Usability question

[mike.perry]

I appreciate that a lot of people do use their Minors daily but the point I was trying to make is that they all get regular attention which doesn't stop at a weekly trip to the car wash and booking it in for a 6000 mile service.

[Mick_Anik]

Seconded!

The thing is, with Minors, is very simple. You buy one, get it legal on the road as quickly as you can, and do the oil and filter change and all of that. New fan belt, plugs, leads, points if you have them.

Then, when you're in the mood, you take everything to bits, step by step....every nut and bolt. One weekend, the rear brakes, the front brakes the next time. Wire brush the bolt threads, and reassemble with a spot of grease, paint brake backplates - the lot.

Once you've had the rear springs off with all the mounting pins and rubber bushes, and put it all back together as clean as a whistle and nicely painted, you've cracked it. Drop the rear axle and get all the brake pipe unions clean and moving. All other jobs are much easier. Future jobs will be so easy to do, and in fact quite pleasant to carry out. Strip the front kingpins and take off the torsion bar, being careful not to scratch it. Get the schockers off, and put them back with a spot of grease in the threads of the captive mounting plate. And so on. The day does finally arrive when you've done it all.

It takes only time really, as it is labour-intensive rather than costly. Any dodgy parts can be replaced during this process, and in the end you have a car which you know inside out.

And one is then allowed to feel.......smug!

In all honesty I can say, having done this to all my Minors because it is also good for my soul and my ageing bones, that I have sometimes looked at one and wished that something would go wrong, so I could have something to do. Years pass, and I find myself waiting still.

[Sidney'61]

I drive a 1275 (5-speed) minor saloon daily, its great fun and will happily hold 70 on the motorway with no trouble. I've had the week's shopping in the boot a few times too, once you get used to placeing things strategically and not just throwing them in you'll be surprised how much you can fit in there!

[andrew.searston]

the boots big enough if its just you on your own
we have had all the picnic stuff in the back (6 of use 2 cars of course)for diffrent car shows along with a tool box and its been fine. i would like a trav for space but its the wood that concerns me due to it being out side all the time.
you could use one on the standard engine but just leave a day early so you have got enough time to get to work

[ASL642]

Husband does the daily commute into the centre of Birmingham in a standard 1098 come rain/shine/snow. Only mod added are radials and a smaller steering wheel!

[stevey]

i use mine everyday no problems. completely standard.

[chrisd87]

I've never owned a modern car and have used Minors for daily driving for the past 5 years. Obviously they require much more looking after than a modern car, but at least the parts are all cheap and the cars are incredibly easy to work on.

Jonathon is totally right about modern cars offering better performance, lower regular maintenance, air conditioning, etc., and thus for most people are a better option. The problem for me is that the minute anything goes wrong, the parts to put it right frequently cost a fortune and the cars are difficult to work on. That's why plenty of otherwise perfectly good cars end up getting scrapped for comparatively minor problems (e.g. my friend's Vauxhall Omega which went to the crusher because the head gasket was leaking).

A traveller with a 1275 engine and a few other choice upgrades seems perfect for daily use, just as long as you're prepared to keep on top of the maintenance.

[ASL642]

If you want air-con just open the window

[riya]

I'm new here.
I'm looking forward for the wonderful topic and new learnings.

[chickenjohn]

The only problem with a Traveller - is keeping the timber in good condition. If it's stood outdoors and used every day - then the timber will suffer. Don't worry about 'unleaded' - many 1275 engines had unleaded heads as standard. With a standard gearbox and a 3.7 diff - I can do 50 in 2nd, 80 in 3rd, and plenty in 4th - and that's just a warmed up 1098 engine. It can easily hold the 70 mph limit on the motorway. Rear suspension easily sits down on the bump stops - seems modern springs are made of chocolate and don't last too long. Main problem with the car is the thin tyres giving poor road grip - easily sorted with decent aftermarket wheels and wider tyres. If you can do the work yourself - then buying a project and renovating it yourself is probably the way to go, otherwise - buy a good (but perhaps not concours) example - and enjoy!

