Morris Minor Owners Club

just purchased "Molly" from Liverpool, she arrived a few weeks ago and is now getting ready for her retirement here in France. The car was towed down on a A frame, i was wondering what the correct way to tow a Minor and at what speed would be recommended. part of the journey was from Liverpool to Essex on the back of a trailer, the rest from Essex to Nantes some 600 miles by means of an A frame connected to the control arm, and by driving down the Toll roads which have a top speed of 130KPH. The car had her MOT in the UK last November and had no advisories and required only two front tyres and Trunions, which were promptly changed, upon arrival she went for her CT(french MOT) here is a little section of what she failed on Suspension, front, left : could be track rod, trunnion or both and Advisories:
Handbreak unbalanced, Leaking steering rack, One or both front shock absorbers are tired (that’s the polite term), Tyres – uneven wear, the tracking is out , Front cross member damaged.

could any of the above failures be due to how she was towed as i am not Happy, nor the previous owner who looked after her for the last 10 years.[frame][/frame]

IMHO a Minor should only be towed on an A frame in an emergency (breakdown) and for only a few miles. I would always use a flatbed.

An A-frame will not have caused the alleged problems if fitted correctly; and there is nothing wrong with them (IMO). I have seen more damage caused by winching on and off a flatbed than I have with the frame; but again, not that described by you. I suspect that it was a generous UK MOT from an understanding tester and/or the French being unreasonable against an old British car. The steering gaiter could have failed at any time.

Camper vans towing cars on A frames are a common sight

simmitc wrote:An A-frame will not have caused the alleged problems if fitted correctly; and there is nothing wrong with them (IMO). I have seen more damage caused by winching on and off a flatbed than I have with the frame; but again, not that described by you. I suspect that it was a generous UK MOT from an understanding tester and/or the French being unreasonable against an old British car. The steering gaiter could have failed at any time.

I would agree with this, if you can't find a classic friendly MOT garage in your area of France then you may have no choice but to bring her back to the UK.

Your French garage have just been more 'thorough'. Revive the dampers by draining/filling with SAE 40 oil. The other problems are all easily fixed - although of course we don't know about the cross member damage. It's not legal now in UK to tow on an A frame - except for emergency 'recovery'. Campers now tow a small car (often a Smart) on a trailer...... At least your car wasn't towed 'in gear' as happened to one unfortunate recently!!

Thank you for all the replies. Molly re-sits her CT next week, i have changed the wheel bearing and trackrod end as these were advisories. French lights fitted, but as you can see by the picture they stand proud on the wing so the chrome rings sort of habg on them. i brought her to France so the old girl can spend a nice retirement, plus she would not be worth a lot in the UK as there are so many more in alot better state for less money. we got her as the wife liked the colour. Hope the old girl last a few lore years before she goes to the parking space in the sky

Just got "George" he will be joining the MMOC in the next week[frame][/frame]