Morris Minor Owners Club

oh i agree we do have a large parts count, but if chrome only lasts over one winter, parts do not fit properly, exhasys generally are bad well stainless ones are, new wings are just as bad a fit,



i know a few who have said this is the last moggie they are going to restore because of the fit of parts

aupickup wrote: but if chrome only lasts over one winter,

My point is that relative to other marques this is still a luxury - after all, taking this point as an example, you could either get it re-chromed properly or there is a large stock of second-hand parts where the steel is fine, which could be re-chromed. Many other marques have zero supply of brightwork and trim - zilch, nothing, none. If they have a missing chrome strip (or whatever), they simply cannot get another, good bad or indifferent, end of story. Yet there are plenty of folk out there happily restoring and running these cars.

Compared to that, we have it in spades.

Just a thought, that's all.....

Yes we are very well off in parts supply compared to most classics, and even moderns. I'd sooner be able to buy a wing that dosn't fit well and spend 2 hours making it fit than have no wing at all. As for chrome, if you don't like the quality of new stuff (and some of it is rubbish) just have your old stuff replated to your own satisfaction.
Just got a mid 30s large saloon in to rebuild at the moment, and its very much a case of make parts, have others made, repair whats there and use the specialist industry thats out there - wood veneering, machining, plating etc. Minors are like a kit car in comparison.

making and altering wings is all very well if you can do it youself
but if not then it becomes an expensive wing
agree on chrome parts thats what i will be doing, well the bits that i do not have new old stock of
but then i can make a flight of stairs and repair very well any thing to do with timber

Luxobarge wrote:Interesting thread, this.

I note a number of comments aove about how it is getting more and more difficult to do a decent restoration on a Moggie, and how the supply of decent parts is drying up, and a view that this islikely to get worse in the future.

However, I personally find it strange to find such sentiments expressed on a Minor forum - with the possible exception of MGB and Midget, Mini, Triumph and Beetle, the Moggie has one of the very best supplies of spares and support - often much better than some moderns (try getting parts for some Chryslers, Mazda etc.)

If you think this is bad, then try restoring and maintaining a 60's Vauxhall, an Alvis, Arstrong-Siddeley or anything from Rootes, I could name loads more. It can be done of course, but the spares and support we have for these cars is the envy of may other marques. While taking whatever steps we can to preserve and enhance this situation, I do think we should also rejoice in it, and applaud those individuals, organisations and suppliers that help to make it so.

Yes, at the moment, and having had an Armstrong Siddeley until very recently I know just what you mean. However you are in fact proving my point i.e. how many of these other marques do you see in regular use, thereby creating a need for parts? We should be very, very cautious of becoming complacent.

IaininTenbury wrote:Yes we are very well off in parts supply compared to most classics, and even moderns. I'd sooner be able to buy a wing that dosn't fit well and spend 2 hours making it fit than have no wing at all. As for chrome, if you don't like the quality of new stuff (and some of it is rubbish) just have your old stuff replated to your own satisfaction.
Just got a mid 30s large saloon in to rebuild at the moment, and its very much a case of make parts, have others made, repair whats there and use the specialist industry thats out there - wood veneering, machining, plating etc. Minors are like a kit car in comparison.

Please don't misunderstand Iain, but you must appreciate that there are those like yourself, who are capable of carrying out more in depth restoration, and in fact some do this for a living like yourself, and those that can't.

Those that can't, rely on being able to buy good quality parts over the counter, that they can fit themselves without further modification and/or restoration. To use a professional to do any such work for them, only adds to their costs and possibly makes them think twice about continuing.

Incidentally I do understand what you are saying about earlier cars, owning a 1927 Morris Cowley myself. However my suggestions are aimed at preventing the Morris Minor from reaching this same situation.

I firmly believe that as long as Minors are still being used regularly and more are restored then the parts supply will continue because the demand will be there. As others have said, compared to many other old cars the Minor has incredible parts availibility. Apart from the MG side most other BMC cars have nowhere near the component supply of the Minor. A35s are really down to the one supplier, likewise Wolseley 1500s. It was the Minors continued use as an everyday car that allowed this parts support to continue.

Most parts that are available are of reasonable quality, unlike the aircooled VW market where there is some utter rubbish on sale.

Lets be thankful for what we have.

My traveller is currently in hospital, and will remain so probably until the Spring, but prior to that had been used every day for the last twenty years to my certain knowledge, as it has been in the family that long. Before that I can't say, but as was only twenty years old when it came to us, its a fair assumption that it was an everyday car before we acquired it. The fact that it was used every day is the reason why it is in need of major surgery now. Once it goes back on the road, it will then continue to be our every day car, as this is what it was built for. We do have an alternative car, but that's because the Traveller would struggle to tow our classic caravan!
The Moggie is not, and never will be, a showpiece, so if the replacement panels are a couple of milimetres out it doesn't matter, as long as they can be made to fit, and do the job. So far, the welderman hasn't any insurmountable problems, although most of the bits he has made himself. I bought rear inner wheelarches from Charles Ware, and they fiited OK.
Possibly things would be different if I wanted perfection, but lets be honest, they weren't perfect on leaving the factory!
No, my car will be presentable, and much loved and much used, as it always has been,and will continue on its daily runs around the eastern valley of Wales, transporting my wife, myself, a mobillity scooter and our dogs. Give us wave if you see us!

