Morris Minor Owners Club

So at the risk of tempting fate, I may well be in the position to get back into moggy ownership after a few years in the wilderness and wondered where best to find a good car? Other than here of course, I've been keeping an eye on sites such as Car and Classic, Pistonheads, Classic Cars for Sale and Fleabay, plus I've rejoined the owners club and flick through the classic car mags regularly, but am I missing any tricks?

I'm not after concours, just a very good 2 door saloon but from past experience, you need to kiss an awful lot of frogs before you find a prince (as opposed to a Princess which would be a completely different forum) in this game, so I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions of where else I could find the right car?

Andy

Sounds like you're looking in most of the right places. Classic Car Weekly is a good bet, as there are plenty of classifieds. There's another similar publication, called Classic Car Buyer (I think). Never bought that one so can't speak from any personal experience, but it looks to be a similar concept to CCW. You could also try looking on gumtree, which seems to turn up the odd good find.

Look everywhere you can, its more about making sure you have a good look, and know what your looking for more than anything else. Unfortunately you cant really take anyone's word for trusted (as a friend who bought a trav off here found out, now a full resto later..) Maybe go along to your local mmoc branch, they should know of any good cars near-by.

On ebay !

Www.ebay.co.uk

Cheers
Carlos

I dont think its so much about a "good place to buy" but more about a good place to start.
The essential buyers guide by Ray Newell covers most of the pitfalls and at just under a tenner is in my humble opinion a great help to newcomers to the marque like me.
I bought a copy through the club after I had made a decision to buy, but I got lucky with a decent car, having said that I have replaced parts that were ready to go, water pump possible fuel pump and the odd hose that looked like it was going to perish.
Working on them is as much about enjoyment as driving them to me, but breakdowns dont appeal so planned maintenance is key I believe.
Buy Rays book first, its well worth your powder and shot.

There isn't a particular place, it's just up to you to sort the wheat from the chaff, or princes from the frogs.

On here is by far the best place - but beware anyone with a very low 'post' count, which suggests they are on here purely to sell a car.. remember - RUST is the enemy - the mechanical parts are almost irrelevant. And -don't buy a car with any less than 9 month MOT -ideally - 12 month MOT !

There are still PLENTY of Minors about - but YOU have to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Rust is akin to terminal cancer, so find a solid shell. Lift all the carpets, crawl underneath and have a good poke. Mechanical expenses pale into insignificance compared with bodywork/structural repairs.

Know which car you want - the 1000 is the best catered for and the model most in existence. Splitscreens have more character and real old-time feel but are painfully slow and may be hard to source some parts for. The 948 and 1098 engines are the best, 803 the one to avoid (ask me - well it's not that bad!) Sidevalves are for the more specialist enthusiast but by all accounts are very hardy.

Any Minor will take a good battering - just thump the wings and roof to see!

Jowlett said


Any Minor will take a good battering - just thump the wings and roof to see!

then look at the ground for rust

Minor matters magazine is the best place and if you join the club its free

JOWETTJAVELIN wrote:Any Minor will take a good battering - just thump the wings and roof to see!

Not recommended on a convertible though

Charles Ware

Charles Ware

Expensive...

If you've joined the club, Minor Matters should be a good bet as, hopefully, the cars listed in there belong to real enthusiasts who have looked after their cars and want them to go to good homes.

An interesting point: is it better to buy a car that's had competent, possibly professional, but also possibly infrequent attention, or one that's had some of the bodges that come to light on this messageboard from enthusiasts? Think wires that have let the smoke out, brakes that are "OK on the second push", lowered suspensions that damage the bodywork, and many more - before we even contemplate how over-exuberantly some (not all, note), mainly younger enthusiasts may drive them.

Yes, the car owned by an experienced, competent, honest enthusiast would be ideal: but what would be your second choice?

Kevin

A car that's had a fair bit of use at high speeds and long journeys is a better buy than one which has done only short journeys. This is because the engine would never have been allowed to warm up properly and the oil is heavily diluted with petrol.

Alex'n'Ane wrote:Look everywhere you can, its more about making sure you have a good look, and know what your looking for more than anything else. Unfortunately you cant really take anyone's word for trusted (as a friend who bought a trav off here found out, now a full resto later..) Maybe go along to your local mmoc branch, they should know of any good cars near-by.

I agree! Join your local MMOC branch as a great starting point for lookng for your Morris Minor. Usually a few cars for sale there.

hi
I looked for ages before I got "Froggie" ,guess I just couldn't take the gamble on a very old motor,when its so easy to hide bodges, In the end I came across the one at a classic car show ,with a for sale notice .

I had three or four morris minor owners who were also showing their cars,to have a look with me,pointing things out ,both good and not so good and being extremely helpful and encouraging.

So it might be useful to at least have a look at the shows,or the national (the biggest gathering of moggie heads in the world )

GOOD LUCK