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New to Minors

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 4:24 pm
by LotusLee
Hello,
I have sold a lotus cortina and I am considering buying a genuine pick up. I live near Bishops Stortford in Hertfordshire and if I buy the pick up, I want to have the brakes upgraded, the engine changed to a 1300 and a few other bits. The pick up I have looked at is painted body colour underneath and is in show condition.

My question is are there any people / companies in the Hertfordshire / Essex area that can supply the bits and do the work for me. I have spoken to Charles Ware, but they are miles away and quite expensive. I have always had Fords and they can keep up with modern traffic, but everyone I have spoken to say that a standard pick up would be tiring to drive as they are slow.

I need some urgent help, or I will miss out on a really lovely pick up, but I can't commit without knowing there are people local who can help me as I am useless mechancially and I want the pick up to look standard but drive nicely.

Please help, I can be called on 07961861761, if anyone can offer any advice.

Many thanks

Lee

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 4:52 pm
by WPR678B
Hi Lee,
I can't help with Morris specialists close to you but i'm sure someone who does know will be along soon! :wink:

But what i can say is that a pick up with a 1275cc engine and 5 speed gearbox (and discs and a servo to help you slow down again! :oops: ) is fine for everyday motoring and will happily keep pace with the modern cars on the motorway. I use the one pictured below as often as posible as it is such great fun to drive :D

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 5:18 pm
by shemat
Pete Morris in Colchester aren't too far drom you.

Re: Minor help (Pick up buying)

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 5:56 pm
by LotusLee
Thanks for the replies, the person who said Pete Morris in Colchester, does he have a website or phone number?

The pick up I want to buy can be viewed at www.classiccarshop.co.uk please have a look and let me know what you think.

Regards

Lee

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 6:11 pm
by shemat
I don't think he has a website, phone no is 01206 542039. Hope this helps.

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 6:12 pm
by ASL642
I suggest you PM Shemat for further details :D The Pickup looks good, but make sure you really give it thorough inspection for that amount of money :wink: Good luck

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 6:23 pm
by ani
Pick-up looks great - hope you don't miss out on it.

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 6:51 pm
by aupickup
if its the green one it would want to be in concourse condition with all original spec detailing and nothing missing

i would certainly suggest taking some one you with a vast knowledge of pick ups and vans before you part with any money

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 6:54 pm
by LouiseM
if its the green one it would want to be in concourse condition with all original spec detailing and nothing missing
If it has been restored to concours condition seems a shame to change the engine brakes etc. Wouldn't this devalue it? :-?

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 6:55 pm
by d_harris
well, it certainly looks the dogs danglies from that picture. However, its hard to tell without seeing the underneath.

It certainly seems a shame to rip out all of the original gubbins for the sake of modernising....

my 1098cc traveller is more than capable of keeping up with modern standards.....

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 7:03 pm
by aupickup
i dont think disc brakes and a bigger engine would devalue it, in fact i think that sort of modernisation actually increases the value slightly and makes it more sellable

but be warned expensive and shiny is not allways all its made out to be

i urge you to take someone with you before parting with that kind of money

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 7:06 pm
by LouiseM
i dont think disc brakes and a bigger engine would devalue it, in fact i think that sort of modernisation actually increases the value slightly and makes it more sellable

It would increase the value on an 'everyday' car but surely it would devalue a concours vehicle, if this is what this is?

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 7:14 pm
by aupickup
is it concourse then :D :D

Re: Minor help (Pick up buying)

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 7:14 pm
by LotusLee
Thanks for all the advice, I don't want to spoil it if I buy it, I would want to make it more enjoyable to use. With all my other classics, i.e. Fords, they were not the fastest, but quite comfortable in todays roads and that is what I would want to achive with the pickup.

What should I be asking and does anyone live near the dealer who could pop along and give it the once over before I forward the money?

Thanks for all the replies and advice so far.

Regards
Lee

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 7:16 pm
by PSL184
It certainly should be for that kind of money !!! You'd hope they would sort that drivers seat cover out too :-)

Re: Minor help (Pick up buying)

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 7:20 pm
by LotusLee
Thanks for all the advice, I don't want to spoil it if I buy it, I would want to make it more enjoyable to use. With all my other classics, i.e. Fords, they were not the fastest, but quite comfortable in todays roads and that is what I would want to achive with the pickup.

What should I be asking and does anyone live near the dealer who could pop along and give it the once over before I forward the money?

Thanks for all the replies and advice so far.

Regards
Lee

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 7:23 pm
by LouiseM
What should I be asking and does anyone live near the dealer who could pop along and give it the once over before I forward the money?
Do you mean that you have no experience of Minor's but were planning to spend almost £8k on a vehicle without checking it over first? :o

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 7:24 pm
by aupickup
show winning possibly but certainly far from concourse

has saloon front bumper blade and over riders which is wrong
has the wooden trim round the cab for a tilt but no tilt shown
saloon door cards
chassis plate in wrong position, they put it under the bonnet and should be on passenger door card
non original rear ply boarding in the back

oh and for that money would want a fuse box cover

Thanks

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 7:31 pm
by LotusLee
aupickup wrote:show winning possibly but certainly far from concourse

has saloon front bumper blade and over riders which is wrong
has the wooden trim round the cab for a tilt but no tilt shown
saloon door cards
chassis plate in wrong position, they put it under the bonnet and should be on passenger door card
non original rear ply boarding in the back

oh and for that money would want a fuse box cover
Thanks for saying all this, as for the last person, I do know about cars, however I do not know the detail things about pickups as detailed above and this must be true of anyone who has not had one before. The pick up is painted body colour underneath and all items such as brakes, suspension etc are detailed.
Regards
Lee

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 7:32 pm
by ani
So negative - maybe its the weather :o Lee - I'm sure someone will be along soon that could go and look at it for you. Sadly I'm not qualified as I know next to nothing about them but I saw my pick-up in a photo and that was it!!! Not great but was exactly what I wanted. So wishing you luck and hoping that a positive individual will be able to give it a going over :D