April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration

[kbonney88]

Hi all,

After my break from Morris Minors for a few years I have finally got back into the fold.

The Traveller I bought back in 1992 and restored with my dad from 1992 - 95 now needs new wood etc, but is still tucked away for another day.
I have a 2 door saloon to put back on the road, which will hopefully be a quick -ish turn around. Will start that in the new year. That's the one I want to use next year..

"This" topic will cover a Traveller I haven't picked up yet, but have bought. Its going to be a challenge to say the least, but I will get there and at the end I hope she will be looking as good as she did when she left the factory back in 1963.

"April" as I have named her, is a Almond Green 1098cc 1000 Traveller, registered in August 1963, and is one of those "inbetweeny" cars. and as such has the flashing sidelights and brake lights for the indicators.

She is in a bad way, but is complete and the engine turns over.

I expect to be swearing alot, replacing many panels along with the wood, as well as spending lots of money.. but she will be worth it. I am actually looking forward to it...
When done I intend on giving her to my dad as he has always wanted a green traveller.

I am also thinking on re-spraying her "Sage" green.. There can't be many Travellers left in that colour..


anyway - pics as found.. more pics once I start stripping her out once she gets home......

April the Morris Traveller - 1.jpg (292.65 KiB) Viewed 3594 times

April the Morris Traveller - 2.jpg (272.66 KiB) Viewed 3594 times

April the Morris Traveller - 7.jpg (197.86 KiB) Viewed 3594 times

April the Morris Traveller - 8.jpg (203 KiB) Viewed 3594 times

April the Morris Traveller - 4.jpg (325.06 KiB) Viewed 3594 times

[les]

Good luck, get some varnish on that timber before it’s too late !

[SteveClem]

Lots of work but looks restorable. Hope not too many nasty surprises when you strip her down.

[SteveClem]

Ps. Must have been one of the last with the’clap hand’ wipers?

[kbonney88]

hehehe Les.....

and yes Steve, defo restorable, but lots of work.. Starting her over the xmas holidays..

and I agree about the wipers.. never had a rare-ish MM before.. looking forward to seeing her done..

[jagnut66]

Good luck. Sage green is a nice colour and as you say most 'green' survivors are of the Almond variety.
Porcelain Green is another rare Minor colour for you to consider too.....
Best wishes,
Mike.

[kbonney88]

Thanks Mike,

and yep - Porcelain green is nice too and very similar.. will have a think....

Kevin

[ManyMinors]

Good to hear that a car in that condition is to be restored. It looks quite a challenge but still in pretty original form isn't it. Neither Sage Green or Porcelain Green were officially offered on the Traveller (and neither were current by 1963) but I have seen one or two in Sage Green (special order perhaps?) and it is a most attractive colour. It is rather fun to own a car which is a little different to all the others anyway
Good luck with your restoration.

[kbonney88]

Thank you...

I had to buy the poor thing when I saw it... Poor Morris... and I now think its important to save cars in this condition if at all possible...

I have no idea when this car was last on the road.. DVLA don't show the MOT history online anymore.. pity...

by the way - has anybody seen this car before?? at all????

Kevin

[jagnut66]

Neither Sage Green or Porcelain Green were officially offered on the Traveller (and neither were current by 1963) but I have seen one or two in Sage Green (special order perhaps?)

At the request of the customer I would have thought they could have had any colour currently available in the range (and a few that were not)…...

[sid]

good luck with the restoration! another one saved

[kbonney88]

Thanks Sid.. and indeed it is... Can't wait to get this one on the road..

anyway.. April arrived today from her previous home.. so, see some pics I took shortly after..

