1961? Morris Ute

[Husky]

Hi all,

Thanks for letting me join. My Morris journey started a few years ago after meeting some new friends who have two sedans (one in pieces). I've been to a few local club meets with them now and have decided I will officially join the club at their next meet. It's a very active club with regular meetings and club drives and show and shines. Now I need a car.... No a truck (yes I drive semi's and b doubles for a living)

So I've been casually looking at Morris Commercials to restore. Keep in mind I have never owned a Morris before, rarely worked on one so I'm a total noob. I know mechanicals, electrics and body work though as I have built a few cars in my life. Flicking through FB market place I spotted her and it was love at first picture A 1924 - 1926 Morris Commercial one ton. Instantly I sent the owner a message then waited and waited and waited. Now the deal is done it's mine and I just have to go and pick her up. It needs a lot of work, a full restore so I needed something I could get on the road faster while the commercial was being built. Enter the Ute

I messaged the owner and he was pretty quick to get back to me. He had more than just the ute and wanted to sell everything he had Morris related. I was in, so parting with the hard earned I drove to his place for the first load of parts where he had like 5 sheds full. Honestly thought I'd died and gone to Morris heaven. The ute is pretty rough rust wise but there are enough parts, panels motors gearboxes to put two utes on the road at least and still have mountains of parts left. I think it's a 1961 though having trouble confirming that. Maybe someone here could help? Now most of the parts are in my storage container and I've done a full inventory of them all. Honestly I was so excited I forgot to take a picture of the actual ute. I should have it home tomorrow night so I'll upload a few then.

[geoberni]

Hi and welcome,
Australian assembled vehicles are a little difficult to date as they sometimes seem to have spent a long while still crated up before going on sale, so a car first registered in 1961 might have left the UK factory in 1958 or 59.
The fact that you've got a lot of parts to reassemble means that you might further alter the final car into a bit of a 'Johnny Cash' motor, after the song One Piece at a Time... That front grill in your photos for example is from pre Oct '54.

See this discussion about VIN stamping...viewtopic.php?p=703269#p703269

[rocco]

G'day sport.
Looks like quite a project you have accepted, good luck with it. Judging by the grill in one of the photos you might have a 1953/4 model but that's assuming then it might be that the parts you aquired are not all from the same vehicle. If it is, it's pretty rare.
I can't work out the numbers but if you can, maybe this page will help you out?
https://www.mg-cars.org.uk/news/news498.html

[geoberni]

Most of us around here know little to nothing about the marketing of Minors in overseas markets. You'll need to find out information locally, from other owners.
However, this partial document helps decipher the Nuffield Australia ID system:
http://www.bmclaheritage.org.au/index_h ... Inside.pdf

MORRIS 1081 UTE, was the code used for Minor Series III, so after 1956 (in terms of UK factory dispatch).

Unfortunately, that's only a few pages sample of the whole document. Perhaps if you contact the Group, they can help you:
http://www.bmclaheritage.org.au/index.htm

[ManyMinors]

Isn't it a split screen (Series 11) in any case?

[geoberni]

Isn't it a split screen (Series 11) in any case?

I've zoomed in on that cab image and I 'm pretty sure there's no centre crease in the roof.
Also, according to page 10 of that pdf I linked to, a SII would be a DO954, not a DO1081, which is what the ID plate states.

[Husky]

Wow a busy last 24 hours but happy to report all the bits are now back at my place safely stored away and under cover. Thanks for the replies guys and all the helpful info it's very much appriciated.

I could bore you all with 50 odd photos of rust but instead I'll jump to the plan which will also explain a few things. The picture of the rolling ute below is as it stands now. That is what I was trying to identify as to what year and model it is. Unfortunately the rust is so bad it is not salvagable and probably the only parts that will be used are the tub, the rear cab wall and a few other minor pieces. There is no engine or gearbox either.

The rusty cab pictured in my last post will be the replacement along with an engine bay cut. It seems two owners ago decided to try and put a bigger engine in it and gas axed a few areas in the engine bay. The new cab is a split screen and I have all the chrome trimming and glass for it as well.

I'm going to start with the chassis as soon as I get space cleared in my workshop. It is the best of three chassis and does contain some rust areas that I will cut out and patch, clean up the rest and etch prime for now. Might have to look at getting the old media blaster happening as well.

[POMMReg]

Have a peek on all the firewall's for stamped in nos.

2864 will be on the S111.

Do you have any engines with them?

[Husky]

Hi Pommreg,

I have three complete motors plus parts and six gear boxes. I don't think any are original to the body though. I saw the most complete motor running so when I get up to it, that's the engine I'll start with. I believe it's a 950 motor? It will see the engine stand and I'll rebuild the starter and altinator as well.

A productive day and now have the chassis sitting in the workshop on horses. A bit more cleaning up and I'm ready to get stuck into the Morry. Can't wait

[POMMReg]

Can you pm unit numbers & I'll attempt figuring out what's what, can't guarantee owt.

What's the details on the compliance plate, Oz term for chassis plate - YJB 3UR (U = Ute) 121261/2864 (2864th built#). 504333

121001-121500 mostly CKD's

# kits not assembled in order.

[Husky]

Will do mate and thanks.

Had a quick look for the numbers yesterday found one on the engine bay cut, none on the new cab and none on the ute. I googled locations of the numbers and it said the chassis number is near the drivers side lower door hinge. I checked both sides but can't see anything. Thinking maybe under the door sill? The new chassis doesn't have one either or I'm just looking in the wrong spot. I was told they stamp the build year on the windscreen wiper motor as well. This is what bring me to think it's a 61

I'll be pretty busy with a lost trades fair for the next few days but I'll send you what I can find