Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi there,
I am looking to buy my first Moggy (SO excited!) is there anything I need to be aware of?
I am mechanically challenged (ie I don't have a clue!) but I would like to run on as a general runaround car... I have fallen in love with a beautiful blue baby who has passed her MOT but I just thought you guys might be in a much better place to advise me.
Thanks so much
CeeLou

Rot is the biggest killer of many a Minor. Mechanical parts are cheap and any garage can work on one. Parts are plentiful (on the whole). You will find routine servicing very easy to the point that with some practice and reading up of a good workshop manual, you will be doing your own !!!! Just make sure the car you want is solid in the structural areas, so by this I mean, chassis legs at the front, floors, sills and rear suspension mounting points. Rusty doors, bonnets and boot lids, whilst not pretty, are not structural and so can be easily replaced. Good luck

Thank you - will the rust/rot on the chassis be obvious to the naked eye or am I well to get someone to look her over?
CeeLou

Some not very honest sellers might try to cover up rust with freshly applied underseal. If you see lots of shiny wet looking black stuff under the car I would be suspicious and look closer. Tapping with a light hammer will tell you if the metal is rotten or not. If you get a "ringing" sound it will be good metal. If you get a dull thud or if the hammer goes through then it is rotten. If you are not confident of checking the car yourself I would always recommend you take someone with you who knows more. It could turn out to be an expensive mistake, although if the car has a new MOT you could have a certain level of confidence in it been good. If you post up your location there may be a club member local to you who is willing to take a look for you....?

I'm in London but willing to travel for the right Moggy

Hi CeeLou, welcome to this Board. We have quite a few branches of this Club in and around London so if you say exactly whereabouts it would help.

Him thanks for the welcome
I am in Willesden Green and the car is in East London towards Barking

East London Area Liaison Officer is Pete Bell. I will send you a pm with his email address.

I am looking to buy my first Moggy (SO excited!) is there anything I need to be aware of?

Rust. Yes, someone already said it but rust. Rust, rust and more rust. Also check for rust.
Oh, did I mention, rust?

I am mechanically challenged (ie I don't have a clue!)

Morris Minor is the perfect car for you then.
I was a clueless as the next person when I bought mine, by the time I sold it there wasn't one bolt untouched and I'd changed engines 2/3 times and rebuilt virtually everything.
FYI, I'm still just as clueless, the above being a mark of how simple Minors really are to work on!

Maybe there is hope for me yet then!!

I'll remember to look out for rust! I think even I know what that looks like! Can you believe they use it as a colouring in cheaper cosmetics... dreadful thought!

CeeLou

You learn something everyday!

get one with a years mot,the engines go on for ages,provided there is no blue smoke comming out of the exhaust and the oil light does not light up,when the engine is reved up you should be ok.be aware the brakes are not as good as a modern car but do work well enough for the car,if kept adjusted up,hope this helps.

Jeweller's Rouge = Ferrous Oxide!!

thanks for the advice dale

Post up some pics of the car - maybe someone on here knows it - or knows it's history, good or bad!

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C64332

This is the link to the sale anyone know her?

Ceelou

Interesting, looks pretty good and looks to me like an ex-police car?

no idea if it is an ex police car... better behave myself if it is!
I just love the colour (very girlie of me I know!)

well still look for structyral rust
just cos its good paint, still could be hiding rotten areas and still take some one with you to look

there is also a lot of rubbish at that price as well

so buyer beware

thank you I will...!

I just spoke to the guy who is apparently a mechanic himself... I wills ee if I can set aup a time to see it and drag someone along with me! Or a hammer to bash it with (gently!) and see what happens!