Morris Minor Owners Club

I have managed to fit a quick viewing for a traveller today at 3 near shotts

Unfortunatly I don't know much at all about this car

What I do know is,

Its 1968 with only 1 month left on its not but only done 70 miles since last not
And he just states its in good condition but what I think is good condition to someone else could be miles away

Anyway I just want to ensure I check the correct areas, so far I have found reading through the forum the General rust areas are - inner wings, sills, chassis legs and rear arches, boot corners, door bottoms and obviously the condition of the wood, is it just soft spots I'm looking for??

Other thing is I think the owner is no longer insured on the car so I wondered what's the best way of getting the car 50 miles from allanton to haddington, obviously I'm not stupid and not gonna drive it uninsured but wanted to join the club then see what deals I could get on my insurance, but I own a td5 discovery so could tow it but due to passing my test after 2001 I'm only allowed to tow up to 750kg but when searching the law on this its seams a very gray area

Any help appretiated

Cheers
Sam

The fact that the car has only done 70 miles since the last MOT is not relevant, for more important is how it was storred, so i would treat it as any other car that only has 1 month left to run on its MOT ( some would say get the seller to put a new MOT on it before buying it.. that depends on the price and having seen some cars with a "new" MOT it is no guarantee of condition

When looking at the wood, it is not just soft spots.. look for black / discoloured areas these might not be soft but you are not likely to get the colour out.

add the cross member / jacking points to your list of places to look for rust..

as for the insurance issue, i would be more concerned about buying a car without taking it for a test drive, can you ask the seller if they could store it for a few days whilst you sort it out?

Thanks for the reply, seller says he has private land to give it a test drive, and the car so far as I know has been stored outside but I'm looking for a rolling project not a minter

Regards to getting it home would an a frame be fine to use with a light board with my land number plate?

Well just phoned footman James and for me 23 and my partner 21 it will be £115 yes that's correct £ 1 1 5 because we own 2 other cars that are insured, just hoping the car is worth the asking price now

I believe you cannot tow a car on an A frame unless the car being towed has an MOT (I think you need to check the DVLA website for the rules)

Well went to see but problems I found with it

If anyone could tell me if any of them are cheap and easy fixes or long and expensive, just for next time

Rear leaf spring pivot point just crubled in my hand and the spring was hardly keeping hold, I wouldn't feel safe driving it home and would not pass not..

The exhaust was patched all over with gum gum and still blowing, easy fix

Really bad repairs done to inner wings where the weld has rusted and you could push the repairs apart with your fingeres

The sills where replaced but badly where you could just pull them off (could someone tell me if there bolt on or welded on?)

The left of the 2front legs that the engine mount is on is that rusty you can pop your finger inside

Bottom of doors where really rusted that you could put your whole hand inside

The drivers door didn't fit without slamming it and was about an inch to low ( only to bolts holding door to car)

The wood was OK except the varnish had air trapped under it where it looks like its coming away

And the left rear door has about an inch gap at the top when closed (enough to fit your fingers in) and the right door sat really high where you had to jam it in place...

Also the back was filled top to bottom with stuff so couldent even get a good look inside

Sump and rockercover gaskets leaking

Also radiator had no Finns left on it

I'm not expecting a mint traveller but I just wanted one I could just use now as this one won't pass its not the way it is. (Prob reason why he has not motd it)

So trusted my instinct and walked, its crap because I really hoped it was good but roll on the next one

Other than the wood, it sounds like an absolute disaster, even for a rest project it sounds like it would be a horrible job due to patches on patches, all done badly.. Good decision to walk away.

If I had seen this earlier I would have offered to come and view it with you - I live not far away. But - I would have wasted my time anyway - because from what you describe you should have RUN away - not just walked. Sounds like a complete scrapper - in fact I don't think I would have taken it in a gift........ Did you take any pictures - just to warn others what to avoid ? Where did you see the car advertised ??

Thanks for the offer, it was word of mouth but then he listed it on gumtree after I spoke to him about it..
http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-moto ... 8/89352964

It would be fine if he was honest about it but he said it should pass its mot no problem and didn't seam to notice the same problems i did with the traveller, he also insisted that he had someone offer to buy it at the asking price in its current condition but who knows.

Pictures are on the ad but not very good

just shows that a car that looks ok is a total disaster underneath....

I did 160 mile round trip to encounter the same problem. Hang in there. One will come along eventually. It did for me. In fact it was such a good buy that I could afford to get the whole floor replaced.

Anything on gumtree is usually on it's last legs.......... If he has someone offering him the asking price, why did he bother to show you the car, I wonder. And if it can easily pass the MOT - that's exactly what he should do, then it will be worth much much more . It doesn't look too bad in the pictures - but as you describe it, it's pretty desperate - and the rear doors not closing suggest a major body shell twist.....

bmcecosse wrote: and the rear dorrs not closing suggest a major body shell twist.....

or just the hinges being put back incorrectly. ok in this case it could point to a lot more

Hi sam i am looking for a traveller too.its a good job you went to see it ,i know some people would just bid for these things on e bay and go on what is said about it and hope for the best , not a good idea. good luck with finding one .

How did it even get an MOT 11 months ago?
Sounds like a lot of bodges flying in close formation.

MarkyB wrote:How did it even get an MOT 11 months ago?
Sounds like a lot of bodges flying in close formation.

The two are mutually exclusive?