Morris Minor Owners Club

Anyone tell me where the interia door light switch is located on the A post ?

Is it quite high and approx 1.5"below then the lowest part of the dash ?

My convertible has such a hole there yet the triangular strengthening plates at corner of dash are spot welded on with no evidence that they are part of a careful "cloning" of a saloon.
Chassis plate also shows MAT code but obviously that is simply screwed on.

Thanks.

Paul Humphries.

well genuine convertables did not have a courtesy light switch

aupickup wrote:well genuine convertables did not have a courtesy light switch

That is what I can gather but just want to confirm that the hole on mine isn't for the light switch and that I have a clone.
If someone has managed to make such a good job of turning a saloon into a convertible with such things like the spot welds to dash reinforcement plates and the correct top windscreen rail profile then I doubt they'd have missed such a simple giveaway sign as the switch hole.

Maybe it was drilled by previous owner for rustproofing ?


Paul Humphries.

the position for the light switch is where you say on the a post

aupickup wrote:the position for the light switch is where you say on the a post

Bugger
So I've either a clone (but a very good one and why convert such a rotten saloon ?), a car which a previous owner has drilled a hole for rustproofing (or even an interia light switch !) or somethink which goes against the normal rules and came out of the factory that way (doubtful but not impossible) .

Next question.
What reinforcment plates were added to the convertible compared to the saloon ?
I know about the ones on the corner of the dash - definatley spot welded to both dash and A post (not plug welded to duplicate spot welds effect)
Mine has what looks like angle iron welded to base of A posts reinforcing the short length of sill to footwells.
Is this normal or a prevous owner bodge ?

Thanks.

Paul Humphries.

a good indication is look at the top edge of the windscreen where the hood comes down to.
you will see if it has been cut down and a peice added to the top moulding.

genuine convertables did have strengthening plates.
willie will be along in a minute i guess, he will put you right more than me

aupickup wrote:a good indication is look at the top edge of the windscreen where the hood comes down to.
you will see if it has been cut down and a peice added to the top moulding.

genuine convertables did have strengthening plates.
willie will be along in a minute i guess, he will put you right more than me

I've just been outside and looked.
In my opinion the top rail is a 100% original pressing and not a cut down saloon screen frame with a plate welded on.

I think I'll have to take a load of photo's idc as I'm still on a learning curve and am just learning the differences from reading rather than actual seeing vehicles in past.

Paul Humphries.

A photo is always worth a 1000 words, and it would be easy for the people who know their convertibles.

Mind you, I have got two saloons, neither of which have the switch. (one standard and one deluxe)

Series MM & 11 did not have the interior light.

Rog

I know.... but I am weird you know! You've met me!

aupickup wrote:well genuine convertables did not have a courtesy light switch

no they didn't (nowhere to screw the interior light of course) but i believe they still have the holes, mine does and i believe it's genuine.

according to ray newell's 'original morris minor' book and i quote: 'Door operated courtesy lights activated by contact switches positioned in the A posts are a feature of all post-1958 minors except for the convertibles, which had no interior light and used a rubber blanking grommet to cover the switch aperture on each A post.'

hope this puts your mind at rest - either that or you'll be even more confused.

Case closed and QED, I'd say. Nice one, cliff

We have saloons without interia light switch and convertibles with !
Does that mean the old "if there is a light switch hole in A post then it's not a genuine convertible" can be finally removed from one of the methods to determine if a car is a modified saloon ?
Seems strange that this has been one of the benchmarks for years and wonder how many people have been dissapointed to be told their pride & joy is a modified saloon when all along the "test" is flawed

Paul Humphries.

forgot to mention i know two owners who have had their convertibles from new (in the family) and they have holes (in the A post ) so, no, i guess it shouldn't be relied on.

Holes but no switch ehh, is the hole threaded for a switch? Could be a good switch fo an alarm!

Roger

May I add that it is an interior light, not interia? I'm not holy either, I know

Another budding spell checker! Good

paulhumphries wrote:We have saloons without interia light switch and convertibles with !
Does that mean the old "if there is a light switch hole in A post then it's not a genuine convertible" can be finally removed from one of the methods to determine if a car is a modified saloon ?
Seems strange that this has been one of the benchmarks for years and wonder how many people have been dissapointed to be told their pride & joy is a modified saloon when all along the "test" is flawed

Paul Humphries.

I thought the proof was "no switch fitted", rather thah no switch hole? I find it hard to imagine that they would have made a different pressing for the 'verts.

I thought the proof was "no switch fitted", rather thah no switch hole? I find it hard to imagine that they would have made a different pressing for the 'verts.

good point, also what about the wiring loom, different loom for the convertible or were the switch wires taped back?