Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi all!

I am a new owner of a lovely 1961 Panel Van (today marks one week of ownership)! We are in Portland, OR, USA and it's been getting a lot of smiles around town... I highly doubt many here have seen one or will see one again

My first pressing question for other Morris owners:

Have you installed or fabricated a new door locking system? I'm using her for occasional deliveries in the city. When I'm making deliveries it's common to have a lot of expensive gear in the car while I'm away. My Minor has a locking back door with working key, a driver door with no ability to lock from the inside and a passenger door with a key hole but didn't come with a working key (also can't be locked from the inside).

How have you dealt with this? I'm all ears!

Cheers!
Michelle Lucille[frame][/frame]

Welcome to the forum - lovely van! I'm no expert on locks, someone who is will be along soon - meantime - how about a large & angry hungry dog??

hi and welcome
you should be able to lock the passenger door from the inside by pushing the inner handle forward
key numbers should be on the locks somewhere on the body

Great looking van, and Ideal to promote a business. Royal Mail,Minor vans, had a lot of security. A bit unsightly though, on such a good looking van like yours.[frame][/frame]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the replies! I actually think the royal mail locks look pretty mean... I like it!

The passenger door is a no-go. It won't budge to lock. I don't know what the history is of the car, possibly just got busted somewhere in time.
So if I find those key numbers on the body I can order replacement keys without employing a locksmith?

Thanks!
Michelle

you can order lock sets from most of the Morris minor suppliers and replace all of them with the same key, which might be easier than trying to match one..

i used ESM for my locks a couple of years back..

http://morrisminorspares.co.uk/shop/pro ... c1f2c8e95e

changing the locks is straight forward once you have cleaned everything up and found the pin you need to push out to allow the barrel to come out.

Is it left hand drive? If so then the right hand (passenger) door should have a key operated lock, the factory could never be bothered to change the lock to the left hand door until key locks were fitted to both doors. The driver's door handle should push forward to lock.
There is then the locking routine - get out of van remembering to take key - push inside door handle forward and slam door to lock - walk around to other side of van to lock door with key. The reverse procedure is to unlock passenger door with key - lean across inside to pull driver's door handle back to unlock - walk around van to open driver's door and get in
I wonder how they managed to sell any left hand drive vehicles

Very Late Four Door and Vans did have key operated door handles on both side of car, maybe one can be sourced.

Meanwhile Why did 2 doors have different locking mechanisms , the whole design looks as if the smaller 4 door door was thought as a afterthought (or 'improvement' to have lock in the handle instead of the door)

Didn't royal mail vans have some kind of Yale lock (eventually)fitted to the front doors?

Not on both sides, my 1970 pickup only has a key operated handle on the LH (driver's) door. An older tourer my dad has does have a lock only on the RH side even though it was always LHD.

You could try sourcing a lock for the LH door from a late van or 4 door; I have a couple of van doors that might have a lock, I'll have a look in the afternoon and let you know.