Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi,
I have just recently bought my 1964 Minor 1000. It is in \"Rose Taupe\" but the wheels and grille have been hand painted \" butter cream\".
Can you please tell me what the original colour would have been ?
Peadar.

Hi RosieT -welcome aboard. I think they should be 'Old English White' for that year of car - which is very close to the colour you mention. But someone who really knows about these things will be along in a minute!
Edit - have a look at the paint colour chart 'sticky' at the top of this section.

Yes, '64's should have Old English White wheels and grille.....

Hi Rosie, BMC is correct in saying they should be Old English White. Pop to your local motor factors and ask for a couple of aerosols of Rover Arum White, it's a really close match to OEW.

Thanks everyone.
RosieT.

But you will need to remove ALL the hand paint before you can spray them with the aerosols!

....... or flat back and use hi build primer.

Well - flatting back on a wheel shape is not going to be easy - I would use Nitromors, followed by steel wool. Then indeed - the primer and paint.

Also, you don't know what type of paint has been applied previously and you may get a reaction resulting in a horrible surfase finish. Best to either remove all old paint or spray on a sealer after flatting back to a smooth finish.....

I agree that the best solution is to strip the existing paint and start again. However if this is to be done properly then the tyres should also be removed, adding to the cost and/or time taken.

Of course if the existing paint is to be flatted and re-painted, then a test on its stability should be carried out first.

Nitromors doesn't seem to harm tyres - I used it to strip the extremely hard lacquer from my TR7 Wolfrace wheels, and so far the tyres are still ok!

Rubber gloves worn while using Nitromors tend to swell up and go porous after a bit (you can feel the fumes stinging your skin). I'd worry the same might happen to the tyre rubber.

Yes - my PINK marigolds didn't like it Alex, but although I did best to keep it off the tyres, some did get on there and no harm developed.