Minor bought back after 19 years! pictures added!

Post by **singleton** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 7:10 pm

Hello all great site! im new on here. Back in 1974 my grandad purchased a 1968 trafalgar blue 4 door saloon (his 2nd minor), he ran the car up till 1977 when he purchased an avenger. My dad had learned to drive in the morris and when my grandad had the avenger my dad bought the minor from him. When i was born in 1980 I was bought home from the hospital in the minor, my dad kept it till august 1981. From a young age i have liked morris minors and decided to try and find it! I spent many years looking and gave up but one day I was out with a friend who called by an old yard with units where he knew some banger racing lads. He had mentioned on many occasions a green minor in the corner of a building covered in dust and rubbish, I went into the building to have a look, the first thing i thought was thats blue not green! I moved some junk away from the bootlid and could not believe my eyes! it was the correct registration! I rang my dad and he came to have a look, it was correct even down to a gold pin stripe my dad put on the dash, a cassette player he fitted and the cover on the back seat because of a rip, it even still had a cheaky grin which was on old family pics where the weld has come away on one side of a grill bar! I bought the car which had by then passed through several owners. It had no engine, no front seats and no front wings. That was back in 2000 and only now i am really getting stuck in. I have broke two rough cars over the years for spares. The car has a lot of sentimental value to me, my grandad died in 1985 so its a nice attachment to him and it was my dads first car. I sent for the keeper history fron dvla and tracked down the son of the first owner who has been to see the car. I just wanted to right my story to say if your looking for an old minor dont give up! my car has not been taxed since 1987 but i was still able to find and buy it back many years after that!

Post by **d_harris** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 7:12 pm

Wow! Incredilby lucky there! Keep us informed with how the resto goes!

Post by **LouiseM** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 7:22 pm

Welcome to the site singleton, and a nice story

Post by **8009STEVE** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 7:26 pm

Brilliant find. Just don't call the car ...................

Christine.

Post by **alanworland** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 7:31 pm

Congratulations! I am sure ou will both be very happy! You will have your 'ups' and 'downs' but by and large the 'ups' will win by a mile!
My car was my uncles first car which he passed his test in - he gave it to me to take my test in, I passed and I still have it!
Got any photos?

Post by **pfgiz** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 7:33 pm

8009STEVE wrote:Brilliant find. Just don't call the car ...................

Christine.

Who wouldn't want a self healing car....?????? "show me..."

What a fantastic story, Welcome.....
Please Keep us all updated and post pictures if you have them.
How far through the restoration are you?

It would be nice to see you and the car at future meets....

Thanks again for a really great story.

Post by **singleton** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 9:51 pm

Will upload some pictures, got pics from early 70s and pics as found and present. At the moment most welding is done, 3 of the origional doors are still on the car, one was a bit bad so i purchased a good replacement last week, it runs well, engine fitted from a 1964 car, i would love to find the origional engine - will have to post the engine number on here. The only thing that bugs me a bit on the car is that the nearside chassis leg appears to be an over leg, it looks well fitted and solid but i would prefer a norm leg on it (overleg was fitted before i bought it back). A friend found me a sound bootlid, my dads purchased some good panels so all is looking good. Like i said im really only starting work now after storing it since 2000, ive just got to sell me cortina which has been taking up far too much of my time. need the morris on the road now!!

Post by **frosty** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:40 am

That's a great story and such luck in finding.

.... I'd name the car ....

Gramps

Post by dp » Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:53 pm

8009STEVE wrote:Brilliant find. Just don't call the car ...................

Christine.

Christine: a self-healing car, great rock music, all your enemies dying mysterious violent deaths - I think the small matter of the milometer running backwards is hardly a deal-breaker -

Seriously, excellent story and good luck with your find.

Post by **simmitc** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 1:05 pm

For the uninitiated amongst us, could someone explain the significance of a car name of a row of dots?

Mon Jul 27, 2009 1:16 pm

pretty cool story

Post by **Peetee** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:49 pm

explain the significance of a car name of a row of dots

They are named this because they are not as fast as the ones called - - - -

Post by **simmitc** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:00 pm

Post by **singleton** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 11:29 pm

here is a pic of my car in early 70s and as found in 2000

Post by **RogerRust** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 7:40 am

oh, that 70's picture was taken at Seatoller. I spent my first holidays away from the parents there. I reckon I first camped in the lakes in 1973 usually in the winter to climb the northern fells while it was quite. As a bonus it is my experience that the weather is better in Feb than in August.

Post by **FrankM83** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 11:08 pm

wow best of luck with it!! very nice story!!

Post by **singleton** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:52 pm

here is a pic i took the other day<br>

<br>

Post by **stag36587** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 11:12 pm

Plenty of bonnets to choose from then!

Good luck with the resto.

Post by **singleton** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 10:17 pm

Yes plenty of bonnets, 1 on the car aswel! haha!, the amount of spares i have in the sheds is quite scary but you wont be able to get it all forever will you!, thats my excuse anyway

Morris Minor Owners Club

Minor bought back after 19 years! pictures added!

Minor bought back after 19 years! pictures added!

pictures added!!

Here is how it looks at the moment!