Morris Minor Owners Club

Hello,

after a few days of very pleasant 'open' pottering around Bologna, the MM is back at the garage again. During the 150+ miles done last week, I appreciated it so much that I decided to go on with the improvements that are necessary to make it really nice. At the present moment the mechanics are dismantling the front suspension to replace the grommets etc and stop the 'clunks' at every small pothole; several small jobs will be required to improve the carburettor and the brakes.

There is no doubt that in the past our MM was 'simplified' by some owner who didn't have the time/patience/money/knowledge to look for the correct parts; and some were mandated by the Italian law to register the car here at the time (1953 in Milan) of the first Italian registration. So the trafficators disappeared, the facia knobs rearranged, the lower parcel shelf discarded, etc. Also the detachable rear side rear screens have been modified and now they are 'naked', ie their metal frame is exposed instead of being covered in canvas, but I would like to have them like the original ones. Does anyone know where could I find a pair of screens like these? Thank you,

Stefano[frame][/frame]

This picture may help understanding why it feels so good driving the Minor these days in Italy....

Cheers

Stefano[frame][/frame]

Hi Stefano, I too live in Italy and am very proud of my Morris just like yourself. Where abouts do you live, and who knows maybe we could organize a small Morris meeting in sunny Italy

Don Hoods in Birmingham make the hoods and if you have the metal bits they should be able to make the side screens, and the stowage bag to put them in.

Hello Stephano,
I live is Australia, and I have a 1950 Series MM Tourer and I have just done what you are taking about.

My car came with removable side screens but I do not think they were original as they had rounded corners.
So I took them to a Blacksmith, who made me a duplicate set, and a couple spare as well. He made these from
a special flat steel bar with rounded edges, called Rydal bar.

Then as mentioned by Mike, I ordered a complete top from Dons trimming in the UK PLUS
2 metres of extra cloth to cover the side screens and make a bage to store them in.
I had a local Upholsrty guy fit the hood, cover the side screens and make the side screen bag.




But I must just mention that there are Pins that fit ontop these screens, that slide into sockets that
are on the body. Do yopu have these as I have had some sockets remade?

If it helps I can take a tracing of the other set of screens I have and supply you a template.
Thansk Oli

Hello Mike, Oliver,

thanks for your input, I have sent a message immediately to Don hoods.

Speaking of improving the MM's performance, I am wondering if it would be possible to modify the carburettor to have a vacuum port to be linked to the Accu-Spark distributor; and, if it can be done, which part of the SU carburettor can be drilled to screw in a suitable port. I'm sure that this has been done before but I couldn't find it in the Forum.

For joeone: where do you live? I live in Bologna, my MM usually 'sleeps' in Faenza....

Thank you all (Oli, your MM is stunning...) and have a nice week-end!

Stefano

Well Stefano, I live in Cassino in the Prov. of Frosinone. At the moment, untill September my Morris is here with me in Paris, France, but soon we will both be back home. How many of us are there in Italy at the moment, any idea. Just a few months ago there was a small article in a French magazine "Gazoline" showing another morris in Italy.

Hi Stephano, Mike and Joeone62,
thanks for the feed back Stephano and just please contact me if I can help.

No sorry I do not have any info about the Accu-spark, how ever I have had an electronic
conversion done to my Distributor, but as yet we have not tried to start the engine, Maybe in 6-8weeks. (hopefully)
Oli