Morris Minor Owners Club

Confusion reigns
My 1953 Morris Registered on 12th Jan 1953 has a sidevalve engine the chassis plate is the type with chassis no. and engine no only. Did they make MM's and series 2 side by side,as it says on charts on potterries branch website that mm's were made till feb 53 series 2 started in aug 52. So with sidevalve engine is it an MM??? There might be a picture of chassis plate if I am lucky

I'm no expert but believe the side valve engine gives it away as an MM. The series 2 was the first face lift and had the overhead valve engine. I can't tell you if the two versions run side by side.

According to my records the 1st batch of Series II was FA- --/ 159190 to 159201 (source Morris Minor - Paul Skilleter). These were 4 door models for export. The only external distinguishing feature was the later Minor 1000 type bonnet badge. Production of Series MM continued alongside Series II from mid 1952 to Feb 1953.
The last Series MM 4 door was 176410, convertible 179820 and 2 door 179839.
There is an error in the Gaydon records as my car, no 165571 was listed as a Series II on the Production Trace Certificate when clearly it was a Series MM. I applied for and received a corrected certificate but I do not know if it was corrected on the records.

I owned a very early 803 Series II in 1976 and I just found her and bought her again ! (I must be mad), but in 78 the big end went and I rebuilt the engine, but No 3 went again, anyway after much searching I ended up at one of BL's stores in an area of Birmingham, the usual old guy in an oily cloth cap knew every mortal detail about moggies and told me about the introduction of the 803 and phasing out of the 800 SV calling my car a Series IIa the a sufix denoting the 803 OHV engine, and I'm sure my original litrature i had with the car called it that as well.
So Ian your info is correct about the overlap but you car is a one of the first batch of Series II, with outboard headlights and cheese grater front grille, an MM is really defined only by its bodystyle as having inboard headlights and cheese grater grille.

I'm sorry Paul but your post is incorrect - the series MM changed to wing mounted headlights in 1950 and continued with 918 side valve engine. The Series 11 was introduced in late 1952 on 4 door models and produced in tandem with the Series MM 2 doors & convertables until Feb 1953 when Series MM discontinued & all were Series 11s.

Mike Perrys references are correct and this information can be found in all the well known published histories.

Rog

mine is a 918SV too.But my friend have a 1951 800SV(according to the owners cert).Which is correct cc.Please help.

The Series MM side valve engine was only ever produced in 918cc form and was rated as 8HP. The 800cc engine may be an 803cc A series engine which somebody has fitted later.

Thanks for the correction Rog, I added my recollections from 78 and it just goes to show the mind fades with years, always check the records dont rely on the mind!!

So Ian's car is an MM or Series II depending on his Chassis No ?
Ian what's the answer I'm intriuged

chassis no on the plate is FBE11/175474 the same as stamped on the bulkhead the engine no on plate is the same as on the block the car was registered on 12th jan 1953 so would have been built in dec 52?? picture of chassis plate and engine its just a question was asked with that chassis no was i sure it was an MM and was i sure it had a sidevalve engine <br><br><br><br>

Certainly looks like a Series MM engine!

its in that transition period. certainly looks to be a proper mm

mike.perry wrote:The Series MM side valve engine was only ever produced in 918cc form and was rated as 8HP. The 800cc engine may be an 803cc A series engine which somebody has fitted later.

ok,thanks...i found out on my previous ownership certificate stating the cc as a 918.i confirmed with the road transport department and found that they updated wrongly to 800cc.they made the changes already. <br><br>

The car is definately a Series MM.
The black car, SMM 72587 is the earliest 4 door I have on my records. The 1st 4 Door was SMM 62551.