Morris Minor Owners Club

Ok, so I arrive home from work and find a rather sorry looking 1955 Series II on the lawn! Turns out the other half has bought it for "spares"! "It was only £50" she says, looking all pleased! - looks like £50 worth of trouble to me!

Anyway, not one to see a classic car go to the knackers yard, I decided to see if it runs. Got it started ok but it bellows out large amounts of blackish smoke. What's the most likely cause? Is there anything basic to check or is it looking like an engine rebuild? I haven't left it running long so don't know if it would clear. The smoke looks dryer rather than wet and oily?

The car apparently has been stored for 25 years and has not been started. It's got an 803cc Gold Seal engine fitted.

Pete

Most obvious would be choke stuck - or perhaps piston stuck in SU - or perhaps just completely choked air cleaner! Blue smoke would be knackered engine. But if it started up it can't be too bad.
I can just see my wife buying me another Minor!!!!!!

Never know could be cruddy fuel or your really lucky and some caring knowlegable person whipped the plugs out and poured some oil in the bores?
Its well worth giving it a good service before running it anyway.

Black smoke is over-rich fuel/air mixture. Choke stuck out, carb piston stuck as BMC says.

Surely 803cc engine and gearbox alone are worth more than £50? espcecially if it runs.

sounds like you have done well if it runs it can be sorted shorley

£50 is a real bargain, even if it's only for the mechanicals. I got £50 for a pristine but empty 1098 gearbox housing.