When is a convertible not a (genuine) convertible?.....
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- Minor Friendly
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- Location: Lincoln
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When is a convertible not a (genuine) convertible?.....
Doom and gloom
I've had my dream minor for just under a week. She's a beautiful clipper blue convertible. Slightly modified for safety and reliability.
List of Mods:
Uprated halfshafts
Owen Burton Telescopic shocks all round
Ford disc brake kit
Electronic Ignition
Kenlowe fan
Hazard warning lights
Alternator conversion
Halogen headlights
Hydralic clutch
1275cc Midget engine (overbored to 1340cc) Lightend and balanced. Unleaded head
Stainless steel exhaust
Claxon horn
Aluminimum radiator
Four branch manifold
Front anti roll bar
Newton commercial reclining seats
Minor Van wheels (slightly wider than saloon)
Inertia reel seatbelts x4
Electric cut out switch in boot. (for security)
Radio cassette and electronic ariel.
The car drives lovelly, apart from a propshaft vibration that is being sorted, and I genuinlly thought I'd got a good one.
Took the car to the Nottingham Minor Centre today for the propshaft and although they thought her lovelly they dropped the bombshell that she is not, in their opinion, a genuine convertible
The log book states the chassis number is MAT. The plate under the bonnet reads MAT too.
The previous owner said it was an original.
Not sure what to do now as it's not quite the car I thought but even saying that I paid £4200 for her and still think it was probably worth it but not the bargain I thought.
Should I approach the seller?
He is an elderly chap who was selling her due to ill health. I have the bill of sale that shows what he paid the owner before him just one year ago which was £7500
I also have the bill of sale from when that owner bought the car from Morris Minor Centre Bath in 1989 for £4450 (unmodified) and it states n there that the car is a convertible.
Bit down now, and the propshaft problem hasn't been fully sorted
I've had my dream minor for just under a week. She's a beautiful clipper blue convertible. Slightly modified for safety and reliability.
List of Mods:
Uprated halfshafts
Owen Burton Telescopic shocks all round
Ford disc brake kit
Electronic Ignition
Kenlowe fan
Hazard warning lights
Alternator conversion
Halogen headlights
Hydralic clutch
1275cc Midget engine (overbored to 1340cc) Lightend and balanced. Unleaded head
Stainless steel exhaust
Claxon horn
Aluminimum radiator
Four branch manifold
Front anti roll bar
Newton commercial reclining seats
Minor Van wheels (slightly wider than saloon)
Inertia reel seatbelts x4
Electric cut out switch in boot. (for security)
Radio cassette and electronic ariel.
The car drives lovelly, apart from a propshaft vibration that is being sorted, and I genuinlly thought I'd got a good one.
Took the car to the Nottingham Minor Centre today for the propshaft and although they thought her lovelly they dropped the bombshell that she is not, in their opinion, a genuine convertible
The log book states the chassis number is MAT. The plate under the bonnet reads MAT too.
The previous owner said it was an original.
Not sure what to do now as it's not quite the car I thought but even saying that I paid £4200 for her and still think it was probably worth it but not the bargain I thought.
Should I approach the seller?
He is an elderly chap who was selling her due to ill health. I have the bill of sale that shows what he paid the owner before him just one year ago which was £7500
I also have the bill of sale from when that owner bought the car from Morris Minor Centre Bath in 1989 for £4450 (unmodified) and it states n there that the car is a convertible.
Bit down now, and the propshaft problem hasn't been fully sorted
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- Minor Legend
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If the conversion was done to a good standard, why worry about what it was when it left the factory?
Alex Holden - http://www.alexholden.net/
If it doesn't work, you're not hitting it with a big enough hammer.
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- Minor Legend
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- Location: S E London
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convertible
MAT is the correct designation for a tourer so why did they think it was not a genuine convertible? With all those mods there are many who would say it was not a Minor any longer but it sounds very appealing to me. As long as it looks like a Minor and you are enjoying it that's fine. A converted saloon,as long as all of the strengthening items have been fitted, would be fine too.
