Garage recommendation?

[Chazbee]

I'm thinking of using The Morris Minor Millenium Co. in Manchester to do some work on my car - anybody used them? Any recommendations?

[Budgie]

Although I've never had any work done by them I did travel a long way from where I live a few years ago to see a traveller that had been allegedly "restored" by them only a couple of years previously. After looking over the car for just literally five minutes, I walked away and didn't buy the car !

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

For what reasons did you walk away?

[edd_barker]

I stumbled across them whilst working in Chorlton, and since then have driven back up from London 3 out of the last 4 years to have work done on my car. I've found Paul's work first class, from welding to mechanics to upholstery. They usually have a couple of restored cars in there for sale that you can look at, or Paul's own twin-cam convertible is a fantastic engineering example.

The only negative I can think of is they sold me a reconditioned 12G940 head that arguably was too cheap, it hadn't had new valves or guides, only a skim and new springs. They refunded me when I said i wasn't happy.

A positive example, a classics garage near me quoted £1500 for new crossmember as the ends were gone. MMM said rubbish you can replace just the ends and did it for approx £600. Worth the 4 hour drive for that alone!

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them, and when my car eventually goes off for resto it will go to them!

If you are looking at spending a lot I would still go there, chat to Martin and Paul and have a look at other cars they have restored. I don't think any garage is perfect but they get a thumbs up from me.

Edd

[Budgie]

Well I can only speak from first and only experience of the said restorer and I'm not sure if the mods will remove this as it's aimed directly at and naming a business , but I'm not here to slag off just "name and shame " possibly? The paint job was awful with overspray and dullness, shoddy welding underneath which could only be described as amateurish , wood was poorly varnished ill fitting doors etc.. And I was told that it had only been restored some two years previous! On saying that I have been to see a few minors, both two and four door versions in recent years and a few state "restored by WELL KNOWN MINOR COMPANYS " and all have after the description, paint work not the best, slight rust appearing on such and such, engine needs attention, etc., etc. Lets be honest we've all seen them on both here and the web sites. If a car , no matter what make it is, is restored properly, and the prices some charge they should be better than brand new , it should look the dogs bllks and last like that for years and years.

[Chazbee]

Thanks to all respondents!