Morris Minor Owners Club

Hey guys! Thought you guys might be interested in a little adventure that I (Andrew) am going on with my Morris and My friends (Andy) Mini.

On the 4th July me in my Morris Minor and my friend in his Austin Mini will be leaving at 12noon after Andy has finished work. We will be leaving Cheltenham behind and setting off for Dover. We have to make good progress down to Dover as we have a ferry booked for 5.50pm.

We catch a crossing to Calais which will take 1hour 15mins and then when we are in France we are setting up camp as soon as possible. After the short overnight stop we will be getting up early for the biggest stretch of driving in the holiday. We will be driving from Calais all the way across France to Pornic 412miles away! I have done this before but it was in a modern Pug206.

Once in Pornic we will move around from time to time setting up camp in different places and enjoying the French scenery. The journey home a week later is the same but reversed.

All sounds fairly straight forward yeah? Ok well here is my car:


And this is his car:


And I’m 200 miles away from the car and he has a full time job!!! The challenge is to get both cars on the road in time. I have to work like crazy in my uni holidays and will be getting the car resprayed while I am at uni to save time and Andy will be working most weekends and evenings.

We will keep you updated with the progress and then how we get on during the holiday driving the cars. No doubt there will be plenty of pictures taken.

A few more details about the cars:

My car 1959 Morris Minor 100% standard + stereo will carry Me the driver, Dan cosh, his girlfriend Jane and allot of the camping gear.

Andy’s Car Classic Austin Mini with original running gear but sporty wheels and interior. Andy will be taking a friend and camping gear.

What can I say Andrew!!! godd luck!! wish I could join you sonds like real fun!!

Sounds like one of those Top Gear challenges to me Good luck and have fun.

Tell Andy to raise the front suspension on the Mini, and fit new bump stops - then it won't snap the ball joints !

Hey bmcecosse!

Is that true or was it a joke?

Im sure he would like to know if it really was caused because of that. I think the garage was pretty sure it was caused by the bolt undoing itslef?

Thanks for the 'good lucks' I think we will need it I know the car will do it easily its just the very short amount of time we have to test the cars after they are put back on the road.

Only live once

That sounds like a cracking adventure, keep us updated on the progress!

You could always take the bike if the Moggy isn't ready, not sure where you would put the luggage though

Most unlikely to be the nut (there is no 'bolt') coming off - the ball pin is on a taper and usually very difficult to get them to release. Most common Mini error is running too low at the front - and if there is no bump stop (they soon break off if taking a constant hammering) then the suspension travels too far and the ball joint runs out of articulation movement - and either snaps off at the root of the taper - or the 'ball' is just dragged out of the cup by the forces involved ! Results as per your photo. Actually - he was lucky - it often ends upside down in a ditch - or worse!

Sorry yes meant nut!

The reason it didnt flip was because when it happened his friend was next to him (Dual carrage way) and so the first thing that happened was the car shot off to the side. By hitting his friends car in the door I think saved the car from rolling. he then counter acted the stearing and steered it just into the gravel. Quite lucky really. I will be back in Cheltenham tomorrow for my easter holiday so I will tell him and check them. Thanks for the advice, much appreciated.