Morris Minor Owners Club

Anybody come across this chap?

http://swns.com/one-minor-driving-instr ... 11248.html

What a fantastic idea!

I hope he teaches his pupils to double de clutch!
I taught my daughter to drive in my Series MM.

Hmm -except - it can't be used to take the driving test because the seats don't have headrests fitted........ There may be other reasons too - I'm not sure of all the requirements.

Although it sounds like a rather fun idea I can't see this being practical.

Like when slowing down in the modern driving test is frowned upon to go down the gears sequentiality to make use of engine braking, as you do in a Minor.
I wouldn't imagine the wheel shuffling technique you are supposed to use would work very well on a Minor without power steering either...

[quote="bmcecosse"] - it can't be used to take the driving test because the seats don't have headrests fitted........
It is not too difficult to change the seats.

it did try my hardest to look at the pics, i can't make out whether it had head rests or a passenger

Of course the seats can be changed - but as far as I can see at the moment there are no headrests. There may be other requirements - such as ABS brakes or an nCap crash worthiness figure etc etc. I really have no idea - but I believe even some modern cars are not allowed........ Can't be putting these Test Examiners to any kind of risk....

bmcecosse wrote:Of course the seats can be changed - but as far as I can see at the moment there are no headrests. There may be other requirements - such as ABS brakes or an nCap crash worthiness figure etc etc. I really have no idea - but I believe even some modern cars are not allowed........ Can't be putting these Test Examiners to any kind of risk....

BSM recently ditched all their Fiat 500s for Vauxhall Corsas because apparently the 500s were too small to seat rear passengers comfortably!

I took my test in a Proton Savvy, if that is allowed then a Minor should be!

(It would probably break down less too!)

Actually - the requirements are not that tight - from the DVLA site.........

Cars presented for test must:
have four wheels
have a maximum authorised mass (MAM) not exceeding 3500 kilograms (kg)
be capable of a speed of at least 100 kilometres per hour (km/h) or 62.5 miles per hour (mph)
have a seatbelt for the examiner
have a passenger head restraint (this needn't be adjustable but must be fitted as an integral part of the seat - 'slip on' type head restraints aren't permitted)
an interior mirror for the examiner's use
L-plates which are clearly visible from the front and rear of the vehicle and don't interfere with the driver's or examiner's view
a speedometer that measures speed in miles per hour and kilometres per hour
rear seats and seat belts
be unladen

The vehicle must comply with all legal requirements and be in a roadworthy condition. There must be no warning lights showing once the vehicle is in motion, for example, the ABS warning light and/or the airbag warning light must be extinguished.

The car must also not be subject to a recall - and it also says convertible cars may not be suitable if all round vision for the examiner is restricted.....

Biggest problem for a Minor could be the 62mph speed........ and the speedo must read both MPH and KPH......... And the head rest is only required for the passenger seat - so it's possible the car in question has that - the picture isn't clear enough to see.

hmm the 62mph one is fun. as you can be marked down for going below the speed limit. would they take into account the vehicles ability to reach the speed limit?

while we're on the subject, i passed my test in a diesel corsa. i can't imagine going to car shows in 40 years and seeing a 'classic' corsa a going 'oooooh, i passed my test in one of those!' like everybody does when they see my car

But his new Morris Minor 1000 had to be rebuilt by motor experts before it hit the streets, who fitted a host of modifications – including dual controls.

- one would assume that they would know the requirements, and make sure it met them.
I saw this article when it first came out - just before my test. if only i didn't live where i do :p

There was an ex-driving instructor's traveller on e-bay last week with dual controls fitted: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT

i was told for insurance purposes driving school cars have to have airbags ???

I knew about the passenger headrest, seatbelt and mirror requirement from when I did my test (about 6 years ago), but don't remember the requirement to have rear seats and belts. One of my friends passed in a Land Rover Defender hard-top that had neither, so I guess that must be a new thing. Seems bizarre that the speedo has to read in KPH too .

but don't remember the requirement to have rear seats and belts

yeh, now they will occasionally put a moderator in the back

BSM recently ditched all their Fiat 500s for Vauxhall Corsas because apparently the 500s were too small to seat rear passengers comfortably

- same reason

And you are perfectly entitled to take a 'friend' along with you for the test.

And you are perfectly entitled to take a 'friend' along with you for the test.

incorrect - an instructor is allowed to accompany you, or a parent. I think that the parent must be insured on the test car.

I can never relate to people who speak of Minors as though they're slow, as was implied earlier in this thread. I can see that there is a point to be made with respect to the older models, however mine (a 1098cc like the driving instructor's) easily cruises at 70mph and has just as good an initial accelation as other small cars I've driven ... I assume this is the case with other people's, or perhaps I just thrash mine constantly?

I'd agree with that. I often find 'Maggie' gets up to 70 on a duel carriage way really easily, and stays there. Sometimes she even creeps up without me noticing the difference from when doing 65, until I look at the speedo.

I agree with that too. In the latest issue of Practical Classics it describes the Moggie as sluggish, I think they can be quite nippy.

Speaking of the Vauxhall Corsa... think how many young people have learnt to drive in these and had one as a first car, I think in the future there will be some affection for them. Not that I'm a big fan myself or anything, just an observation.