I agree with the comment about wood. A traveller really needs to be kept indoors as much as possible, leave it outside and the wood really starts to suffer, no matter what you do with it- you may have to replace bits on an outdoor traveller. if you don't have a garage, then don't get a traveller!

I disagree about the need for a 1275 engine and bigger tyres. The only time my Traveller really feels slow in comparison to everyday traffic is on the motorway, and anyway, with petrol prices these days, if I'm not in a hurry, i even drive my modern car at 55-60mph for economy, so the traveller is not even at a disadvantage there.

As for the grip, there is plenty of grip on standard Minor rubber as long as you drive sensibly and safely. If you find grip is a problem, the just slow down a bit!! In fact, I would go as far as to say the most reliable Minor has to be the one that is kept as original as possible.

[MarkyB]

If the original wood treatment could be replicated, then the wood would probably last at least 20 years as the original wood did in all weathers.

[bmcecosse]

Back in the day - my Uncle had a Traveller - and used it for Travelling - he was a travelling salesman! But he rented a spot inside the local garage to store the car when he wasn't using it - as did many others, if they didn't have a garage of their own. Most cars were kept indoors one way or other in the 50/60 even 70s.

[faversham999]

if you fit Air conditioning that will demist the windows

[beero]

No-one has mentioned depreciation on modern cars.
For that amount of money you could have a really well serviced and maintained Moggie!

[chickenjohn]

The depreciation question only applies if you buy a new car to run and compare the costs to a Minor.

It is possible to buy an old banger and with proper DIY maintainance, even a £3-500 car can give a number of years service. Then when the banger is past saving, scrap it and buy another.

This works well if you buy Japanese.

The point is, at some time one will have to decide that running a classic as an everyday car is no longer viable. Keep the classic for fun and rallies etc and run a cheap modern disposable runabout as your every day car.

After all, would you run a pre- war (1930's) car as a daily driver??? Most would say not. The Minor is only one generation in car design from pre-war, being designed in WW II and launched in 1948. OK, the Minor was decades ahead of its time so still holds it own in traffic so it is still possible, but is it still a good idea considering there are only 27,000 Minors left in the UK??? No matter how well you drive there is always the modern car drive to crash into you and potentially write off another Minor.

In the 1970's I don't remember anyone running 1910 designed cars as daily drivers.

[limegreen]

This week I have transported:
Trip 1: A period Lampost, 2x Side Tables, 8 hefty Victorian Costumes, Millions of Props, Food for the cast and audience, 2x chairs.
Trip 2: VERY old gramaphone complete with cabinet, another chair and a hat stand.

As long as you are sensible and good at fitting things in without obscuring mirrors, a Saloon can carry MANY things.


Good car <3

[chickenjohn]

This week I have transported:
Trip 1: A period Lampost, 2x Side Tables, 8 hefty Victorian Costumes, Millions of Props, Food for the cast and audience, 2x chairs.
Trip 2: VERY old gramaphone complete with cabinet, another chair and a hat stand.

As long as you are sensible and good at fitting things in without obscuring mirrors, a Saloon can carry MANY things.


Good car <3

Excellent! I've done a bit of Am dram myself in the past.
Just goes to show that a Minor saloon can carry a lot as well.

[8009STEVE]

My trav is my everyday car. it carries most things

[Kevin]

If the original wood treatment could be replicated, then the wood would probably last at least 20 years as the original wood did in all weathers.

The most overlooked part of the treatment is to use a few coats of clear cuprinol 5 star before applying the final finish as this soaks in and preserves the timber much better, but its often left out as it takes time to dry properly.

if you fit Air conditioning that will demist the windows

But what is the best way to mount the unit and from what car do you source a suitable sized unit.

[MarkyB]

I understand the wood was originally boiled in Cuprinol.
Now you can get timber pressure treated which should be even more effective.

Opening one of the windows a bit while you are moving will demist the windows.
If you keep the insides of the windows clean they have less tendency to mist up in the first place.