Morris Minor Owners Club

It's the problem with not being well most of the time and just sitting here - I dream !
I've been watching the old series of The Prisoner
( http://www.tv-links.co.uk/ )
and it's made me fancy a Lotus 7 again even though totally impractial for myself.
Besides the well known LOCOST there is also another version - the LOCUST.
The Locust has a chassis like the Minor van rather then the space frame of the Locost.
I don't like the body construction of alloy over ply sheet but that could be changed to a lightweight frame of steel.
The beauty of a 7 style on a proper chassis is there is scope to make a basic door to allow me to get in / out.
The silly idea of today is what about using the spare Minor mechanicals I have lying around.
The engine would need to be relocated far further back so there is no way the steering rack could be sited in the normal postion.
My idea then is why not turn uprights around so the steering arms are pointing forward.
Obviously the steering rack would then point the wheels in the opposite directions to that which you wanted to go making interesting driving.
The theorectical solution would be to use a LHD rack turned upside down and used as RHD.
Anyone think of a reason why this wouldn't work ?

Paul Humphries

If you've got enough spare bits to make a car, then why not? I though of making a "Minor Atom" out of tuned Minor bits from allready scrapped cars (beyond saving), and using a space frame with two seats and almost no bodywork. Trouble is it would require an SVA test, a Q plate, tax and all sorts of red tape.

You have a lot of ideas- why not decide on one and concentrate on that?

chickenjohn wrote:
You have a lot of ideas- why not decide on one and concentrate on that?

That is the sensible thing to do but unfortunaltey that isn't how my mind works.
I always have to have numerous thing going on at once.
It's a mental health problems (as well as my physical disabilites) that is a little like adult hyperactivity.

That is how I've ended up with 8 cars, 4 bikes, boat and even the remains of a still born aircraft project (I'm not allowed to fly solo anymore)
Years ago I could often turn the ideas into reality but deteriation in health means they are now often just mental exercises.
Doctors say as long as they are harmless (ie I'm not making bombs) then don't bother trying to resist.

Paul Humphries

I dont see any reason it wont work although the Ackerman angles might work out a bit strange. However I dont see any signs of the chassis having fittings for Minor suspension ,they seem to use wishbones and coil springs

ian-s wrote:I dont see any reason it wont work although the Ackerman angles might work out a bit strange. However I dont see any signs of the chassis having fittings for Minor suspension ,they seem to use wishbones and coil springs

My THEORETICAL idea is a chassis that basically duplicate the van item rather than the Locust custom item to take Ford suspension.
I'd mount the rack at same hight and distance from wheel centre as on standard car so would have expected it to be similar geometry to normal.
A small subframe would be mounted (using engine tower bolt holes as one attachment points) to take the rack and also be suitable for holding the radiator.

BTW did you know the genuine Lotus 7 was offered with the 948cc, and a few with 1098cc, A Series engine !

Paul Humphries

I've always liked the idea of an A-series powered 7 and due to the low weight it would probably go quite well even on a standard 1098. However, be aware that door or no door they are a pain to get in and out of. One of my friends has an R300 superlight and to get in you almost have to fall into it!

I though of making a "Minor Atom"

There is a company in yeovil that make an ARIEL ATOM. check that out

chrisd87 wrote: One of my friends has an R300 superlight and to get in you almost have to fall into it!

Many years ago, when I had money, I fancied a new Caterham 7 as a second car.
Getting in wasn't a problem - like you say you just fall in.
I never got as far as a test drive due to the problem of getting out after trying one for size in the showroom.
To get out the saleman told me you "walk" with your hands on the ground to pull yourself out of the footwells if you aren't very agile.
I cann't see how anyone can get in or out with the roof up !
On a proper Lotus / Caterham 7, as well as a Locost and all the other clones, the body is a structual space frame.
With the Locust idea you have a simple chassis and unstressed body (made out of ply).
That means, again in theory, it'd be possible to introduce a door into the design to allow easier access for me.
Probably a little more like the Lotus Six than Seven
http://www.motorbase.com/pictures/contr ... r_view.jpg

Paul Humphries

8009STEVE wrote:

I though of making a "Minor Atom"

There is a company in yeovil that make an ARIEL ATOM. check that out

I've seen it on top gear and read all about it. If I ever get a project Minor that is totally beyond even my idea of being savable, then I'd make my own low budget version of the Arial Atom using box section or tube and the running gear from said scrap Minor.

The Spridgets use the Minor steering rack (one of the reasons they sell well on ebay) - mounted up front, and last time I checked the wheels turned the right way when the steering wheel was turned !

bmcecosse wrote:The Spridgets use the Minor steering rack (one of the reasons they sell well on ebay) - mounted up front, and last time I checked the wheels turned the right way when the steering wheel was turned !

B***er - threw one away last year as no interest even at 99p on eBay
Not sure about them being 100% Minor items though as the Midget has narrower track than Minor.
Probably it's the centre that is the same with shorter tie rods on the Midget item.

Paul Humphries.

This is pic of the first car i made, an Austin 7 special. In those days,
around 1956, things were more relaxed and, after building it in the road outside my house i finished up in the competitors area at Brands Hatch
during a Formula 750 meeting even though I was just a spectator. The point being that I remain convinced to this day that the Lotus 7 was styled on my car.

I tried to reply to this thread about the Spridget set up, but got invalid session

But yep, Midget has the rack infront of the engine, and it is a Minor rack as far as I know. The Midget has bolt on steering arms (which come extremely close to the wheels), can't remember if the Minor does or not?

Steering arms are bolted to the swivel pin, yup.

In which case, instead of turning the whole lot round, maybe just the steering arms can be turned round (if going 7 alike with an LCV chassis and mostly Minor mechanicals)?

You'd need to probably go Midget column (early for the Minor rack) unless feeling brave enough to try and make something, that of course would then start to determine where the other controls, seats etc go, with the body following on from there.

I reckon it'd be interesting to see an LCV based sporty car, seing as how the Midget came out quite well (IMO, but I would say that!) being built out of an A35 with some Minor bits thrown in for good measure

Nice car Willie - and the trunk/case at the back is absolutely excellent. Any idea where it is now ?

This is very interesting as I think if you used a Minor LCV chassis, running gear, steering and suspension then it would qualify for enough 'points' with the DVLA not to need re-registering on a Q-plate (thus remaining tax exempt) and will also be exempt from the dreaded SVA.

I like that car Willie!

chrisd87 wrote:This is very interesting as I think if you used a Minor LCV chassis, running gear, steering and suspension then it would qualify for enough 'points' with the DVLA not to need re-registering on a Q-plate (thus remaining tax exempt) and will also be exempt from the dreaded SVA.
!

Exactly

Paul Humphries

BMC, the case was for a fortnights tour of Cornwall(with no weather protection at all)! Car was last seen in 1958 and I doubt it survived with those dreadful brakes!

Willie wrote: Car was last seen in 1958 and I doubt it survived with those dreadful brakes!

Shame.
I rather like the styling as it's along the lines of my mental picture of what I'd like to build on a Minor van chassis.

paul Humphries