Morris Minor Owners Club

Could anyone tell me if the rear passengers have an ash-tray? I do believe I have seen some Mogs with a box ashtray running parrallel to the gear stick! Was this standard for a 1969 model? Also I have a couple spare if anyone else wants one? Just PM me!

Lo, I know that the early cars had an ashtray mounted across the
tunnel behind the hand brake on 4 DOOR CARS ONLY! I don't
think that any 2 door models ever had a rear ashtray
Willie

I can confirm Willie's suspicions, having a roadworthy two door and a basket case 4 door, both registered in 1969. No ash tray in the 2-door, but the 4-door has an ash tray behind the handbrake. The main body of the ashtray is solid metal welded to the transmission tunnel. The cap of the ashtray is chrome plated or stainless steel.

Thank-you for your replies. On that note I will not put the ashtray in. But I have a couple of spare ones (chrome lids I think) for all you four door friends!

Willie -- were not the ashtrays mounted parallel with the tunnel rather than across it?

Lo, they were mounted ACROSS the tunnel,not along it.
Willie

Hello there!

Willie, it's not often I disagree with you ~ but just this once would you mind if I did?

On early Minor four doors (MM up to Series II, I think) the rear ashtray was indeed mounted across the transmission tunnel, using a plate which fits over the tunnel.

The later cars (1000s) had an ashtray similar to those used in the early Mini's I think, which was mounted front-to-rear along the tunnel. I don't think either type was welded, rather being screwed through the carpeting.

I have one of the later type ashtrays, but I wasn't sure about how to fit it ~ whether there are captive nuts &c in the transmission tunnel. I can't have been all that committed to fitting the thing anyway, as something as simple as lifting the carpet put me off! In any case, I don't allow smoking in the car, and I reckon the tray would get in the way.

If you'd like to have a look at this (currently reference-only) American Catalogue page, the rear ashtrays are items 35, 36 and 37.

http://www.auto-part.com/shop/Display.asp?page=33

Lo, I think you are probably correct!. looking at the catalogue
the early base for the ash tray is shaped for 'across the tunnel'
the other type has the mounting lugs bent at an angle which is
only suitable for 'along the tunnel'mounting. I have a spare
"late" type and it certainly appears to be made to accept four
self tapping screws to fix it. So...earlies,including series 2's
were across the tunnel and later 4 doors were along the tunnel.
I only have one reference picture of a 948 cc with an ashtray,
it is along the tunnel,BUT,on closer examination it is in a 2 door
car!... Not original.
Willie

I'll in that case plop a couple of nicotine patches disguised as genuine cusions on the seats!

Hi
DON`T smoke in the back!
I lost a perfectly good Austin 16 from just this. Also DON`t throw your cig.end out the sunshine roof-------it could be sucked back into the rear cushion!!!!!!!!!!!
...........................Ivor...............

Yip they are definitly along the tunnel on the later cars at least. I went armed with the digi camera to check it out. (but I can't find the photo to post it)

I have only had much to do with later cars and mainly 4drs.

Interesting what pops up from everyones knowledge (or lack of it)

The ash-tray will probably be used for asthetic reasons - (a new carpet will not have any stray ash on it!) But before I turffed up the old carpet there were four holes which ran parallel to the gearstick and not across! I have a 2door old bird and from what I've been reading this sounds not normal for my car! Me thinks 'Pidge' has had some surgery in the past! But thanks for the advice guys!

Hello there!

I was wondering if, although standard on all four-door Minors, maybe the ashtrays were fitted to DeLuxe 2-doors...?

After a bit of research I have found out that 'Pidge' is a delux-model 2 door. Not sure if anyone else with 2dr deluxes have the same fitting for these ash-trays. Any ideas?

Wheeee! Here comes a spanner in the works I've just got rid of a '68 2-door (standard trim not deluxe) that had a ashtray running lengthways along the transmission tunnel just behind the front seats. It was held down with four crosshead screws.
HTH.

thing is, it could have been added by one of the previous
owners.. the only way we will find out is by hearing
from someone who ordered a car from new with one fitted.
Willie

How does one determine between a deluxe and a standard MM?

I understand they have different seat patterns etc, but what else?

I mean they don't exactly have 'Deluxe' written accross the boot like moderns.

There were many changes which differed for travellers and
salooons/convertibles. From the series two onwards. Things
like overriders,leather seats,extra bits of carpet on the travellers,
were 'De Luxe'. The inner surround on the front grille was also
chrome on the de luxe models,as opposed to aluminium. a sun
visor for the passenger side was also 'de luxe'
I think it was you who first asked about ash trays?? I have just
seen that the ash trayON THE 4 DOOR CARS was changed from
across the tunnel to along the tunnel in 1956.
CORRECTION... it wasn't you it was 'an_avenger'
Willie

Were not some of these things you mention made standard on most saloons later?

The one I have interest in is '57.

Of course the story may be different here in NZ, That's actually what I'm trying to figure; Were there Deluxe and non deluxe in NZ? Or were we all deluxe or all non deluxe?

Fweddy,

According to:

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/2639/Morris-ID.html

The post '58 MMs had a code on the chassis plate to denote deluxe.

Although yours is a '57 it might be worth having a look at the plate anyway just in case.