Find the old car or start a fresh?

[tc222]

Hi,

I long story short I'm an ex-Morris 1000 owner but over the last few months I'm getting a little restless and a hankering to get back in the driving seat. We had a Morris 1000 Reg ORK 693F but were in a bad way financially so unfortunately she had to go. Now, 5 years down the line, children, house move and a new job we're in a much better position to get back on the Morris train. Does anyone know if ORK 693F still exists? It was my mrs' first car and was our first project together. Would be amazing to know of she at least still exists. I'm sure you all know what it feels like to fall for a car so i was wondering would it be worth the effort in hunting down the old love or just to start a fresh and see where it goes? Any info would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
Tom

[qwerty165]

I have just checked on the DVLA and nothing comes up for that Reg and the number is not regestered to another car.

[tc222]

Sorry, that would be because i was getting a bit carried away and typed 2 numbers wrong way round. It should have read ORK 639F[frame][/frame]

[bmcecosse]

Not looking good -it's not been heard of since December 2010.

https://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPo ... ution=e1s3

[qwerty165]

Details of this car are as follows:
Date of Liability 01 12 2010
Date of First Registration 23 08 1967
Year of Manufacture 1967
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1098cc
CO₂ Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type PETROL
Export Marker Y
Vehicle Status Unlicensed
Vehicle Colour BLACK
Vehicle Type Approval Not Available

So it seems that the car has been exported.

[bmcecosse]

Why do you think it has been 'exported' ???? It's just not been taxed or sorned since Dec 2010.. It could be in a barn/shed....but most likely it has been scrapped - without telling DVLA..

[charlie_morris_minor]

Why do you think it has been 'exported' ???? It's just not been taxed or sorned since Dec 2010.. It could be in a barn/shed....but most likely it has been scrapped - without telling DVLA..

the fact that the export marker is marked as "Y"

[morrisminorbzh]

Why do you think it has been 'exported' ???? It's just not been taxed or sorned since Dec 2010.. It could be in a barn/shed....but most likely it has been scrapped - without telling DVLA..

the fact that the export marker is marked as "Y"

I agree - high chance that it was exported, in 2009 I exported a Traveller (DPK 558 J) to France and the DVLA was informed. Check on their website and you will see a 'Y'.

Minors do come up for sale in France which still carry their UK registration plates. I periodically check on the DVLA site and many do not indicate that they have been exported.

For example :
http://www.novaweb.fr/component/expautos/detail/13361

morrisminor(less)bzh

[bmcecosse]

I did notice that - but I'm not sure if that means it is CURRENTLY exported, or just that at some point in it's life it had been exported. If it means CURRENT - then that's good news - it probably still lives - just not in the UK !

[tc222]

Cor, thanks chaps. Is there any stuff you don't know? Despite initially thinking she'd gone to Germany I've actually managed to trace her to Belgium where I believe she was sold to 'oldtimerbarn' which is where things now go cold. I also know that a large amount of work had been done including welding, unleaded conversion/new head, new clutch, a new spray job and a whole host of bits and pieces. At least it's all been sounding positive so far

Thanks for the advice and to those that have pm'd me directly with info, thank you for your time and effort. It's been much appreciated

[bmcecosse]

Well done! How did you manage to trace it overseas?

[tc222]

It has been through pure good fortune so far. I chap off here recognised it a friends and gave me details. I contracted him who had apparently taken it down south and sold it again as it wa to bigger job for him. He had the email adress for the guy he sold it to who was a German traveling/working around Europe. So I chucked out a cheeky but polite email in the hope it wouldn be read and got a reply tonight.

"When I bought Morris, II took it to the Bristol Morris Minor Center and spend 2000 pounds on it to get it MOTed.
Conversion into unleaded fuel, welding jobs, new clutch fitted and many more jobs.
In Sommer 2010 I drove it to Belgium where my parents live. But it turned out too expensive to keep the car.
I had to sell it on. It was sold for 600 euros (about 500 pounds only) to a old timer farm in Belgium. They sell only oldtimers and buy building projects. I think they still have my Morris. I still have the spare keys and the Brittish paper work."

Will be contacting this dealer tonight but feel this might be the end if the line. I'm afraid there's not much help for those trying to track a car abroad abroad at this has been largely down to nothing more than good fortune and decent people.

Also I couldn't find any details of the Cumbria branch of mmoc. I'm probably just missing something but if not could someone please point me in the right direction?

Cheers!

[LouiseM]

The contact for the Cumbria branch is Neil McGurk: neilmcgurk (at)Hotmail.com