1954 series 11 black 4 door

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

Well, what can I say except 5 minors is obviously not enough for anyone and I had to buy this one as well.......

In my defence it was probaly going to be broken up for spares and its too good, to old and one of those rare transisation models as well.

Work will have to wait until Ive finished the other one.

So its been off the road since 1966, has 46000 miles and a goldseal engine that still turns over. Its appears to have had 3 registered owners all in County Down and went off the road after the drivers side has been hit slightly. A new wing has been fitted on this side but never finished. It will require a inner sills on both sides and a half chassis leg on the ps and the boot floor repairing. The inner wings and crossmember seems to be exceptionally good, Ive havent found any really nasty surprises so far. Obviously it will require a full paint job and some shiney bits [frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

Im not sure about the seats yet, will have to spend some time on them and see what can be saved. A rat has made a mess of the back seat squab.

All in all good potential and I have fixed much worse before, the thing I like about this is that it hasnt been messed about with and patches put on patches its all good honest rust......

[stevey]

well they say every restoration starts with the smallest step

as the car is at davids i havent been able to get my greasy mitts on it for long, but did get the number plate off the front bumper. the rear one is properly seized on. at bit of wet and dry and a paint job. its nice to keep the orignal heavy plates.[frame][/frame]

finished a fuel pump for it as well.
now ill have to see what else i can screw off and take home to play with.

[MarkyB]

I have the feeling that the 50s Minors in Black survive very well.
Whether the steel was better, or they were sprayed and put together better, or just better cared for is open to speculation.
Maybe a combination of all 3, or something else I haven't thought of.

Anyone else found this?

[davidmiles]

Nice find David, looking forward to seeing the updates on this rather fine little project.

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

Nice job Stevey!! It might be rather some time before the rest of the cars as shiney as the number plate

[Sidney'61]

...and one of those rare transistion models as well.

Don't you start!

[minor65]

Pictures look great, can wait to see it in the flesh. So glad I didn't see it first !!

[stevey]

DAVIDMCCULLOUGH wrote:
...and one of those rare transistion models as well.

Don't you start!

ps and the rear door handles are on correctly too

[MColes]

and the rear door handles are on correctly too

I bet they're not

[stevey]

and the rear door handles are on correctly too

I bet they're not

oh but they are
see as per the handbook [frame][/frame]

actually better not start that again it took a week to agree to disagree, better save that debate till next year!!!

[Judge]

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

One more item off the list of parts needed, I got a back window from a club member today to replace the missing one on this car and also some front inner sill sections. Ive also been going through some parts the other day and seem to have nearly all new brake parts except the flexi hoses.

[minor 62]

seen this earlier in the week, in the flesh so to speak, its a really honest car, and hard to believe its been off the road so long, cant wait to see it as David waves his magic welder over it, good luck with your project

[Sidney'61]

its nice to keep the orignal heavy plates

If it's been off the road for so long will it's original plate still be valid?

[chrisryder]

oh but they are
see as per the handbook

but didn't we disprove most of the things in the very same handbook stevey?

[stevey]

oh but they are
see as per the handbook

but didn't we disprove most of the things in the very same handbook stevey?

yes we did but this is an earlier book so the lies are consistant!!! Also some of the early interior snaps show the handles this way.

its nice to keep the orignal heavy plates

If it's been off the road for so long will it's original plate still be valid?

the original buff log book came with it so hopefully the plates can go back on the car and not just up in the garage.

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

I did my first bit of welding on this project today, but dont get too excited...........

The bonnet prop must have been sized up and had been cut by a previous onwer to get the bonnet up, so I took it off and brought it down from were the cars stored and welded it up I probalby have another one of thses lying around if I knew were it was!

Fin was going to make one of these so I took some pics beside a ruler to give some idea of sizes.[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

Ready for a coat of black paint now

[jvickholm]

I have to say that your project looks very familiar! Good luck and keep those pics coming!

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

A little more progress today, lots of wee things screwed off for painting and the rest of the door trims removed. I went over all the nuts and bolts agian with pocket rocket so hopefully this will help when it comes time to take the wings and things apart.

I took the semaphores out and tried them but unfortunately there seems to be no life in them, I have about 10 spares but they are all pretty lifeless. Will have a go at cleaning them up a bit and see if this helps, would be nice to keep the proper ones as they are obviously original as the date stamped on them is 5/54. Anyone got any tips on how to get them working again?

Also a 1954 saloon one has just been advertised locally complete with MOT and tax for only £700. Makes this one seem really expensive now. Note to self - I must not go and look at it - I do not need another car, no really in fact dont look at Gumtree or ebay any more

[MColes]

Also a 1954 saloon one has just been advertised locally complete with MOT and tax for only £700. Makes this one seem really expensive now. Note to self - I must not go and look at it - I do not need another car, no really in fact dont look at Gumtree or ebay any more

But think how nice it'd look next to your other cars