Morris Minor Owners Club

Went to view a Traveller at a classic car dealers yesterday after they had contacted me, the car was outstanding. Only problem was the driver’s door had to be violently slammed for it to shut. It was so bad that I couldn’t shut the door while sat in the car. The problem appeared to be the position of the A post and the dealer would not negotiate on price. The problem was not mentioned before I travelled 170 miles to view. Apparently now going to be advertised on an auction site, will be interesting to see if the door is referred to.

It may just be tight door rubbers causing door to need slammed. Did you take any pictures?

Pete

Could just be the door catches need adjustment but the dealer does not sound very user friendly. He should have offered to sort the problem out.

Worn hinges. Badly adjusted door or frame. Weakened or badly repaired A-post. Distorted body. Badly repaired and distorted door. Badly repaired cills. Would need to look at the car, but if the door will not close properly in normal use then it should fail an MOT. With the dealer attitude described, it sounds as though you did the right thing to walk away.

plastic_orange wrote:It may just be tight door rubbers causing door to need slammed. Did you take any pictures?

Pete

Looked at the rubbers, but it was that bad my mate who came with me thought the glass was going to smash it was that hard to shut.

mike.perry wrote:Could just be the door catches need adjustment but the dealer does not sound very user friendly. He should have offered to sort the problem out.

Looked at the catches but the door would not shut in the frame with the handle open, also the front of the door was rubbing on the front wing.

Sounds like the front wing needs moving forward if it's binding on the door.

Worth having a little discreet light 'hang' off the door too - see if theres any movement in the A panel/pillar.

As we all know, its very difficult to see this (and the flitch in general) with the wing on.
Only takes a bit of rot in the bottom to throw the door alignment out, with them being so heavy.

dunketh wrote:Worth having a little discreet light 'hang' off the door too - see if theres any movement in the A panel/pillar.

As we all know, its very difficult to see this (and the flitch in general) with the wing on.
Only takes a bit of rot in the bottom to throw the door alignment out, with them being so heavy.

Yes, tried that at the time, no movement at all. Seen the advert and there is no mention of door. I still hope to buy at the price I wanted to and get the A post sorted. But I presume I will be outbid by somebody who has not actually seen the car.

Currently £5,600 with 9 days to go!

A lot of money for a dodgy door. The new owner had better take some rope to tie the door shut.
There are plenty of honest Travellers for sale for better money

ASL642 wrote:Currently £5,600 with 9 days to go!

I think it will sell for mega money as in my opinion the photographs make the car look better than it is, particularly the paint finish. None of the pictures show that the roof guttering is bare aluminium and damaged in places, the chips on the bonnet, wing top, runs in paint or the rust on some of the suspension components. The interior looks lot better than it actually is; don’t get me wrong it is a very nice car but that door issue will come as a shock to any purchaser who doesn’t view before buying.

Minors do seem to do fairly good money though.
I got mine for a pittance but I had a real job trying to find a cheap genuine fixer-upper.
Travs go for 'real' money... makes me sad as I'd love one myself.

From your comments about the car, I would have expected a reputable dealer to have added the issues you describe to the listing. The door issue could be something small (in which case I would have thought he would have sorted it out prior to you viewing it and also made mention of it in his listing) or it could be a major problem with the car itself (twisted body??).
Given the door problem and the other things you mention, the current price (£7k plus), IMHO is way over what the car is worth, so I'd steer clear and buy a cheaper, genuinely nice one....there are plenty out there!
It's all very well putting all your positive testimonials in the listing but I guess when buying Morris (or any car), then there is nothing better than ignoring the BS and judging a car on it's individual merits.
I really hope those who are bidding who may not have viewed the car do not get their fingers burnt here.

sorry, have i missed the link to the car on ebay, i can not see any moggy at 7k on ebay at present..

ignore me it is just the way ebay order the search..

You did well to walk away - I think you had a narrow escape........... The fact the door was harder to shut when you sat in the car suggests to me that the bodyshell was flexing...... -that price seems WAY over the top for a very much less than perfect (in fact possible seriously flawed) Traveller, I'm aware of a Traveller which was recently sold to an over-seas customer - who took it to a very highly respected Minor Specialist to have it checked over...... Their report of the shocking condition of the car made terrifying reading - fortunately the vendor when faced with the facts agreed to 'money back' - but it was a very near miss for that couple.......... I hope this is not the same car.
Also - if this 'dealer' is so unhelpful/intractable when you actually WANT to buy a car from them - how do you fancy their reaction if/when you take it back a week or two later if a couple of problems crop up?? Steer WELL clear.........

bmcecosse wrote:You did well to walk away - I think you had a narrow escape........... The fact the door was harder to shut when you sat in the car suggests to me that the bodyshell was flexing...... -that price seems WAY over the top for a very much less than perfect (in fact possible seriously flawed) Traveller, I'm aware of a Traveller which was recently sold to an over-seas customer - who took it to a very highly respected Minor Specialist to have it checked over...... Their report of the shocking condition of the car made terrifying reading - fortunately the vendor when faced with the facts agreed to 'money back' - but it was a very near miss for that couple.......... I hope this is not the same car.
Also - if this 'dealer' is so unhelpful/intractable when you actually WANT to buy a car from them - how do you fancy their reaction if/when you take it back a week or two later if a couple of problems crop up?? Steer WELL clear.........

To me these would appear to be the attempt to force a none viewing buyer to complete the sale when they find fault.

I would also strongly recommend and urge you to come and view the car if you can, to make sure you are 100% satisfied for yourself.

Conditions of Sale

if you bid without viewing that’s fine by me because I have done that in the past myself but you must also honour the deal and go through with it regardless on that basis

Or am I just becoming an old cynic

I see a link to the car has popped up on cars for sale with the vendor saying he is not a dealer but sells cars as a hobby, my title must be wrong. He has apparently fixed the problems with the door in SECONDS by simply moving the catch (shame he didn’t do that whilst I was stood at his workshop having given up a full day, travelled 170 miles and spent a considerable amount of time with him looking at possible causes) yet on eBay he states that any buyer may wish to fit a spacer at the front of the door . Whilst I would repeat it is a very nice car if anybody is thinking of buying I would recommend taking the vendor’s advice and go to his friend’s showroom and have a look.

its on ebay and another thread where the seller has responded

£12356 I think somebody is going to be upset if they have not viewed it.