later version of the series II is no way as rare. And to the Count nice car Sir, subtle american styling with the what looks the Chevy Eagle mascot. You haven't hacked the body to bits or is that still to come?

[the_count]

cheers
im still somewhat on the fence of hacking her to bits.

The original plan was to roof chop about 2" but due to the cost involved (im really not confident enough to do it myself) it may never happen

I think overall im just enjoying tinkering away for now, some more of the subtle mods to make it unique but not killing it.
I fully understand why people like to see them restored to original, but it wouldn't be 'mine'. I dont have the cash to restore a car for other people

Just a general FYI for everyone though - she's not as clean as in the pics. she's been welded alot before, plates are age related not original, engine is 1098 not standard, so it would cost money to put her 'right', and she never would really be 'right' (other than looking 'original')

all I can promise is that I'll enjoy owning her, and will take good care of her

(at least im not going to ratrod her, like I originally planned!!)

[LouiseM]

I had some idea that the splitscreen might be slightly more rare than others... so any info people are willing to offer im all ears ;)

In 2010 a club member did some research using DVLA records and published the results in the club magazine. The figures showed that there were just 565 1955 Minor saloons recorded as either taxed or on SORN in the UK. This equates to a 'survival rate' of 1.7% of the 40,507 1955 saloons built for the home market. In comparison, the later Minors - built from 1968 onwards - have a 'survival rate' ranging from 10.9 to 34.7%. So 'Bad Betty' is pretty rare

[the_count]

In 2010 a club member did some research using DVLA records and published the results in the club magazine. The figures showed that there were just 565 1955 Minor saloons recorded as either taxed or on SORN in the UK. This equates to a 'survival rate' of 1.7% of the 40,507 1955 saloons built for the home market. In comparison, the later Minors - built from 1968 onwards - have a 'survival rate' ranging from 10.9 to 34.7%. So 'Bad Betty' is pretty rare

damn, that's pretty rare! cheers for the info
i'll be gentle with her!