Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi All,

I do not want to upset the purists out there, I am currently restoring a 56 split screen and would like the opinion / comments on changing the colour of it, the original colour is clarendon grey after some research the only other colours at the time of registration was black and sandy beige so what do I do??
1) Leave it grey (don't like it)
2) Change to black or beige
3) Change to old english white (introduced 1960)

Comments / advice please would be much appreciated

Thanks
John

Paint it pink if you like - it's your car!

I think black moggies look good ,however it is the most reliant colour on the amount and quality of the prep. White is the most forgiving

Hi,
I know exactly how you feel and the soul-searching that you are going through! A restoration is full of all sorts of decisions, and while you may be a fierce advocate of originality, you also have to live with the end product. I don't know about you, but whatever I undertake, Minor-related project or not, I tend to think long-term.
I have, after having had the car sitting in my barn pretty much stripped to a shell, just started to restore a 1960 Traveller. An amazing vehicle in many respects, as it has a genuine 54K on the clock and still retains its original wood which is in amazing condition! One or two black stains in the wheelarch sections from those damned wing bolt socket things, but otherwise incredibly good! Excellent interior too!
It had been Frilford Grey, which is, in my opinion, pretty dull and unimaginative! When the previous owner had been duped into selling it ( a couple of plausible guys wanting to love and cherish it, who promptly sold off the number plate and gave it a quick "blow over" in Almond Green to help sell it on), it then found its way on to me. That was about 1991!!!
Now I've retired and finally have a wee bit of cash to get the welding work and respray done ( bare metal and pretty much last nut and bolt rebuild!), I was faced with the same dilemma as yourself.
The colours that were appropriate for the date of registration and the darker red interior were; Frilford Grey or Black . Pearl grey was also used with the red seats, but not on Travellers. However, if I pretended it was a couple of months older, Old English White became an option, and that's what I settled on! I have to confess, though, that when Ray Newell's book arrived, there was an affa' bonnie Frilford Grey Traveller shown in it, and I was almost swayed!!
I don't now regret my decision, and have included a couple of pictures ( if they've uploaded!?) of "The Beastie" as she was languishing in my barn a couple of months ago, and the same but with her new clothes on!
Remember! You'll be the one driving her, and had the colours you fancy been available when she was built, then her first owner may well have preferred her in that colour!
Must admit, though, that I don't really fancy bmcecosse's suggestion!!![frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

I know Clarenden Grey is not the most inspiring colour, we have a 54 4Dr S 2 in this colour. If records are right for our year there are less than 30 known to be registered in the uk of this year colour and type, maybe that should be something to be considered. However it's your car and it's your choice, O E White I think will look out of place for it's age, as said Black needs a lot of work to look right, Biege or Peat would my choice, but please not Pink.

Well now as the owner of a clarendon gray traveller, I do actually quite like it but also know what you mean! As to your choices I would go with sandy beige, Ray Newell has a very smart sandy beige van, it really suits the colour and still looks absolutely peroid.[frame][/frame]
i took this at this years National rally

Colours available on Series IIs in 1956 were Empire Green, Clarendon Grey, Sandy Beige and Black
The give away clue for the anoracks will be the colour code on the chassis number

Just to add to your choice of colours we have a '56 in Dark green (GN12) which is the original colour.

If I was writing a Lady Bird reading book about the fifties I would include a Clarendon Grey car or van 'cause it has that warm ,non threatening feeling generator .If you can understand my meaning

I agree with bmc eccosse - do it any colour you like.
But do make sure that if you're changing the colour you paint the engine bay and the interior. I've seen so many cars when the body colour has changed but not the engine bay and interior and I think that just looks daft!
Also make sure that you choose the correct colour upholstery to go with whatever colour you finally decide on.

Good luck with it whatever you decide.

Many thanks to all for your replys, interesting a few come up with Sandy Beige so will have a look at that one to start with and will give pink a miss this time
Happy Xmas to you all

Thanks
John

Sorry, sandy Beige wouldn't be my first choice - possibly second last before green My blue Minor was originally sandy beige a long time ago, and it is still visible under the dash, hence my comment
I like most shades of grey, but it's your car, so do as you please - including perhaps a modern varient.


Pete

Here's a pink one for you from this years national rally...........
..............well, it's certainly individual............... [frame][/frame]

It's ok if you never want to sell it!

somebody will love it

That's true,---it's just finding them!!