Morris Minor Owners Club

Good Day

I am new to the Morris Minor world, but am looking at buying one to restore. I live in Canada and have found one for $2900CAN (1566 pounds). It looks complete, the engine runs, car drives, but it needs a lot of interior work. There is minimal rust, chrome seems to be mostly there and there doesn't seem to be any major dents. It has been stored indoors for 40 years and another 15 at the current owner. I have two questions:

1. Is this a good price?
2. How hard will it be for me to find parts since it is from 1950?

I hope to go look in a a few hours.
Thanks,
Henk

If it runs and isn't rusty I'd say that is a pretty good price for one as early as 1950. You can buy new interior trim of the correct type from Newton Commercial in the uk.

Parts for a 1950 aren't as easy to get as for the late models, but not impossible. In uk the MMOC keeps a stock.

We need to see pictures - does it still have the side valve (flat head) engine? You do realise it is painfully slow.....?

Yes it has the 918 flat head engine, and yes it has just a few more hp than our ride-on lawnmower!![frame][/frame]

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Would a 1950 car not be a Lowlight? Or were export LHD cars always Highlights?

North America spec cars were highlight from early 49 on. Providing that the engine is in good condition progress is leisurely but not pitifully slow
I would say that you have a bargain. Find yourself a good car upholsterer and order the material from UK and you will have a very nice car.
You will also find "Original Morris Minor" by Ray Newell, available from MMOC very useful, also the Series MM website http://seriesmm.mmoc.org.uk These posts should be on the Series MM messageboard
The car loks like a 1949 - early 1950 model, I notice that the centre windscreen pillar and surround is missing
Please PM me the chassis number so that I can add it to the Series MM Register.
If you have any questions please ask

Personally I would jump at the chance to buy a rot-free "MM" for that price. It looks as if the chromed windscreen surround trims are missing too which are hard to acquire and usually expensive but their absence wouldn't put me off!
The centre pillar is available new I think.

Good luck!

Yes, that sounds a pretty good price for a runner, even out here in Australia where the slowness of the Series MM means they are in limited demand.
BTW, I have a super-rare chrome surround (in GC) for the rear window of a saloon/sedan. I believe they were only fitted originally to Export cars, and of course now one is unlikely to find a new rubber for the rear window which is suitably slotted to take the chrome trim. It will probably remain a collector's item, and never again get fitted to a Series MM.

Phil

Good day my new friends

I have bought the Minor for $2500 Can. the front pillar comes with it, a spare transmission, alternator, spare front window and some other things. Very excited and you will likely see more of me on this forum! Thanks to everyone who replied! I appreciate your help

Good luck with it! A rare car now.

Thanks:)

Please send me the chassis number so that I can add it to the Register

Henk
Good to hear you have bought the MM, best of luck. That's a good price for a 'runner'.
With regard to spares, firstly don't ever throw anything away, it might be repairable. Lots of the parts are the same as later cars. All the engine threads are metric so buy yourself a selection of nuts & bolts etc.
East Sussex Minors (ESM) are very good for parts and ship round the world. They say Australia is a bigger market than UK!! and ship there weekly. Interiors are available from Newton Commercial here in UK, they don't exactly match the old materials.
I bought mine 5 years ago with a seized engine, it is now running well on the rebuilt engine, not quite as slow as some would say although a motorway is a bit of a challenge! The trim in mine is original in the back but the front has all been replaced and doesn't match exactly.
Colin

Thanks Colin!