My dad grew up driving Morris Minor's and my mother used to drive myself and my siblings around in a white Morris Traveller up until the late 90's, recently whilst talking to a farmer in Norfolk my father was shown a 1958 Convertible Morris Minor in ivory white that had been dry stored for the last 25 years. It has no interior, no hood or frame but all the electrics and mechanics seem to be there with running gear - a family of owls have lived above the car for the last few years and it's covered in owl poo. Hence we have appropriated named her Tawny.
My father's enthusiasm clearly came across and the farmer asked if we'd make an offer - we checked it over and she seems to be very solid, no welding with no rot or sign of surface rust. Playing with the idea of making the guy an offer he started looking for parts and quickly realised that it would be easier to source another non-runner. This turned out in the form of a black 1963 Morris Minor (non convertible) turning up in the local ads, the wings, boot lid, bonnet, front grill and interior were immaculate but it had been welded poorly, the chassis was very rotten and the chap wanted £750 for her! Whilst rotten she was far from unsaveable for someone with the skills and time but ultimately a perfect donor car.
We parted £100 for the convertible and £300 for the '63 (including delivery!). Last weekend my dad cleared one of the garages and took delivery of 'Daisy' our donor '63. Myself and a mutual friend Rich travelled over from other sides of the country to strip her down.
Here are the pictures so far:
Bonnet, boot lid and interior out:
Waterpump was entirely rotten and corroded:
The body is in great condition (the chassis not so much):
Dash stripped (after testing the heater and windscreen pump still work perfectly):
Front grill off & preparing the engine for removal:
Engine & Gearbox out (engine still has compression and turns - gearbox in very good condition):
Front wings and doors off:
Removing the fuel tank:
Rear Wings:
Doors (immaculate - all mechanisms working):
It's a shame that I didn't get a photo of the radiator as it looked like it's just come out of the factory! The engine will be stripped, overhauled and completely rebuilt to unleaded specifications but otherwise left standard. Gearbox is going to get a overhaul and new clutch. All the internal and external accessories such as clocks, heaters, indicators and parts are being kept for Tawny the '58 convertible.
We've been offered by a local Morris dealer a new replacement convertible hood, frame and fitting for free if we exchange the front & rear wings and doors, seem like a good deal? They're all in amazing condition.
The next step will be to dispose of Daisy's shell, front & rear doors and wings and get Tawny the '58 cleaned and checked over, engine and gearbox removed and overhauled then get her painted Ivory White and put the red interior in.
To summarise what's available:
- Full body with running gear (no glass, no dash accessories, cooling system or any mechanics, without fuel tank or wooden fuel tank covers) - £80.00 to cover cost to scrap
- both Front & Rear doors, with chrome and quarter lights, without glass or mechanisms, rear's include red interior shown in photos
- full set of front and rear wings (no rot with all mounting holes still present)
For front & rear doors and wings we'd like to get a hood & frame for the '58 or alternatively enough money to cover them. Would you folks recommend Ebaying the wings and doors?
For any questions contact Tom on 07772672939. We look forward to bringing the '58 back to life!
- then we just lifted her onto the trailer with the JCB. My dad has freed the brakes so tomorrow we'll be there by 10am taking with us 2 cars worth of tools, jacks, hammers and not forgetting the all important garage kettle, yorkshire teabags, biscuits, cigarettes and swear jar (some would say a self funding project!).
- it'll get rebuilt anyway.