Hi,
Well I've gone and done it......
It was just too much of a bargain to resist......
It had to be off the former owners drive ASAP or it was going to the 'we buy any car' boys, with the possibility that it would be stripped for parts.....
So I had to save her.....
Which means I've just bought this:
LSV 965 1952 Morris Minor MM 'As bought'.jpg (717.79 KiB) Viewed 2339 times
She's a 1952 MM with her original sidevalve still in place. I've fancied an MM for a while and was thinking more lowlight, then this came along with an uncertain future ahead unless an enthusiast stepped in.
She's a December 1952 car which is late for a sidevalve MM, they had been built alongside the 803 OHV engined Series 2 models since August 1952 and were destined to end completely in February 1953.
Which got me wondering, I know there are a few highlight MMs left and I'm sure there may be more tucked away awaiting a rescuer but how many cars are there still in existence that were made / dispatched after (15th / 18th in my case) December 1952?
Best wishes,
Mike.
And will there be any response to this post??
Sadly this forum seems to get quieter and quieter, maybe I should just accept the inevitable and move to the Facebook site / forum....
Along with almost everybody else??........
1954 Series 2: 4 door: "Sally" -- Back on the ground with (slave) wheels and waiting to be resprayed......
1970 Triumph Herald 1200: "Hetty" -- Driven back from Llangollen in Wales (twice.....)
1952 Morris Minor MM highlight with sidevalve engine still fitted, wants work, so joins the queue for now......
Well done for saving the car.
As regards Facebook.
Whilst the general conservation may be on Facebook the technical stuff can be found here on the MMOC web site therefore to me is the more valuable of the two..
Whilst I do look at the MMOC Facebook page it does nothing for me.
A lovely car and well worth saving. I have a November 52 highlight convertible with original side valve engine. A very relaxed drive and certainly no getaway vehicle. As far as I know, MM production ceased in February 1953 at car number 179839 with the last 4 door being 176410 in January 1953 (according to Ray Newell’s book).
I find the Facebook page can be useful, but prone to every man and his mate throwing in suggestions that are often unhelpful or downright wrong. This forum is far better for accurate information, but Facebook does come up with some useful stuff, so I keep an eye on both.
Good luck with the restoration!
1960 2 door with 1275 Midget engine - WOI 577 - owned since 1990
1952 MM convertible with original engine - MWD 305 - owned since 2023
Well saved! I have always been under the impression the earlier cars were made of thicker material? Probably wrong.
Mines a Dec 52 model with original engine/gearbox although it has had a later rear axle and 8 inch front brakes for many years. Didn't originally have a water pump and thermostat but the later block meant I could retrofit these (and heater) so it will warm up quicker.
Mr Spigot wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2024 9:18 pm
I find the Facebook page can be useful, but prone to every man and his mate throwing in suggestions that are often unhelpful or downright wrong. This forum is far better for accurate information, but Facebook does come up with some useful stuff, so I keep an eye on both.
Good luck with the restoration!
Totally agree. I've been banned from the 'official' MMOC Facebook group for daring to challenge the culture of, amongst other things, allowing completely 'unhelpful or downright wrong' posts.
On the 'official' group, I actually had several people contact me directly on Messenger; because they wanted a 'straight answer' without all the hassle of the wrong/rambling comments that a post on the group would bring.
So the MMOC FB Group has the unique privilege of being the only Group I've ever been banned from, quite surprising considering I had a 'Top Contributor' annotation to me profile.
From what I saw, she looks pretty solid underneath, so far the only things I know for sure are the front wings.
Though I will inspect it more thoroughly when her turn in my garage comes round, next year now I would think.
Obviously, once anything else is fixed or replaced, a paint job will be needed also.
I've been banned from the 'official' MMOC Facebook group
Blimey, you must have done something really bad, or just not 'conformed' of course.
Modern society can be very much like that line from the song 'Subdivisions' by 'Rush', "conform or be cast out".......
Best wishes,
Mike.
