I have just viewed my FIRST Mog!

[mrs.smith2012]

Went to meet a little mog today… it went very well. She’s an absolutely lovely little car and appears to be very solid and mechanically sound. I took a knowledgeable friend with me who gave her a good look over and said from his point of view she looks great.
She’s had 3 owners from new and has obviously been well cared for… she is also within my budget.
That said, she is the first and only car I’ve viewed so I’m not rushing into a decision. The seller was great, very honest and genuine. He’s obviously very attached to the car and is in no rush to sell, so he’s encouraged me to take my time and maybe look at a few other cars before I decide.
I get the impression he wants the car to go to someone who wants her and will keep her, not change their mind after a few months of ownership.
Whatever happens, it was great to actually sit in a Morris and have a ride in one (I didn’t test drive her even though he offered!).
One question I do have is that she has a 1275 engine not the original 1098. This was put in by whoever owned her before the current owner. Is this a modification that the insurance company will need to be informed about? I can’t recall whether they asked me about engine size when I was given a quote?
Other than that, she’s great! Definitely one to think about!

[bobtail4x4]

yes they need to know about the engine,

its a common conversion and worth doing,

[mrs.smith2012]

yes they need to know about the engine,

its a common conversion and worth doing,

I thought that would be the case but thank you for clarifying, I’ll give them a ring. Hopefully it won’t affect my quote too much!

[geoberni]

Good that you've had a look at one.
Yes, the Insurance will need to know what engine it has fitted, any variation from the original build has to be notified, if only to stop them using it as an excuse to not pay out should a claim arise.
You'd need to make sure the 1275 is shown on the DLVA system too. Just enter the Reg in the DVLA vehicle search to check it.

When I brought my Series II, the 803cc was documented as having been changed to a 948cc, after a few months of ownership I was checking part numbers and found out that it actually had a 1098 fitted.... :rol

Look at a few, of different ages, and see which one appeals most.

[mrs.smith2012]

Good that you've had a look at one.
Yes, the Insurance will need to know what engine it has fitted, any variation from the original build has to be notified, if only to stop them using it as an excuse to not pay out should a claim arise.
You'd need to make sure the 1275 is shown on the DLVA system too. Just enter the Reg in the DVLA vehicle search to check it.

When I brought my Series II, the 803cc was documented as having been changed to a 948cc, after a few months of ownership I was checking part numbers and found out that it actually had a 1098 fitted.... :rol

Look at a few, of different ages, and see which one appeals most.

I just checked on gov.uk and it says 948cc?? What do I do in this instance?

[ndevans]

Good that you've had a look at one.
Yes, the Insurance will need to know what engine it has fitted, any variation from the original build has to be notified, if only to stop them using it as an excuse to not pay out should a claim arise.
You'd need to make sure the 1275 is shown on the DLVA system too. Just enter the Reg in the DVLA vehicle search to check it.

When I brought my Series II, the 803cc was documented as having been changed to a 948cc, after a few months of ownership I was checking part numbers and found out that it actually had a 1098 fitted.... :rol

Look at a few, of different ages, and see which one appeals most.

I rang DVLA when I put my 1275 in, they said they weren't interested. Which did surprise me somewhat.

[geoberni]

I just checked on gov.uk and it says 948cc?? What do I do in this instance?

Well if you were to buy it, DVLA would need to be notified that it had been changed.
There's a lot of cars out there where people haven't bothered, but it can cause a lot of aggro in the event of a claim.
It's a simple enough process, you might even be able to do it online these days.

But from your point of view as a potential owner/driver, you'd need to check what Gearbox and Differential it has, hopefully they are not the original 948 ones, as they won't be up to the stresses of the 1275 driving them.
I'll pull Phil in here....

Phill will be able to tell you what the 1275 would need in terms of Gearbox and Diff.

[mrs.smith2012]

Okay, good to know thank you.. and yes would be good to know about the gearbox so I can double check with the seller.

[geoberni]

I rang DVLA when I put my 1275 in, they said they weren't interested. Which did surprise me somewhat.

Why did you even phone them?
Who answered the phone, the office Tea Lady?
I've experienced DVLA incompetence first hand , but that's a new one on me.
.
https://www.gov.uk/change-vehicle-detai ... ertificate

V5C Changes.JPG (72.82 KiB) Viewed 4154 times

It's required under The Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2002.

[mrs.smith2012]

Tea lady

Obvs the engine thing has just been overlooked but if I do buy this one I’ll just update it on the log book. I assume it won’t make any difference with tax/mot status? It will still be tax and mot exempt? I plan to mot anyway but would rather not have to pay road tax!

