A nice trip to Italy

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Nickol
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A nice trip to Italy

Post by Nickol »

I have always wanted to take my '69 Traveller to Italy where we have a small house not far from the French border. For two weeks in October we did just that; a nice 2000km round trip from central Germany.
Earlier in the year there were some engine problems where the timing was incorrect . Last winter, with help from the Forum here I rebuilt the SU carb sucessfully. The timing issue was settled with use of a good scroboscope which also could be used to set the correct dwell angle. I changed the oil and filter and drove 40km afterwards so as to confirm there were no leaks.

So with the car loaded up, we set off intending to have one overnight stop in Lindau just before the Austrian border. Some 6 hours later after 450km we arrived having filled up withpetrol after 40km and using the 5 litre separate canister. Petrol in Austria is cheaper! I had to put maybe 300mL of oil in
Next day after breakfast , a drive through Bregenz, filling up at the Jet "Tankstelle", we got stopped at the border to Switzerland. Switzerland is not an EU Member but is in Schengen area. It seemed the border guards were interested in the car and had a good look round. They did not believe we were on our way to Italy. At least my interpretation. The younger guard spoke a normal German, the older one almost indeciferable in "Schwitzerdeutsch" but after a short exchange we were on our way again.
The way through the Alps via Chur through the Bernadino is a better route than the Gottard Tunnel as there is usually no queue to get through. The only difficulty is getting stuck behind a slow moving vehicle for the last 40km which is not an Autobahn. This time the slow mover was us! Sometimes maximum 50 or 60kmh in third gear. Coming down the other side which is quite steep was a challenge but the brakes were fine.
I took a wrong turn going towards Varese which lost us half an hour but then the A26 down to Genova was easy - a straight 3 lane Autostrada for the most part, another tank refill which was enough to get us to Dolcedo. The last 100km from Genova had a delay and it was dark before we got to the house, total 600km that day. Well done Morris. Interestingly no oil was needed to top up.....mmmm.

We had two weeks of swimming, walking running and eating as well as making the house winter tight. For the return journey we stopped overnight in Verbania - lovely place. We got to the Gottard early enough to avoid any major delay and then got to Freiburg in Germany to stay overnight with relatives. The final journey home of 350km was marred only by a puncture near KArlsruhe - frightening, changing a wheel at the roadside with 3 lanes thundering past.

Well done Morris, you have earned your winter hibernation.
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Gott schütze mich vorm Sturm und Wind und Autos, die aus England sind.
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Nickol
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Re: A nice trip to Italy

Post by Nickol »

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Gott schütze mich vorm Sturm und Wind und Autos, die aus England sind.
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Andmurph
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Re: A nice trip to Italy

Post by Andmurph »

Well done! sounds like a nice trip indeed.
1972 Morris Minor 1000 pickup
KevinB
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Re: A nice trip to Italy

Post by KevinB »

Thank you Nickol for sharing your adventure!

Coincidentally, I viewed a Traveller looking just like yours on Saturday and may end up buying it. We shall see.
1967 1098 saloon (known by previous owner as 'Fitzroy')
Nickol
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Re: A nice trip to Italy

Post by Nickol »

KevinB wrote: ↑Tue Nov 03, 2026 9:17 pm Thank you Nickol for sharing your adventure!

Coincidentally, I viewed a Traveller looking just like yours on Saturday and may end up buying it. We shall see.
Please let us know!
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geoberni
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Re: A nice trip to Italy

Post by geoberni »

I'm just amazed at the 600Km (370+miles) with no oil top up :o
But them my recent oil leak problem did turn out to be a gasket at the oil filter housing. :roll:

Sounds like a nice trip. :tu1:
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moggiethouable
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Re: A nice trip to Italy

Post by moggiethouable »

You should write an article for the MMOC magazine, they are always looking to print interesting travel stories.
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Nickol
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Re: A nice trip to Italy

Post by Nickol »

geoberni wrote: ↑Wed Nov 04, 2026 9:57 am I'm just amazed at the 600Km (370+miles) with no oil top up :o
But them my recent oil leak problem did turn out to be a gasket at the oil filter housing. :roll:

Sounds like a nice trip. :tu1:
This surprised me too when I checked it and especially after the first day when I did need to top it up. On the return journey by a different route it did need topping up but not much. There is no leak any more since I renewed the two "chambers" underneath the manifold. The gearbox has a small leak though.

Nice trip it was - there is however, always the thought that something will go wrong especially as all the maintenance and mods are done by me; not the most competant of persons. I keep looking at the new gauges all the time - oil pressure, volts, temperature.
Gott schütze mich vorm Sturm und Wind und Autos, die aus England sind.
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Nickol
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Re: A nice trip to Italy

Post by Nickol »

moggiethouable wrote: ↑Wed Nov 04, 2026 12:20 pm You should write an article for the MMOC magazine, they are always looking to print interesting travel stories.
A nice idea and I would be pleased to write such an article but is travel in an old car in western Europe really interesting?
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Owlsman
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Re: A nice trip to Italy

Post by Owlsman »

Nickol wrote: ↑Wed Nov 04, 2026 4:08 pm
moggiethouable wrote: ↑Wed Nov 04, 2026 12:20 pm You should write an article for the MMOC magazine, they are always looking to print interesting travel stories.
A nice idea and I would be pleased to write such an article but is travel in an old car in western Europe really interesting?
I was thinking of posting the exact same suggestion, even as I was reading your original post, Nickol. Travelogues of old cars on epic journeys to foreign lands are exactly what I want to read about in Minor Matters and I suspect, many other MMOC members too. Please do consider it.

Well done to you and your traveller by the way!
Nickol
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Re: A nice trip to Italy

Post by Nickol »

Owlsman wrote: ↑Wed Nov 04, 2026 11:48 pm
Nickol wrote: ↑Wed Nov 04, 2026 4:08 pm
moggiethouable wrote: ↑Wed Nov 04, 2026 12:20 pm You should write an article for the MMOC magazine, they are always looking to print interesting travel stories.
A nice idea and I would be pleased to write such an article but is travel in an old car in western Europe really interesting?
I was thinking of posting the exact same suggestion, even as I was reading your original post, Nickol. Travelogues of old cars on epic journeys to foreign lands are exactly what I want to read about in Minor Matters and I suspect, many other MMOC members too. Please do consider it.

Well done to you and your traveller by the way!
ok, I will do this in the coming days and then you can tell me who and where to send the writing to.
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King Kenny
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Re: A nice trip to Italy

Post by King Kenny »

It is great that your car gave the confidence. But there again, why not. We one took my Traveller to Germany and had a great time. Well done you.
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Nickol
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Re: A nice trip to Italy

Post by Nickol »

King Kenny wrote: ↑Thu Nov 05, 2026 2:45 pm It is great that your car gave the confidence. But there again, why not. We one took my Traveller to Germany and had a great time. Well done you.
Lovely! where did you do to?
Gott schütze mich vorm Sturm und Wind und Autos, die aus England sind.
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