Advice for first Moggie purchase

[mobylette]

check out their reviews and then run a mile!

https://www.google.com/search?q=M%26M+A ... e5d44ba5,1,,,

[PhilipW1039]

Don't buy from any con artists just outside Birmingham.Just because it says MOT as you can get them for rust holed cars

No worries on that front, but thank you. I've witnessed a few dodgy cars over the years with an MOT that was clearly done as a favour!

[ManyMinors]

This, albeit from the same dealer, looks lovely initially and I have decided to go for the saloon, partly thanks to all the posts above.

https://www.mandmautomotive.co.uk/used- ... v72840330/

That one does appear very smart. If you want a car to use regularly you might be better off with a later 1098cc car with slightly larger engine/stronger gearbox/better brakes, heater, wipers, lights, factory fitted seat belt mountings etc etc? I would also suggest that it hasn't been kept/restored to the highest standards when somebody has chosen to fit the cheap Taiwanese wings during a restoration. What else did they save money on? The registration number is a recent issue, so maybe the original has been sold at some stage? There is a lot of choice of saloons at that price.

[PhilipW1039]

This, albeit from the same dealer, looks lovely initially and I have decided to go for the saloon, partly thanks to all the posts above.

https://www.mandmautomotive.co.uk/used- ... v72840330/

That one does appear very smart. If you want a car to use regularly you might be better off with a later 1098cc car with slightly larger engine/stronger gearbox/better brakes, heater, wipers, lights, factory fitted seat belt mountings etc etc? I would also suggest that it hasn't been kept/restored to the highest standards when somebody has chosen to fit the cheap Taiwanese wings during a restoration. What else did they save money on? The registration number is a recent issue, so maybe the original has been sold at some stage? There is a lot of choice of saloons at that price.

Thank you, but where else would you recommend looking please? There are almost none on the trader, a lovely blue one in Bromley on eBay but it's the 803, and I think you're right in that I'll need one of the larger engines. Perhaps I'll have a look on the classic websites tomorrow...

[POMMReg]

Advise you take someone who knows about Minor's with you when viewing one...

[Myrtles Man]

This one might be worth a look:-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203835204781 ... Sw4XlhQkvG

[ManyMinors]

There are lots of Minor 1000 saloons for sale. A good selection of members cars in the club magazine as well as all the specialists. Sometimes there are cars for sale here on this forum. More will be advertised in the various classic car magazines too. I know somebody with one for sale which their family have owned since new. I think it is a late 1960s model and with very low mileage. Probably not been advertised yet. I can try and find out more if you like?

[MorrisJohn]

The website https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/ is also worth a look.

I reckon for your budget you’d be best looking for a good 1000 saloon.

As has been said, make sure you check out underneath thoroughly. An MOT isn’t a guarantee all is well, they’re not allowed to poke around during these tests any more. Unscrupulous sellers will hide rot with paint or underseal. There is many a shiny car up top hiding all sorts of structural nastiness.

Finally, I think you’re best buying privately. You’ll get a better understanding of how the car has been cared for and more car for your money. beware cars that are being “flipped”.

[Boomlander]

For your budget you should have no problem acquiring a very nice saloon.
My advice is to visit private sale cars and inspect the bodywork closely.
You can always easily replace mechanical components but body work is labour intensive and costly!
Test drive the vehicle if possible and listen for any creaks and groans from the chassis and any excessive mechanical noise.
See if there is a history file of servicing and repairs carried out.
Above all, don't be eager to buy the first one you see. Shop around ,there are many lovely Minors available so take your time and you will find the one for you.
Keep us posted, we look forward to seeing your first Moggie!

[PhilipW1039]

Morning everyone, I wanted to reply and thank you all for your suggestions.

I've viewed a few now and see what you mean about buying privately; you get a much better understanding of the history of the car. However, I've now put a deposit on this one:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1968-Morris- ... 635-2958-0

I saw and drove it yesterday. It was sold to this dealer by the widow of its owner, so has some sadness but will joyfully live on! It has no history with it and mixed MOT history online, but looks like it's been well looked after. The wood needs some TLC but nothing I can't handle. The sills are rotten in places but the dealer, a chap called Cameron, has said "tell me what you want doing and we'll do it", for the asking price. So I've given him a list and they're starting by replacing the parts of the sills that need doing. It's beautiful inside (the driver's seat is going to be rebuilt though) and it has an alternator conversion though, from what I could see, still has a distributor and leads - I'll check this later. He's also going to put a new MOT on, though I note your points above about that not being an assurance of anything.

My wife thinks it should have a female name but I told her that "it'll have a boy's name because boys are less trouble"! Of course, only time will tell on that point!!