As you can see - and even before the majority of the work is revealed - I have my work cut out.. but she WILL make it and be restored to her former self once more..

arriving...

thumbnail_IMG_20191201_125004170.jpg (247.3 KiB) Viewed 3349 times

ready to unload..

thumbnail_IMG_20191201_125034164_HDR.jpg (246.97 KiB) Viewed 3349 times

in her new home..

thumbnail_IMG_20191201_131132877.jpg (263.56 KiB) Viewed 3349 times

thumbnail_IMG_20191201_150151698.jpg (265.28 KiB) Viewed 3349 times

quick view of the interior

thumbnail_IMG_20191201_150230864.jpg (145.39 KiB) Viewed 3349 times

[kbonney88]

more pics from today....

the better side of the wood...

thumbnail_IMG_20191201_150243668.jpg (150.76 KiB) Viewed 3349 times

original mileage?

thumbnail_IMG_20191201_150312697.jpg (156.76 KiB) Viewed 3349 times

white crash pad and parcel shelf...

thumbnail_IMG_20191201_150321289.jpg (129.48 KiB) Viewed 3349 times

under the furry seat covers...

thumbnail_IMG_20191201_150336100.jpg (155.43 KiB) Viewed 3349 times

need a sunvisor

thumbnail_IMG_20191201_150347176.jpg (126.27 KiB) Viewed 3349 times

[kbonney88]

few more....

engine bay

thumbnail_IMG_20191201_150356580.jpg (154.4 KiB) Viewed 3348 times

thumbnail_IMG_20191201_150431664.jpg (202.24 KiB) Viewed 3348 times

chassis plate....

thumbnail_IMG_20191201_150449331.jpg (156.09 KiB) Viewed 3348 times

RHS

thumbnail_IMG_20191201_150500835.jpg (231.03 KiB) Viewed 3348 times

LHS

thumbnail_IMG_20191201_150530559.jpg (250.04 KiB) Viewed 3348 times

[kbonney88]

and more....

thumbnail_IMG_20191201_150540715.jpg (202.79 KiB) Viewed 3348 times

thumbnail_IMG_20191201_150546709.jpg (204.61 KiB) Viewed 3348 times

thumbnail_IMG_20191201_150609632.jpg (153.1 KiB) Viewed 3348 times

thumbnail_IMG_20191201_150645886.jpg (145.97 KiB) Viewed 3348 times

thumbnail_IMG_20191201_150653663.jpg (175.25 KiB) Viewed 3348 times

[kbonney88]

last lot for today....

thumbnail_IMG_20191201_150714933.jpg (168.68 KiB) Viewed 3348 times

thumbnail_IMG_20191201_151034609.jpg (145.6 KiB) Viewed 3348 times

thumbnail_IMG_20191201_151017156.jpg (261.42 KiB) Viewed 3348 times

more pics to come as April starts to undergo her surgery.....

[don58van]

Hi Kevin
From your comments at the beginning of this thread, I gather that you are experienced at vehicle restorations. Would you expand on this a bit, please?

This project looks errrrmm... challenging. It reminds me of Taupe's Traveller restoration.

I have a Traveller about 1/4 restored in the garage, so I will be watching with great interest.

Regards
Don

[kbonney88]

Hi and morning Don, and thanks for the interest in the restoration..

As far as me and cars go - I restored my 1st MM back in the 90's with my dad, learning as I went. I then started saving and restoring Morris minors myself in my spare time. Then moving onto Rovers - the P6, then Cortina's, an XJ40 and finally a Mini. I sort of drifted away from Morris Minors..
I have recently been working alot on Rover 75's - we currently have 10. Been saving and sorting them.

Too many modern cars and my classic cars are getting neglected.. so - slowly getting rid of some..

anyway - now time to prioritise my Morris minors and another turns up... total = 3 now...

So - looking forward to doing this one, then my other traveller (the one me and my dad restored back in the 90's) will be then be restored again.

So, that's my history in a nutshell regarding restoring cars..

Kevin

[King Kenny]

You are a very brave man. Good luck.

[don58van]

As far as me and cars go

Hi Kevin

Thanks for the background. With all that experience I'm sure you are up to this very demanding task. I'll be watching with great interest.

Don