Morris Minor Owners Club

I'm planning on selling a 1962 Traveller.

The price guides seem to have wide variances.

It is none too pretty after years of use and then storage. I had the underside repaired and got an MOT in 2001. Work was done by King Street Motor services, so reputable and, I think, checkable. At that time King Street reckoned it could be worth 2000GBP

I drove it to Harpenden, satisfactorily. Then I didn't get the chance to work on it and moved up north. I did a bit of basic rust prevention. The wings are going in the usual places and the woodwork isn't looking as it should. I now live 2 miles from the garage and so can't spend the necessary time sorting it out.

I don't want to waste anyone's time by asking too much and leading them to think it's better then it is and have them come to view a car that's not what they thought it was, but on the other hand I would like to get a fair price. Is it condition 3, or maybe a bit better on account of the work that got it through its previous MOT ?

I know this a "how long is a piece of string" sort of question, but I've been out of touch with things Morris for a while now and don't really have a feel for it any more. Ten years ago I knew pretty much what any given model would sell for, now I feel sort of clueless.

I hope to be able to take pictures later today.

As much as I hate to say it... the best way to determine the market value is probably putting it on ebay with a GOOD description

If it can get a new MOT it will be much more valuable...... We need pictures to make any kind of judgement... does it run/steer/stop??

Yes it ran steered and stopped.

The battery is now flat and there is no fuel in. I'll be trying a start up this week, weather and time permitting.

Steering is a good as an old minor ever was, maybe a little rattly and hard for me to deal with after power steering in vans.

Stopping, should be better then it was after the MOT as I have now adjusted the cams correctly in the brakes. However, after the lay up, it would probably be wise to drain the fluid and check all the cylinders.

While I appreciate that a current MOT would make it more valuable, I don't want to get it carried out myself. By the time I've insured or transported it and made any necessary refurbishments, I think I'll have lost any potential gains and quite a lot of time.



The right front wing has a dent that was beaten out and filled, but not finished. there is the usual rust dotting round the headlights, but not to the extent of collapse. The rear lower parts of the front wings have now come loose.



The original white indicators are legal for this registration, desire to keep the original shape is why I didn't just put late wings on. That and the "restorer's" repair at the bottom of the A posts which has stuck the bolts in position. It should be simple enough to cut the bolt, drill the thread, repair the section properly and replace the captive nut, but I don't want to take it on. The grille has rust spotting from road salt, but is sound. the dent dates from the 1980s. The front panel got dented, the wing is slightly deformed and the joint between the inner wing and the flitch is displaced, to put it all right I figured I would have to take the lot off, maybe you don't but it's too much for me to contemplate. The brightwork round the grille was painted over by the same 'restorer' in the 70's, there's a second coat of paint over the whole car that is now peeling off in places. The same 'restorer' also put red pinstripes down the sides.



948 A series engine, a replacement reconditioned unit from the 70s after a big freeze tested the antifreeze too far, or my dad tried a decoke without draining the block and thought the block was cracked. Not pretty, but it all worled until I ran out of petrol last year. The fuel gauge may be inaccurate, possibly owing to the flat battery.



The webbing in the driver's seat has been replaced, that got it through the MOT. the steering wheel has the usual cracks. the trim, glove boxes etc is sitting in the back. The rubber piping stuff is perished and will want replacing. The door hinges, locks and catches are worn, but functioning.



Left side. The rear wings are loose at their moorings.



Right side. A garage lowered it onto an open door, so the lower part of the driver's door is bent, also rusted in the usual way. Jenolite, primer and some paint has been applied when I could mange in a Forth bridge kind of way.



The rear bumper have crazing of the chrome, the right one was dented by some guy at a roundabout the first time I drove after passing my test (destroyed the front of his Vauxhall ). Woodwork was 'resotored' in the 70s, with a coat of varnish. I have rubbed down and treated part of it, but life got in the way.

Also, the underside was also 'restored'. Later work was done by King Street motors and they passed the original work for MOT. The original inner wing repairs seem to have involved sticking panels over with a gas torch WITHOUT REMOVING THE INTERIOR TRIM !!! and a tonne of filler. as I say, it was MOTd so despite appearances it ought to be solid enough.

A new set of tyres would be a good idea as these have now taken a set.

For concourse d'elegance there's a long way to go. For a rolling rebuild I think it's possible.

You make it sound so attractive......I think King Street were in some way connected to Wares?? My Trav also carries some 'interesting' repairs that were done by King St - before my ownership.... Frankly - there is so much needing done to your car it will be low to med hundreds of £ I would say, but personal inspection would be required before anyone would make an offer... The way it sounds - I wouldn't try starting the engine - may just do more damage.........

Could at least remove the plugs and turn it over on the starter for a short time to get the oil flowing round again.

Attracive ? well I consider it honest.

The repairs by King Street were fine, covered in Waxoyl and competently fitted. The other stuff was done by a local guy in the seventies while my parents still owned the car. I think King Street corrected the worst offences to the rear inner wings.

The engine was running fine until I ran it out of fuel. I've been hand cranking it whenever I've had the chance and I don't forsee any problems if I can get a battery in place or find some replacement jump leads.

I think I could stand mid hundreds.

it looks solid enough be a good project for someone .

Just don't attempt to start the engine if it is seized........ Crank it round as suggested with no plugs in - but I do suggest injecting some oil in the bores first..... To be honest - the value of the vehicle won't be any different if you DO get it started - the engine condition is pretty much irrelevant compared to all the other work needing done.

bmcecosse wrote:Just don't attempt to start the engine if it is seized........ Crank it round as suggested with no plugs in - but I do suggest injecting some oil in the bores first..... To be honest - the value of the vehicle won't be any different if you DO get it started - the engine condition is pretty much irrelevant compared to all the other work needing done.

Sound advice

Why do you imagine the engine is seized ? It ran fine, I ran out of fuel on tickover, no drama, no crisis, just a bit of a push to put it back in the garage.

I don't 'imagine' it's seized - I'm just trying to offer a fair warning/advice.. Ignore if you wish. You seem fascinated with getting the engine running - it DOESN'T MATTER !! The value will not be improved one jot by getting the engine going.......and you may do damage to it in the attempt.