Buying a Morris Minor!

[liammonty]

Hi lindamary,

Basically, it looks like a really nice car, which as ManyMinors has said (despite some other incorrect comments re the interior from others) looks all correct for the age. However, you would do well to get the underside checked, or at least see some photos in the first instance. If you managed to buy a sound type 2 VW, I'm sure you are more than capable of buying a half-way decent Minor! It pays to be vigilant, but I am astonished at some of the negativity on here!

[lindamary]

Thanks again everyone and, yes, I have been a bit confused by some of the comments but I know everyone is trying to help ! As to the lack or not of glovebox lids, I have seen a few Minors of this era without them and it isn't an issue for me. ' Many Minors' comments are more or less what I have been thinking myself but it's good to hear it from someone else. It's always beneficial to go armed with as many questions when buying a classic and everyone's points are something I will be remembering. As long as the car is solid underneath and not been hacked around then I am happy. I'm not going to be racing up and down motorways with it but you never know. Keep the knowledge coming folks and I will let you know how I get on with this particular car. p.s. Thanks for the comment about my VW! She's a beauty and I worked hard for at least six months to find the right one - even getting down and dirty under them all to poke around. She's still going strong after three years in my loving care

[graham1957]

my 1955 2 door saloon dont have glovebox doors, if this car is good underneth and in good running order i would go for it

[XWL61]

How about this one....??

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1956-Morris-M ... SwWTRWych1

[lindamary]

Thanks guys. Having the black moggy inspected on Wednesday and will decide from there. Given a list of everything I want checked and more. Will let you know how I get on

[Trickydicky]

Hi, not wanting to put you off buying a moggy because when you get your first one you will forever have a smile on your face
Here is a recent tale of someone buying a minor and ultimately a rotten car.
I am in no way implying that the one you are interested in is in the same bracket, just trying to highlight the potential pitfalls of these old cars.
http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=59557

[panky]

The same applies for buying any old car be it a Minor or a VW, check everything, talk to owners, look at more than one and don't let your heart rule you head. I'm into Commers and believe me they are world class rotters

[lindamary]

Sorry, but I wish I hadn't asked now

[liammonty]

Don't worry - we aren't all trying to put you off. As I said before, the level of negativity amazes me. Just don't rush into buying anything without seeing it. As before, if yo can cope with a T2 (which rot more than Minors, certainly in my experience of ownership of both) I'm sure you're capable of finding a decent Minor. It's right that you should be careful, which I think is what people are trying to say, but buying a decent car isn't some sort of dark art that can only Morris anoraks can manage. Why not have a weekend away to go and take a look at the one in Norfolk? For me, a big part of the fun of it all is finding the car, though I do enjoy driving them after I've bought them too!!

[Trickydicky]

We are not trying to put you off buying a minor, just trying to guide you and not make the mistakes others have made ( I myself have been there,done it and bought the tee shirt!)
The money you are prepared to pay will get you a first class car. We are just trying to help you get one!

[lindamary]

I know and thanks guys. All I am saying is that I need to really think and be careful as usual and my head is buzzing with questions ! The idea of having a weekend away and looking at it is a great one and any excuse. Driving a classic is amazing and , in my experience, a bit addictive because a 'modern' car just doesn't have the same wow factor unless it's an Aston Martin

[bmcecosse]

Thanks for the update on the glovebox lids - my 58 had lids - and I assumed the car progressed from the 'gold' dash to the type with lids - as my 58. Learn something new every day. I don't think a gearbox change is mentioned - just the engine now 948. But clearly a remote control gearlever in the pictures. And unless the final drive was changed (again no mention) it will be a 'screamer' with great acceleration....and hopeless/noisy top speed. Points to be clarified with the seller I think. Sorry if I do appear negative - but I abhor 'dealers' who buy in cheap (sometimes from ebay) and sell on expensive ! It's a pity the supposed MMOC member who previously owned the car hasn't come on here to explain how the car came to be in the dealer's hands.