Thank you all; I'll be joining the club shortly and hopefully might even meet some of you at one stage!

[mobylette]

The alternator replaces the dynamo, both of which provide charge for the battery, it has nothing to do with the ignition system.

[PhilipW1039]

Yes I know, thank you, I just saw in other cases that cars which had had an alternator conversion had often also had electronic ignition fitted. But thank you - I might not have known that.

[mobylette]

Most electronic ignition kits replace the points within the distributor, the distributor and leads remain the same and there is no obvious visual difference.

[PhilipW1039]

Ah okay, thank you, that was the partial conclusion I'd come to from looking around but I wasn't sure. That's really helpful.

Lovely weather to be driving a Moggy around!

[ManyMinors]

The Travellers are very appealing but, as we said earlier, probably the least suited to outdoor living. You'll have to spend a lot of time looking after the timber frame.
I must admit that the MOT history alone would have been enough to put me off but perhaps the car is better underneath than the history suggests? The seller might have agreed to carry out some repairs but do make sure that the repairs to the sills etc are carried out to a good standard and not just covered over. The sills on a Minor are a complex and important structure.
Good luck with it and I hope it brings you much pleasure

[Myrtles Man]

Here's a thought for you - once you've bought it with its new MoT, get it MoT'd again by someone else (local council MoT place for example) so you have an independent assessment of its true condition well within the three months warranty that trade sellers are obliged to provide. That way, if any horrors do come to light, you have plenty of time to take it back for repair/refund.

[MorrisJohn]

Here's a thought for you - once you've bought it with its new MoT, get it MoT'd again by someone else (local council MoT place for example) so you have an independent assessment of its true condition well within the three months warranty that trade sellers are obliged to provide. That way, if any horrors do come to light, you have plenty of time to take it back for repair/refund.

The advice above is sound. I second that. Ask the dealer to take photographs of each stage of the work for your records as well.

I hope the dealer is true to his word.

It would be a smart idea to find someone locally that knows these cars well to get a proper look underneath it before you hand over the rest your money. It could save you a fortune in unforeseen bills.

Finally, welcome to the club and I wish you many years of happy motoring.

[PhilipW1039]

Thanks all of you. I've made a bit of a choice of the heart, I'm aware of that, and I've read the sticky about caring for the woodwork properly so I know what I have in store. Reality may be different of course, but we'll see.

The dealer has already sent me copies of the parts that he's ordered and is sending me pictures and videos of the different stages of work, using Whatsapp. His idea, not mine. He's a genuine chap, or so it seems. He's also rebuilding the driver's seat, amongst other bits. I wanted the whole sill replaced and he said he'd do that, but that their advice was to only replace the quarter that needed it, so as to preserve original structure, originality, and to avoid putting a structural bar in.

Thing is, a pristine traveller would be at least 13k so if I do end up spending a bit more then so be it. And yes, by "a bit more" I'm aware that may well mean a lot more!! We'll see, but I have a classic car specialist garage nearby so I'll take it there as soon as I get it and get their opinion.

Here's to many enjoyable drives with a picnic in the back, and a bit of work at weekends to use and improve

Thanks again everybody.

[Grumpy21]

Just a little cautionary tale if I may.

When I was looking for a car last year I came across a nice enough saloon on sale for around £3500 30 miles from home. Messaged the seller within a day of the ad appearing and arranged to view a couple of days later if it was still available. Nothing wrong with all that. The seller was also contacted by a dealer in Yorkshire (after I’d contacted him) who apparently bought it blind from the ad and sent a trailer to collect the same day. Nothing wrong with that either.

By the weekend (when I was due to view) the car had been re-advertised by the dealer for £8000, I believe it sold within a week but not to me. Nothing wrong with that either (probably).

My advice for what it’s worth, buy privately from an enthusiast. Dealers are in business to make money and as much as possible. You won’t get a better car from a dealer, you won’t get the backup they offer and you will pay substantially more.

But it’s your money, you decide. Good luck with your search.

[kennatt]

Is he offering to just repair the sill section or replace the whole sill,If I were you I woud ask him to remove the outer sill cover(should be just held with screws) and send you a photo of the state of the inner sill. You may well get a high shock when you see the state of it,Hope not.
If the inner sill is corroded ,as per mot history,there is a fair chance that both sill sections ,need attention. Unless the sill covers have been removed and the inner treated on a regular basis(every couple of years)with the likes of waxoil etc then that is the most common rot worm area on any moggy.Its why dodgy sellers weld the sill covers on so that you can't easily see inside.
The last thing you want is to have to replace the sills in the future, its a complicated repair ,but essential for the structure of the vehicle,it basically ,to an extent ,links the front to the back. beware.