Morris Minor Owners Club

The 5-bar grill on my moggy is beginning to rust a little. Its a strange off-white ceramic colour, which im not sure how to go about restoring.

I wondered about painting it black to match the body, but the surrounding strip has already been painted black (originally chrome) so i dont think this will look so good.

Any suggestions?

Best thing to do is remove the grille (after removing the front panel) sand it down, rust proof and prime before painting it with old english white paint (available in cans from ESM )

If you've got enough cash spare, you could give it to a friendly body-shop / platers &c. to have it sandblasted and powder coated...

Is your car a show car?
If its anything like my Minor, then if you carefully paint it with a nice brush (whilst still on the car) the improvement will be fantastic.
The rust can be sanded off but you need a primer for the bare metal.
With sanding, masking, priming and painting mine was done in a few hours, and you can only see the brush marks if you kneel down to inspect the grille.

I used cheapo DIY centre magnolia enamel (1 tin at £5.50 is enough to do 10 wheels and 2 grilles)
Magnolia is a slightly darker effect than the original old english white, but gives an aged look that I quite like.
Don't use cream or white as these will look far too dark or too light.
If you go for spray paint, there is a shade for MG available from Halfrauds, but I've forgotten what they call it.

no. my car certainly isn't a show car.

That sounds more like it, a nice easy job. Thanks for the tip

I think Jane has used a mix of magnolia and white to paint her wheels... Shame she's on holiday - I wonder if Cam can remember?

I think it was magnolia and white hammerite, but she has since painted over it with silver (for the wheels).

Actually I drove her car to work today and got 80MPH out of her down the A34 with some to spare!!! (don't tell her though!!) shhhh!

Form memory, Jane used 25% magnolia and 75% white hammerite to match old english white, though I have always used straight magnolia and in my mind it looks more original, as it looks aged.
Old english white is correct and looks better for a restored car as the brighter paint matches the other new paint, but on an everyday car I thing it stands out as re-painted.
And yes, Jane then painted over it with silver.

each to his(or her) own.

Not had it past 80 then CAM??
The standard 1098 normally can get 90 down a hill - my favourite is the A38 from Bassets pole towards the A5 where 100 is possible!
(ahem, cough, not that I would ever do that as it's unsafe and illegal...)

I suppose it could have gone past 80 but I was just overtaking a car and not trying to break the sound barrier!! There was a fair bit left under the pedal, so I suppose it could have gone faster.

I have touched 120 in mine (6500 RPM in 5th) but that was only briefly and there was more left!! But my bottle went as I am still running standard front wheels and tyres!!! (erm, cough, obviously on that air-field that I hired for the purpose!)

But my bottle went as I am still running standard front wheels and tyres

Do you want to borrow a pair of Van rims with modern tyres in the short term until you sort out those other ones?? I think you are brave doing 120 on standard minor rims / tyres!!

Nah, I tend to keep it below 80 on a run (the 120 was a one off test! ), and I should be converting my front hubs soon anyway (2 months max), then I can fit my Peugeot 206 Steels (5 1/2 J) with 175s on the front and 185s on the rear. Thanks for the offer though!

For longevity I recommend sandblasting, hot zinc painting followed by stonechip, undercoat and topcoat. I had my front panel and grille done. It was very durable and resisted chips as well. It is still not rusty at all after 4/5 years.
However, my wipers jammed off in a flash rainstorm and I ran into the back of a truck so it doesn't look that original any more!

Sorry to hear that mate But it sounds like a good process, did the stonechip go on even enough or was there a slight ripple left?

The stonechip went on very evenly - but the hot zinc painting was a bit "prickly". Perfectly ok for low down and undervbody but not really show car standard.
I suspect it could have been "flatted down but I was more concerned with protection thatn looks.
Even finishing with cellulose the chipping was reduced .... and the few chips I had didi not penetrate to the metal, not even to the zinc.

PaulG wrote

However, my wipers jammed off in a flash rainstorm and I ran into the back of a truck so it doesn't look that original any more!

You need stuff called RainX. It's the business. I've driven down a motorway in a rainstorm without using my wipers with this stuff. it's especially good for side windows and mirrors and makes overtaking on a dark busy motorway much easier.