Morris Minor Owners Club

Is it difficult to become an owner of these beautiful little cars??? As a newbie, lve had some great advice so far and lve done a fair bit if reading up myself. What l would ideally like is a 4 dr morris minor saloon, drive away condition and then l can take over the care and maintenance

Not at all difficult. Just make sure you find a good one (read the sticky above "Thinking of buying..."). The most important bit is having someone who really knows moggies go over the car for you. Your post doesn't give a clue as to your location, but if you're in the UK you have the whole MOT thing to consider as well. You might want to fill in your profile so we can see what part of the world you're in. People can then make suggestions for where to find a car, assistance in a pre-purchase inspection and good resources local to you.

The best part is that it's fun to own moggie!

Thanks robedney, lm in north ayrshire. If there's any scottish moggies out there, I hope to find them. thanks again.

do u mean mcmoggies

Oooo possibly...are they even more fabulous??? lol

May I ask whether you've owned one before, or driven one, or been for a ride in one? If not, I'd suggest hoping a kind local owner will at very least let you have a ride and a chance to sit behind the wheel, perhaps even (if you have "other car" insurance) a drive. Failing that, try to find a classic car dealer with one for sale, even if it's a colour/variant/price you don't like, and getting a drive that way. Some people will love them, and some will find the difference in the driving experience to a modern car just too much to overcome, no matter how much other aspects of ownership appeal. At very least it will help you to refine your spec of the "perfect car".

Kevin

Hi Joyce,

Did you manage to make any progress with the '58 four door in Bathgate? It certainly looks like it would be worth going to see if you have not already done so. It would appear to have the right engine for the age (948cc) and the interior looked tidy too. Just bear in mind the various tips and go for it. There will always be lots of us on the forum and locally to help out when you need to know what to do next

Don't worry if that one gets away though. You are now a member of the club so you'll get a copy of Minor Matters every two months. This has a good sized for sale section in too.

Here are a few other sites you could also have a look at whilst trying to find THE right car for you:

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/sea ... is/page/1/

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/list/33/minor/

http://theminorsite.co.uk/

http://www.morrisauctionwatch.com/

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Classic-Cars- ... 09QZ&gbr=1

You might also like to pick up a copy of 'Original Morris Minor' - a book written by the club secretary which takes you through the various models and what to look for. Here's some listed on e bay at the moment:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=o ... m270.l1313

and for restoration and upkeep, something like these will tell you how to do it:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Morris-Minor- ... 415fcb237a

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=m ... m270.l1313

Happy surfing and hope you manage to get the car you are looking for soon

Brucek, you're a star.x I haven't heard back from the bathgate guy though l did speak to my local mechanic today and he also gave good advice. Dave from the north east branch got in touch and gave sound tips too, so fingers crossed, l'll be lucky. Thanks for keeping in touch. l really appriciate it.

No worries - pleasure to help out

Keep in touch and if you need anything else just ask. Don't forget you can also use the private message (pm) facility if you want to ask any questions of any forum member without filling up forum pages

Have a hunch you'll be driving your 4 door MM very soon

As others have noted, it is not difficult at all. I'm sure you are aware that running a car that is half a century old is not the same as running something brand new, but there is no need to be daunted by that, as it is a case of swings and roundabouts:

Yes you do have to do a bit more maintenance yourself (this is not as arduous as many would have you believe so long as you have something decent that you can 'stay on top of' in the first place, which is why you should choose a good one to buy). The upside of the mechanical maintenance you need to perform, is that with older cars such as a Moggie, you can actually see how the engine works when you lift up the bonnet, as opposed to simply assuming all the microchips etc in a modern car are doing what they are supposed to, and with a fairly simple mechanical arrangement under that bonnet, the advantage is that if you look after the thing properly and stick to a simple regular set of checks, then it will reward such vigilance by keeping on going, and you will be aware of that being the case, unlike with a modern car, where a breakdown is usually a complete surprise and often a complete mystery too without some kind of computer diagnostic software.

As everyone knows, to make things more convenient, modern cars get rid of, or automate, or simplify all the bits which need looking after or need polishing more regularly than they do in modern stuff, such as the oil and water reservoirs, the chrome bumpers, the badges and other ornate trim. But the downside of not having any of that stuff on your modern car, is that, no matter how well cared for it is, nobody will ever tap on your window in the high street to tell you that they think your 2009 Ford Ka is beautiful, whereas you will get people doing that all the time driving about in a Moggie; children waving at you, people smiling etc, etc, in fact you get that with pretty much any classic car, but the Moggie is such an icon of Britishness that it seems to get it more than any other. Along with the red Routemaster London bus, FX4 black cab, Lancaster, Spitfire and red telephone box, you simply can't get more endearingly British than a Morris Minor.

So yes you can expect to expend a bit of elbow grease on polishing some chrome and topping up this or that fluid, but you will find that the friendliness people show toward you for having decided to keep one of these old bangers running instead of simply buying a Nissan Micra makes it worth the effort.

Al

Hi Joyce! I bought my Traveller "blind", never having even sat in one before, just wanted something without electronic things to go wrong!
I was astounded, having jumped from a Citroen BX into the Moggy, just how easy and pleasant it was to drive. Holds the road and steers nicely, only drawback is the difference in braking between the two extremes(Citroen with power brakes-eek!)
I'm sure you will find the right car and love it! Just keep in mind that the important bits to look for (corrosion) tend to all be hidden underneath, don't fall for a shiny paint job!

I think it's wonderful how supportive on here. I know a fair bit of what lm looking for 58- early 60's 4 door saloon. mot'd, and sound enough to get me going. l know that's probably a real 'newbie' way of looking at a minor, but lm learning more about thesr wee cars everyday! l have been in one though it was at an outdoor museum in Berwick and sadly had no engine, so having a drive wasnt an option. l dont plan to rush into anything and the tips on buying advice on here are great. Hope to find, purchase and begin caring for my moggy soon!! What a wonderful summer evening drive that would be...

Something like this perhaps?

(photo 'borrowed' from the web)[frame][/frame]

and we haven't even told you about the unique exhaust sound that Minors are famous for - makes summer driving with the window down even more fun - especially going through quiet villages with the sounds reverberating off the buildings

Joyce I have PM'd you details of the Ayrshire group of the Scottish MM group who meet at Prestwick. I am a member of a local car Club in Greenock details also provided. We can assist you if you need our help on the MM.

Ewen, that is brilliant, lm on Dalry, so Prestwick is really close by! Brucek, that's what lm talking about! Beautiful photograph. Maybe l can upload photo's of my own moggy in the summer.

That would be good - we all like to see each others cars. There are a few links around which you can add too or start one yourself. Here's the most popular one:

http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12322

Must get round to putting myself on there!

It's easy to become an owner/driver... after all nearly 2 million were made and nearly everybody had one at some stage. They are easy enough to drive but lack the refinement of a modern car. They are extremely tough though and will withstand any amount of battering.

Just make sure you're prepared for the following:

you step on the brakes and not much happens;
rust breaking out just about anywhere;
something always needing to be adjusted;
water leaking in and oil leaking out;
certain death in any accident over 30 MPH.

On the plus side, you'll get a lot of fun out of it.