Morris Minor Owners Club

Help!

I don't know what to do - I need both rear wings replacing on Hetty - the n/s is beyond repair and the o/s is fibreglass in a poor state of repair. I can't afford Heritage, and new steel pattern ones seem hard to find? Do I go for fibreglass, or is that a mistake?

I don't really want to buy secondhand that need lots of repairs as that's going to bump up the cost of the bodywork (unless the repairs are very minor).

Any advice gratefully received! Restoring Hetty is a big investment for me and I'm just worried I'll spend a lot of money on a respray only for the finish to be spoilt by the appearance of fibreglass panels - or am I worrying about nothing?!

Nothing wrong with quality fibreglass panels, but it will lower the value of the finished car. If you're getting a full respray, then a few extra pounds (around £75 - £100 per wing) spent now is a no brainer.
If you're getting worried about cost at this very early stage, you may well be in for a shock when you see the final bill.

Fibreglass:

http://www.jlhmorrisminors.co.uk/store/ ... oductId=90

Steel

http://morrisminorspares.co.uk/shop/pro ... d6c8ff1ce4


Pete

Try these very strong and don't flex. You can always buy steel ones when the budget permits.

http://www.morrisminorspares.net/shop_item.php?ID=2821

Thanks both.

Luckily she's been thoroughly inspected and I'm confident that I know what to expect from her....and resale value isn't a huge issue for me as I intend to keep her for as long as possible. I could add steels at a later date as suggested, though I've just been reliably informed that the pattern wings don't fit so well, so it would have to be Heritage I guess.

Decisions!

In an ideal world, it would be heritage steels every time BUT as we all know the world aint always ideal Go for the best you can afford and, if in the short term, that is fibreglass then so be it - Over the next few years you'll have plenty of time to replace them with steels as the budget allows. If time is no object (which it probaby isn't cos you want to keep the car for a long period and you are not working to a deadline to show the car or have it judged) then just replace what you have to within the budget you've got. It won't affect how you feel about the car and there are plenty of 'rolling restorations' on the go just now. If it's fibreglass, try and go for the thickest you can find so that they don't flex and then craze the paint too much.

If you go for GRP with a view to fitting steel later, then when you have the spraying done, make sure that there is more paint then you need, and keep the spare in stock. That way, you'll get as close a match as possible. even though what is on the car will fade slightly, it will soon polish back close to original, and then the new wings won;t look as out of place as if you had to mix paint from scratch.

Thank you thank you

xx

plastic_orange wrote:Nothing wrong with quality fibreglass panels, but it will lower the value of the finished car. If you're getting a full respray, then a few extra pounds (around £75 - £100 per wing) spent now is a no brainer.
If you're getting worried about cost at this very early stage, you may well be in for a shock when you see the final bill.

Fibreglass:

http://www.jlhmorrisminors.co.uk/store/ ... oductId=90

Steel

http://morrisminorspares.co.uk/shop/pro ... d6c8ff1ce4


Pete

i am afraid your other half must not get wind of the final bill
i was shocked at what i had spent on my traveller
all the small parts added up to a hefty part of the total cost
but still if its spread over a few years it is worth it
try and not add it up too much haha

Luckily I don't have an other half.....independent with no-one to answer to!