I don’t think most people update colour either. The amount of cars i check up on sale ads and the colour stated will be different to what colour the car is!

[svenedin]

No it won't affect MoT or tax status as the 1275cc engine is an A-series engine in the same engine "family" as the 803cc, 948cc and 1098cc that were all used in Morris Minors. 1275cc was never used in production Morris Minors but nonetheless it is the same type of engine.

You're right that colours are often not updated but sometimes the colour is incorrectly recorded in the first place or when records were computerised. For instance, my car is the BMC colour, "Smoke Grey". Most people would consider Smoke Grey to be a shade of blue so my car is recorded sometimes as grey and sometimes as blue depending on the document. It was actually always Smoke Grey.......

Stephen

[mrs.smith2012]

Oh I see, that’s interesting to know… and yes I’ve noticed it seems to be with the blue cars being recorded as grey or the the other way round.

Thanks for confirming about the tax etc. Hopefully it won’t affect the insurance too much either but I’ll know that tomorrow when I ring them!

[ndevans]

I told my insurance company about the 1275, they recorded the fact but it didn't change the premium.

[mrs.smith2012]

I told my insurance company about the 1275, they recorded the fact but it didn't change the premium.

Reassuring to know - thank you

[mrs.smith2012]

Actually the car has had a few other ‘tweaks’ with regards to safety and security. I’m confused about what I need to declare when insuring and what is irrelevant. I want to make sure everything is above board but I also don’t want to declare things that aren’t essential and risk affecting the premium! I don’t know what they would classify as ‘mods’ and what would be simply ‘tweaks’?

[ndevans]

Think I'd be inclined to be as upfront with your insurer as possible. Better to pay a slightly increased premium that have them refuse to pay up if you haven't told them about xyz.

[svenedin]

Actually the car has had a few other ‘tweaks’ with regards to safety and security. I’m confused about what I need to declare when insuring and what is irrelevant. I want to make sure everything is above board but I also don’t want to declare things that aren’t essential and risk affecting the premium! I don’t know what they would classify as ‘mods’ and what would be simply ‘tweaks’?

You must declare all modifications to the insurance company. They will record the modifications and decide whether they affect the premium or not. If you fail to declare a modification the insurance company could argue that this invalidates your policy. Some modifications actually reduce premiums. For instance, dash cam footage can reduce or completely remove the excess payable in the event of a claim with some insurers.

Stephen

[mrs.smith2012]

Okay thank you, I’ll just tell them everything the seller mentioned and see what they class as a mod! To be fair everything has been done with a view to improve safety/security so technically yes, may lower premiums!

I got badly stung by my normal car insurance company recently because my new policy came through and I noticed it said there were 2 cars in the household still (the second car was sold last year) so I thought I’d ring them up and tell them… premium went up by more than £100 and I must admit… I sort of wished I hadn’t said anything Especially as I hope to be a 2 car household again soon!

But yes, you’re right, I’ll be completely upfront and let them decide

[moggiethouable]

I enjoy the buzz when I fill in the tax details annually.
Because my car has the standard engine I pay no tax.
Given your concern regarding insurance costs this may be of interest.
A 1098cc engined car handles everything except motor ways with ease.
A top speed of 78mph was quoted when new, (post war optimism got the better of people) but in reality 60mph is pushing it on an old engine for any length of time, at 50 mph they are comfortable, but at that speed make other motorway drivers irritable.
The largest of the standard engines (1098) were fitted from 1962, the older slightly smaller engines are perfectly acceptable in their own way too, but the most recent cars are the more available.
I don't use motorways in Doris.
In fitting a 1275 engine a competent builder will also have uprated the brakes from original drums to discs at the front, because the car will go faster with an uprated engine and needs stopping.
I would look for a largely unmolested car, modifications are all well and good, if the builder is expert, otherwise steer clear, you can always have mods done yourself later if felt essential.
Minor mods such as electronic ignition systems, fitted oil pressure gauge etc will not hurt, but major mods raise red flags for me.
Inevitably, there are those that will disagree, but my mantra has always been, if it aint broke.................

[Chief]

Think I'd be inclined to be as upfront with your insurer as possible. Better to pay a slightly increased premium that have them refuse to pay up if you haven't told them about xyz.

My other car has a small ~5cm decal sticker on it, even that counts as a modification, so the car (which is original in every other way) counts as modified.

I was told by my previous insurer that even what a sticker says or displays can increase your premium, since someone could take offence to it and damage your car in a fit of rage, so your premium would need to reflect this increased risk.