[lindamary]

Gearbox change is mentioned on ebay and in the Car and Classic (ad ref C712651) I had hoped to find the previous owner on here but no one has come forward yet. Would be nice to fill in some history gaps which was one of the main reasons for posting. The inspector will hopefully be worth his salt and check the crucial points raised on here and in my memo to him. If I don't feel comfortable about it I will walk away. No harm done and, relatively speaking, only a few £££s lost rather than a lot more if I purchased.

[lindamary]

Well ,just done a bit of digging and found that OVB 776 was sold by Charterhouse Auctions in Shepton Mallet at a closing bid of £3,000. Presumably to the present seller. Ouch ! Any thoughts people ?

[amgrave]

Found it on Charterhouse web site : http://www.charterhouse-auction.com/pre ... 1000-2000/
Quotes chassis number as FAA/390117 and priced at £1000 - £2000.
That's a good profit, think I'll start a used car business.

[The vast minority]

Well ,just done a bit of digging and found that OVB 776 was sold by Charterhouse Auctions in Shepton Mallet at a closing bid of £3,000. Presumably to the present seller. Ouch ! Any thoughts people ?

My thoughts

I wouldn't buy a classic from a dealer myself, I'd buy from here or the other Morris forum and get a known car with known history. Otherwise, I'd buy from a private enthusiast with demonstrable knowledge of the car for sale. I practice what I preach by the way and have done both resulting in 2 excellent buys.

Dealers have overheads and are in business to "deal" which means make money. They have to pay for Staff, premises, advertising insurance and so on....

A dealer buying at auction is perfectly normal and it is how they source the stock

He sees the car and has to take that buying decision right then, so of course he is taking a gamble

making money on car sales is about what the dealer buys it for, he can only sell it at the perceived market value.

He spends days at auctions looking for such bargains, in a case where others have lost their nerve then they can and do get very lucky with a purchase, this doesn't change the cars retail value at all.

He is taking all the risk, he can't ask questions and expect to get quality answers, try to locate previous owners, or have the benefit of the collective wisdom of many to call upon

He has to offer a warranty and be prepared to have to pay for things that need fixing

He provides test drives, and has to be nice to the public (not easy I'm sure)

He may have a car for days, weeks, months or years, it's dead money until sold so has to factor a good return in for this as well

So, if you are particularly drawn to this car and think the price is fair then don't worry what he paid for it. If however you don't want to pay a dealer profit, don't buy from a dealer because all of them will be looking for double what they paid but they won't be doubling their money.


Al

[IaininTenbury]

Looks perfectly all right to me. A nicely restored Series 2 with original seats and a few upgrades - late gearbox and indicators etc which as said above is perfectly reasonable for a Series 2. A few other extras such as fog and reverse light hence extra switches under the dash but its all neatly done. The embroided carpets/mats seem a bit over the top but just my taste.
Dashboard looks correct in every way. no issues there.
Price is probably about right for a dealer. Remember they have overheads and warranty to provide before they make a profit. A private sale should be cheaper but you get no comeback from a private sale. Yes buy from auction if you want a cheaper Minor but no comeback, test drives or anything. Its the risk the dealer has to take.
As advised get it checked out but nothing would arouse my suspicions - it looks very nice and I'd be happy to own it.
Also not mentioned anywhere is it looks like it still has its original registration which is a nice feature and always devalues a car when it has been sold on...

[lindamary]

Thanks again everyone for taking time to advise

[bmcecosse]

£3000 is about it's true value..an open Auction with willing sellers and willing buyers achieves exactly that. Unless of course he has done a LOT of work on the car after buying at auction, I don't see the doubling in 'value' justified at all! The stories above about the hardships of being a 'dealer' have got me in tears....

[ManyMinors]

Don't forget that a winning bid of £3000 is then subject to buyers premium of 10% and then 20% VAT on top of that. Then there are transport costs. A dealer also has to pay VAT on the sale of a secondhand car - 20% of the difference between the purchase price and the sale price. I imagine that we would all be car dealers if we could simply go out everyday, buy some cars, then come back and double our money!