Morris Minor Owners Club

G'Day blokes,
I am still collecting bits for the "lowlight" and had a win yesterday ! (I think)
I was up at a Saturday meeting of our little vintage club and one of our newer members was telling me about a minor his neighbour had on a farm he had purchased. When I heard "side valve" my ears pricked up no end, to make a long story short we shot out and had a look at it. It was about 15 miles out of town next to an old farmhouse that hasn't been used since the 60s, pretty derelict the only things missing on it were the front guards and the windscreens. (all other glass is intact) It is rough enough that I won't feel guilty using bits off it. (I always feel bad taking parts off a good restoration project but this one wont be a problem). The engine still turns over and all mechanical parts are there including a good radiator (which I need). It is missing the front guards but the grill only has small parklights in it so it must be a "highlight" and it also has the raised "belt" around the rear where the turret joins onto the tulip pannel so I asume very late production MM. I had been looking for rear wings for ages but the only ones I had found were totally rusted out, this ones are not bad, one is a little damaged but reparable and the other one is as straight as an arrow with no rust at all.

Numbers are SMM 115721
. Engine 115009
Anyone know the year, I was thinking about 52 ish ?

The owner wasn't there but I talked to his son and He recons that his dad has no interest in it and
he is sure he will give it to me at no cost so I will be giving him a ring on Tuesday (when he gets back) Unfortunatly I didn't have a camera as it was a spur of the moment thing so no photos yet.
I hope I can get it because if I do I won't have much more to find to do the one I want to restore.
I will let you know how I get on,
Graham

Hi Graham,
SMM 115721 is late 1951. Does the car have the short bonnet and cut out inner wings where the lowlight headlights fitted on the earlier cars?
Do you have any other Series MMs?

Thanks Mike,
I arn't sure if its inner guards are the same as the lowlights or not, I had a look over the car but its something I didn't even think to look for. Likewise the bonnet "looks" the same as the other lowlights I have so I am asuming it is the same as the 49 and 50 cars. I did notice this car has the raised belt line on the rear body like the later series 2 and 1000 cars so it may not be the same as the early models but hopefully I can get some pictures when I pick it up, provided the owner will let it go (which I am quite confident of) The grill pannel looks the same as a series 2 and the curvs would fit in with the lowlight headlamps but I didn't even think to look for that. It has the early dash and guages, but I think they carried that into series 2 didn't they ?
One thing I was wondering about is it has some little chromed metal "buttons" mounted on both the rear guards just to the rear of the top and I was wondering if these are some Morris item or an aftermarket piece of trim of some sort. I don't ever remember noticing them on another minor but they don't look like they do anything so I can't work out what they may be, would you know anything about them ?

I have 2 other MMs that I got in 2005, I posted a thread on them back in September 2005 and they were identified by Scott from Sydney as 49 and 50 models, I think you would have put them on your register back then.

The numbers are
SMM 29414
SMM 47632

Graham

The moulding between the roof and boot was fitted in early 1950. SMM 34263, early 1950 does not have the moulding. It would have the early dash but without the ash tray in the centre grill and no main beam warning light, a red light which shines through a small hole in the bottom right of the grill. It should also have the early metal badge on the glove box lid, not the later plastic badge. I don't know about the chrome buttons, maybe if you sent some photos of any items you are not sure of then I may be able to help.
I do not have SMM 29414 or 47632 on my register. Could you please complete copies of the Registration Forms on the Series MM website, http://seriesmm.mmoc.org.uk and email them to me.
Thanks
Michael

Mine doesn't have the moulding and it is July 1950 no 57550.

Pete

plastic_orange wrote:Mine doesn't have the moulding and it is July 1950 no 57550.

Pete

Number 47632 from 1950 don't have the belt moulding either.

69721 does have the moulding so somewhere between the two.

plastic_orange wrote:Mine doesn't have the moulding and it is July 1950 no 57550.

Pete

Not sure on year, and its a dutch built one to possibly confuse things, but lowlight 57192 does have the moulding (if this is the one your talking about)
[frame][/frame]

Mine is the number 122061, late 51, but not 100 % complete.
The body is in good condition, about 40 cm2 repaired, welded parts.
Only at the right A-style, on the bottom.
The left side is complete original, with only a bad repaired front damage.
The engine is not original, but another sidevalve who has cooling problems.
If you need more pictures from parts, I can make them for you.[frame][/frame]

Chassis numbers were allocated in batches, LHD, RHD, CKD etc so 57192 may have been built after 57550. See the number allocations at the end of the car listings on the Series MM website

There is always a lot to learn isn't there !

Thanks blokes,
Graham