First Time Traveller

[warb21]

Having joined a few weeks ago, I've now collected my new acquisition and it seemed only right to share it here! Now my next question, one of many I'm sure, is to ask if anyone knows about the history of KOU 971F. I know the previous owner from the V5 but that only gets me back to 2010.
I drove the car from Bristol to Manchester yesterday, using a whole variety of roads from country lanes to the M6. Drove perfectly (the car, not me!)
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[Coalmossian]

Nice one!!
Let's see some more photos!
Looks to be in excellent condition. Is the wood as good as it would (??) appear in this photo?
Hope she continues to run as well as she is just now, and enjoy ownership.

[Tezm8]

Nice car love the colour it goes nicely with the wood frame!

[orb596]

Looks a very nice car.

You can trace the vehicles history directly from the DVLA. You can download the form from the DVLA website and send them £5 and they will send you copies of all the logbooks they hold on file. I think the form is a V765 but I couldn't swear to that.
Also you order a vehicle heritage certificate from the BMVHT to show the cars build records but these do cost quite a bit. the last one I ordered cost £30 and that was over 10 years ago.

I hope that is of some use to you.

[les]

I think you'll find it was Rod Taylor!

[warb21]

Thanks! Will post more pix in due course. Thanks for the DVLA and other advice. I had in mind to contact Gaydon too.

yes the wood is pretty much as good as that looks. I was told originally it was treated with Danish Oil but subsequently advised it was varnish. There is one tiny soft spot, offside rear top corner where it meets the roof. Wondering what to do about that as I'm not a self-restorer. I deliberately bought a car in vgc for that reason.

If you search for 'Aylesbury area' in past posts you'll see the car I first wanted to get as my dad used to own it - alas too many unknowns about it for me to take on. But this one is fab!

Mileage is showing as 29k - not sure if that's actually 129.

And forgive me, who is Rod Taylor ?

[bmcecosse]

Very nice looking Traveller, just as it left the showroom - and no tacky add-ons Good luck with it!

[irmscher]

Nice car I will look out for this in Stockport

[orb596]

Sorry, I meant BMIHT not BMVHT!

[simmitc]

Looks good. The soft spot at the top of the post needs treating NOW before it gets worse. Eventually you will need a new post (probably at that time a complete side ) but that's many years away
For the time-being, scrape away any covering such as varnish, and ensure that the wood is dry. If any flakes out as you scrape, then it was rotten, and needed to come out anyway, but will spoil the look. Next stage, treat liberally with wood preservative - one that treats rot as well as being a preserver. For example, Cuprinol 5-Star. Now again ensure that the wood is absolutely dry before proceeding. Apply a wood hardener. These are effectively very thin 1-part resins that bond with the wood fibres. Cuprinol and Ronseal both offer similar products. Be careful, if it runs down the outside of the post, it will make a sticky mess and be difficult to remove. You want it IN the wood that is soft - a syringe and large bore needle might allow you to inject the hardener deeper. When that has cured, use a good quality wood filler to fill any holes or other blemishes, rub down, and stain to match. Finally, apply a good protective coat to the whole frame.
What top coating? Wel,, that's a whole new topic. Varnish looks good, but can lift and trap moisture. Danish Oil is easy, but is not a UV filter, so if kept outside, then the wood needs better treatment. Microporus coatings are good, but darker than varnish. Ask ten owners, and you'll get 12 different suggestions.
Have a look for the book "Morris Minor Traveller" by Ray Newell (available from the MMOC) with sections by Steve Foreman. It will tell you everything you need to know about Travellers.

[warb21]

Thanks- that's the kind of detail I needed. Much appreciated.

[warb21]

One more pic. The wood has a certain 'aged' look but there's only that one spot discussed above which is soft. Nice of you to say the car looks excellent. I would describe it as very good.

I've posted in the Bodywork section to try to ascertain whether the wood has been varnished or danish-oiled. Another couple of pix on that post, one of which is of the car from the dealer's website from 4 years ago - it shows a MMOC sticker in the rear nearside window. Would love to catch up with any of the car's previous owners(of which I'm told there are four).

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[highland morris]

lovely mototr