Morris Minor Owners Club

We've just purchased a 1953 car fitted with spurious front seats, but with what we believe to be the original seats as well. I,d quite like to have a go recovering these old seats myself, but I want to be sure they really are correct before I order some new covers.
Now, everywhere I look (Haynes Restoration book, Parts supplier websites etc) it shows Minor seats with stretchy straps or a rubber pad in the bottom of the seat. ours don't have this - they have a pressed steel base for the seat cushion and folding backs that are quite curved and look like they,d wrap around you quite nicely. Can anyone tell me if they're correct for this age of Minor? Assuming they are, where could I get replacement seat and back padding/ cushions?

On another point, What really is the difference between an MM and a Series II? Is it just the engine? Ours has a 1098 anyway, so is it really that different??

Thanks in advance!

Mark

Engine first. The MM had a sidevalve engine. The SerII had an 803 engine.

The metal seat bases you have in your '53 are correct for the car. Everything you need to recover these can be purchased from any morris minor supplier. Just tell them the year of the vehicle and the colour and they should be able to point you in the right direction.

Thanks for this - put my mind at rest!

Think I'll have a go at the seats as it looks easy enough to do!

Thanks again!

Mark

The late Series MMs and early Series 2s had identical bodies, the Series MM was modified to take the 803 engine. The only external difference is the bonnet badge. The MM used the badge which continued on the LCV and the S2 used the M1000 badge

Great stuff - thanks for this. Pretty much confirms whatI thought.

Again, ours has had a 1098 engine fitted, so the major item of difference with the MM has been changed again anyway! Only had it a week but already quite fond of it!

Thanks all!

Mark

Have the gearbox and diff and front brakes been upgraded?