Willie
[img]http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e197/wuzerk/mo9.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e197/wuzerk/mo9.jpg[/img]
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- Minor Friendly
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The reasons thay thought it not a genuine convertible were that they said a convertible windscreen surround had been welded on to the bulk head. They said it had been done well but they could see the join on the A posts. Also the stregntheners on the B posts were not spot welded in quite the same way as the genuine factory ones. Also the car has the small holes on the A posts where a saloon would of had the interior light switch that operates from opening the door. They said that genuine convertibles don't have this.
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- Minor Legend
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I'm not at all sure it isn't genuine.
The courtesy light hole in the A post is a read herring - some originals had it!
And if the strengtheners are spot welded its my guess that it could be an original.
So I wouldn't worry.
The courtesy light hole in the A post is a read herring - some originals had it!
And if the strengtheners are spot welded its my guess that it could be an original.
So I wouldn't worry.
This message board is like a family - you can't choose the other members!! But remember engine oil is thicker than water.
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- Minor Maniac
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Anyway, it was this car you fell for, no other. They all develop problems during ownership and because we love them, we fix it! Get the problems fixed, get in the car and enjoy driving it. Whether it started life as a saloon or a convertible it doesn't matter. It does sound like it is genuine, but after 40 odd years there are not many minors that have not been upgraded/modified.
Lou Rocke
MMOC 43512
- d_harris
- Minor Legend
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muggwump, you can contact the seller if you feel agreived, but I bet the car was "sold as seen" meaning that you have already accepted the vehicle.
It sounds very much as if it is a genuine convertible - the welded A pillars may be indicitive of repairs in the past (maybe the car was vandalised and the most economic repair was to replace the entire area - Matt is about to do something similar on his trav)
It sounds very much as if it is a genuine convertible - the welded A pillars may be indicitive of repairs in the past (maybe the car was vandalised and the most economic repair was to replace the entire area - Matt is about to do something similar on his trav)
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- Minor Friendly
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The dash to A post strengtheners are easy to get to with a spot welder but the B post strengtheners are not accessible when you convert a saloon so are normally only MIG welded.
It sounds to me like the the car has been a convertible for years and you will never know who did or if it were chopped or cloned. When I bought our convertible from MMC Bath 18 years ago (when I was new to Minors) it was so rusty we were told the best thing to do was to chop off the windscreen surround and use it to convert a saloon but keep the identity of the original convertible. From what I understand it was quite commonplace for people (even some specialists) to do this. I'm glad I didn't now but as someone who owns both an original convertible and converted a saloon into a convertible I'd now say don't worry.
I've had people say my genuine convertble is a chop, when I know it isn't so I wouldn't worry about going back to the seller. You get the same sun tan whether it is a real one of not, enjoy the car and tell everyone it is real one when asked - it has the chassis number of one to back you up.
It sounds to me like the the car has been a convertible for years and you will never know who did or if it were chopped or cloned. When I bought our convertible from MMC Bath 18 years ago (when I was new to Minors) it was so rusty we were told the best thing to do was to chop off the windscreen surround and use it to convert a saloon but keep the identity of the original convertible. From what I understand it was quite commonplace for people (even some specialists) to do this. I'm glad I didn't now but as someone who owns both an original convertible and converted a saloon into a convertible I'd now say don't worry.
I've had people say my genuine convertble is a chop, when I know it isn't so I wouldn't worry about going back to the seller. You get the same sun tan whether it is a real one of not, enjoy the car and tell everyone it is real one when asked - it has the chassis number of one to back you up.
[img]http://mysite.orange.co.uk/minorsite-iw/images/1-picture1.jpg[/img][img]http://mysite.orange.co.uk/minorsite-iw/images/7-picture6.jpg?0.448427297884753[/img]
IWsmithy.
IWsmithy.
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- Minor Legend
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muggwump, it sounds like you fell in love with the car. To be honest only an anorak would know for definite either way after doing a thorough examination. Everyone else would just see you tootling about in it with a big beam on your face. Can we really claim all our saloons or convertibles are how they left the factory.... I doubt it really. Enjoy it, life is too short mate.
My Minor:
A Clarendon Grey 1953 4 Door Series II.
MMOC - 66535
A Clarendon Grey 1953 4 Door Series II.
MMOC - 66535
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- Minor Friendly
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hey i think i have a similar problem my chasis number starts with mat and its on the paperwork but when taking the interior out it looked like a blind man had cut the top off with a rusty saw!!! im not that experienced with moggys yet so i never know that could be how they came out the factory.
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