Morris Minor Owners Club

I have been looking at vans, travellers and pickups recently and got thinking about traveller woodwork... is it part of the structural make up of the car? Or is it just trim? It looks to be an integral part of the car, but I sort of can't believe a car made in the 60s relied on wood for structure!

I also wondered if they have a monocoque like saloons or actual chassis' like the pick up and van?

Yes the wood is structural, it holds all the panels and glass and roof onto the steel floor of the Traveller.

oddly since the computerised MOT, there is no box for structural wood!

wood is fine as a structure, boats relied on it for thousands of years! and houses.

Good point John! ahah

I see, thanks for that, I now see why the good condition of traveller wood is so coveted.

Without the timber - it's just the floppy bare floorpan of the saloon - no 'chassis' to speak of! The saloon is greatly stiffened with the roof assembly - and the rear seat/rear parcel shelf diaphragm, and the general design of the rear side panels bracing the rear floor area.

Thanks Roy, again i now see why the condition of trav wood is so important. Looks like an expensive car to restore!

But a very useful car in service!

Yes indeed! My 2 door is becoming notably limited on a space front - rear seats coming out soon to make more space for carrying things, but a pickup or van (not necessarily Morris) is a likely necessity in the future.
If only I had a few grand spare... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT

Pick Up's are great and fun to drive, but if you intend to use it to carry stuff around a van is a more secure option (I know they're more money) but the goods don't get wet or stolen!

Not all Travellers come with floppy floorpans

well mine certainly hasn't!

I know of 1 trav where the wood is NOT structural.

I wonder which one?

Make that 2

I think mine was once lol