1954 Series 2: 4 door: "Sally" -- Back on the ground with (slave) wheels and waiting to be resprayed......
1970 Triumph Herald 1200: "Hetty" -- Driven back from Llangollen in Wales (twice.....)
1952 Morris Minor MM highlight with sidevalve engine still fitted, wants work, so joins the queue for now......
The FB site drives me crazy as it's mostly full of completely incorrect 'information', and it's also pretty much impossible to search for anything. The trouble is that so many people just post statements of 'fact' which are total nonsense and many never question it. And if you do, you're called out for being a bully or wrong. That's progress I guess!
Interesting to see this Mike - good luck. I am having a bit of renewed interest in my Series MM at the moment as am FINALLY building up the engine that I am going to put my refurbished Alta head on which I am excited about!
Well done that man.
I have, for some inexplicable reason, a real interest in none modified examples, although I accept some upgrades are acceptable, its a delight then to see something that appears unmolested, like mine, which is though a modern 1098 1965 model.
As for facebook, it is important people with the knowledge to keep newer entries in to the marque, right, on things historical and technical.
I lead them as best I can to this website, that hopefully will encourage new members and a sense of belonging.
So far from deserting facebook, perhaps we should think of ourselves as promoters of the true faith.
Didn't originally have a water pump and thermostat but the later block meant I could retrofit these (and heater) so it will warm up quicker.
Quite correct, the heater was an optional extra I believe.
Fortunately mine has one fitted, how well it works though we'll have to see.......
Best wishes,
Mike.
1954 Series 2: 4 door: "Sally" -- Back on the ground with (slave) wheels and waiting to be resprayed......
1970 Triumph Herald 1200: "Hetty" -- Driven back from Llangollen in Wales (twice.....)
1952 Morris Minor MM highlight with sidevalve engine still fitted, wants work, so joins the queue for now......
Well done Mike, please don't abscond to FB, your input and many many others are too valuable to loose.
Regards Win
Hi Win,
I hope you are well.
I've no 'plans' to abscond as such but if less people are active on here on a regular basis, then there is less to respond / reply to.
Plus if when posting on here you find that you regularly get low to zero response, well that's when you start to wonder about this site......
To qualify this, I mean that when I first started posting on here allot of simple posts regularly started up a large discussion with lots of responses and a degree of good humoured banter but now, well, the life seems to have gone out of this site over the last few years.
Best wishes,
Mike.
1954 Series 2: 4 door: "Sally" -- Back on the ground with (slave) wheels and waiting to be resprayed......
1970 Triumph Herald 1200: "Hetty" -- Driven back from Llangollen in Wales (twice.....)
1952 Morris Minor MM highlight with sidevalve engine still fitted, wants work, so joins the queue for now......
I've been banned from the 'official' MMOC Facebook group
Blimey, you must have done something really bad, or just not 'conformed' of course.
Modern society can be very much like that line from the song 'Subdivisions' by 'Rush', "conform or be cast out".......
Best wishes,
Mike.
Well that's it isn't it. A facebook group is only as good and effective as it's administration. I'm in several groups, covering varied interests and purposes and have been for many years.
But only one has seen fit to ban me, because I dared to criticise poor/dangerous practice, as already said...
liammonty wrote: ↑Sun Oct 13, 2024 7:21 pm
The trouble is that so many people just post statements of 'fact' which are total nonsense and many never question it. And if you do, you're called out for being a bully or wrong.
Sorry Rocco, I didn't mean to miss your question out.
So far I'm only aware of the front wings needing replacing. I checked her out underneath and she seems quite solid, though I won't know for sure until I get her into the garage and start taking parts off her......
Best wishes,
Mike.
1954 Series 2: 4 door: "Sally" -- Back on the ground with (slave) wheels and waiting to be resprayed......
1970 Triumph Herald 1200: "Hetty" -- Driven back from Llangollen in Wales (twice.....)
1952 Morris Minor MM highlight with sidevalve engine still fitted, wants work, so joins the queue for now......
Mike, as you were asking about late highlight sidevalves, I'm sure you would have seen this one at Gaydon in June ? A very original birch grey saloon that is now owned by the chair of the Leicester branch. A lovely car and pleasing to see it being kept original.
DSCN0573.JPG (2.19 MiB) Viewed 538 times
DSCN0579.JPG (2.83 MiB) Viewed 538 times
I also have, tucked away, an original 1952 birch grey tourer, dry stored since the late 60', in much the same condition as this saloon. One to be recommissioned when I have time. There are a few still out there !
