Morris 1000 been converted to convertable what to look for

[petejam]

Hi I am going to look at a 1967 Morris 1000 that has been converted to a convertible in 2008 are there any specific things I should look for thaks

[svenedin]

Firstly you need to know who did the conversion, whether there is paperwork and whether it was done properly. The convertibles are obviously missing the strength that is given by having a roof. This is addressed by various strengthening panels. There are arches either side under the dashboard and strengthening plates at the bottom of door pillars. Due to the relative lack of structural rigidity it is even more important than ever that the car is solid underneath. It has been known for convertibles to look pretty good cosmetically but to literally snap in two when jacked up (I'm not joking!). If the conversion was done by a bona fide specialist e.g Charles Ware, East Sussex Minors and others then there should be no issue but there are (or were) some back street roof chops around.

The non-genuine convertibles should have a significant price discount as compared to a factory genuine article but people pay what they will pay and many don't care much whether they are genuine or not. Naturally I am biased on this because my car is a factory convertible!

Stephen

[svenedin]

Strengthening arches and pillar strengthening plates

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[petejam]

Thank you Stephen that information is of great help.

[michael4]

Yes, as above.

Plates from 'A' pillar to dash

Brackets on base of 'B' pillar

Sill box sections stiffened with a long 'L' shaped plate that goes along, the top and inside. Often hidden if carpet is glued down.

The ends of the rail along the top of the windscreen can be untidy.

'B' pillar at the bottom of the rear window, ant cracks?

Fixing of rear window frame to body.Ditto

When younger we would go to look at convertibles as a mob. Load the car up with people and see if the doors still opened and closed. I remember a lovely Fiat that did not pass this test.

I bought a 1000 conversion last year, it was the best convertible I could find for the money. It is not great but as the garage man said it, it is a hell of lot better underneath than on top!

[Pete Bags]

My car was converted in around 2005 by the previous owner - it certainly passes the 'door test' as there is no body bend with four hefty adults on board!

These snaps show the triangle strengtheners under the dash (I have a 12v plug on the passenger side triangle as in the photo, the hazard indicator switch on the driver side triangle) and the B post strengthener and top of windscreen. Not a bad conversion, but the original conversions are a bit neater! My car does not have sun visors, I'm guessing the original sun visors got chopped off with the rest of the roof!

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[svenedin]

Sun visors. Never thought about that. Yes my factory convertible has sun visors and they're very useful in the up position rather than folded down as they would normally be used in a car with a roof. The windscreen top rail on my car has screws not rivets.

I suppose another thing to look for is the condition of the hood and frame. The hood can be replaced of course although pretty expensive but the frames are no longer available and they can get bent by inept efforts to raise the hood from one side of the car.......(the best way to do this single-handed is to stand in the back of the car and raise the roof more of less straight up until the frame is extended). The rivets and rivet holes also wear in the frame.

Stephen

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[jaekl]

No sun visors until the later style that are mounted in the corner. The older style visor with center mount visors can be added to a factory convertible by drilling holes.