I must say that posts like this give me hope, I only wish there were more of them.

One of our Branch members has a Minor that, as far as I can remember, he has had since it was about 2 years old. He has used it as everyday transport ever since, and continues to do so. It is the only car he has ever owned!!!!

Yes I met a man a couple of years ago who did that. Bought the car brand new and passed his test in it and is still using it today.

Saying that, I've got my minor waiting for me for when I pass my test and I'd like to think that I'd still be driving it as my daily car in 40 years time.

I look forward to meeting you again Andy, hopefully driving your Minor with pride

Judge wrote:

IaininTenbury wrote:Yes we are very well off in parts supply compared to most classics, and even moderns. I'd sooner be able to buy a wing that dosn't fit well and spend 2 hours making it fit than have no wing at all.

Please don't misunderstand Iain, but you must appreciate that there are those like yourself, who are capable of carrying out more in depth restoration, and in fact some do this for a living like yourself, and those that can't.

Those that can't, rely on being able to buy good quality parts over the counter, that they can fit themselves without further modification and/or restoration. To use a professional to do any such work for them, only adds to their costs and possibly makes them think twice about continuing.

Incidentally I do understand what you are saying about earlier cars, owning a 1927 Morris Cowley myself. However my suggestions are aimed at preventing the Morris Minor from reaching this same situation.

Yes I think we're all in agreement here. Demand creates supply. If enough folk still run and restore Minors specialists will produce the parts. Even a wing for say £50, with 2 hours work at the most to make it fit (which is plenty for even the poorest of poor wings) is still a cheapish wing, compared to A30s and even Marinas these days when they are available. However a £50 wing that bolts straight on would be even better I admit, and occaisionally some of them do!
What is concerning is how the Minor scene appears to have shrunk over the last 8 - 10 years. How many Minor specialists have ceased trading or moved on to more profitable cars how club membership has decreased and rally attendance has also decreased. I do think (and hope)it will stabilise at a viable number and not descend to the levels of specialist and unusual cars. Minors are still one of the most practical and easiest classic cars to run on a daily basis and as you say 'use it or lose it'...
It may be the change in modern motoring, both fashion and economics that a young driver can go out and get a newish small hatchback on easy terms, rather than look for an older car thats cheap to run and maintain. Maybe recent financial changes will help the Minor's popularity...

I completely agree, and applaud the efforts of all involved to maintain the pool of expertise and spares required to keep these great little cars ont he road.

However - remembering the title of the thread - I personally worry that a far greater threat to Moggie's not being on the road in 10 year's time (or any other old car for that matter) comes from our wonderful government. I do worry greatly about misguided legislation being the ultimate reason that we are unable to run our cars as we do today, based on claims of congestion, pollution, economics or whatever they decide to dress it up in.

Any efforts which are made by our movement to counter this legislative trend are of course to be applauded - and there is evidence of this on other threads on here, which gives me cause for optimism, but I'm sure we all recognise the risk of the "madness" setting in......

Make 'Drive it Day' every day

I dont think the government presents a long term problem as they will be out of office at the next election and good riddance to the lot of them.

Our main enemy is the popular media. Just look at the damage they have done to the 4x4 market, the press will not print 4x4 without writing gas guzzler in front of it, in the process damaging sales of Land Rover, who employ thousands of British people.

At some stage this lot will target older cars with their misguided opinions. We need to make known that the use of old cars is in fact less environmentally damaging than buying a new IMPORTED car every two years as many do.

When looking for the Minor I nearly bought an MG 1300. It was parts availability (and the threat of my Father disowning me) among other things that steered me towards the Minor. Sure, you can get parts for the 1100/1300, but not as cheap or easily as the Minor (not diss'ing them either, because I really like them!)

Like many I drive mine every day, and far prefer to drive it than work on it (although sometimes there's no choice, and even when all is running well, I do like a good tinker!)

When we can afford it, I'm going to be looking for a second one, a traveller. That may be a while off, and I've got lots of household projects to finish, but I'm keeping my eyes open.

I do think cars deteriorate when they're not used. The best way to keep them on the road is....to keep them on the road!

Ultimately, nothing lasts for ever I suppose, and I guess some parts will become harder to find, but at the moment, let's just enjoy driving them!

Andrew

and as you say 'use it or lose it'...

there seems to be an increasing amount of Minors coming up for sale from 'estates'. I'd guess in about 10 to 20 years they will be the majority of Minors for sale!
Maybe the release of these cars (many of which will be in good nick) will bring the Minor scene back to life.

Hopefully we can keep the younger generation interested in them.

The other day ,when getting out of my Morris, a boy about 10 years old said Cool car mister! But then again it is a Pick up

Happens all the time, but then again mine is a convertible