Morris Minor Owners Club

Calling all experts!

Although Jodie is an E registration and was first registered in '67, a passer by told me that is wrong and she is actually a '66 model. Something about the chrome fittings (?)

As she was registered early in '67, I suppose she could have been an unsold '66 car at that time.

Is there any way to tell from the chassis number or any subtle model changes between '66 and '67?

I've had a glance at Ray Newell's book. The only reference to brightwork around that time is listed as 'New type of windscreen finisher' (presumably the chrome-look plastic type instead of 2-piece alloy) introduced December 1966. Car number 1168813. Around this time (details not specific) the bonnet lift 'handle' was altered, the 'M' medallions being integral to the casting. Previously they were seperate components.

palacebear wrote:I've had a glance at Ray Newell's book. The only reference to brightwork around that time is listed as 'New type of windscreen finisher' (presumably the chrome-look plastic type instead of 2-piece alloy) introduced December 1966. Car number 1168813. Around this time (details not specific) the bonnet lift 'handle' was altered, the 'M' medallions being integral to the casting. Previously they were seperate components.

Just the information I needed. Thanks.

Jodie is car 11735**, so I guess that probably makes her a 1967 car. Unless they made a hell of a lot of cars that December. She is a complete restoration, so the bonnet handle and screen finisher are almost certainly not the originals.

The sure way to find out your build date is to get a production date from the museum at Gaydon. As mentioned already the windscreen trim changed (along with a different rubber to retain it). The headlights became sealed beam type. The bonnet mascot/handle change was much earlier - at the introduction of the 1098cc engine I think. One more change at around 1966/67 is the upper seatbelt mounting position on the 4door and Traveller particularly, which changed from having 2 different positions (high and low) to just one, positioned between the two earlier positions which were a throw back to having a trafficator mounting on earlier cars. The new middle position which my 1967 4door certainly had was a much more comfortable position for the belt. That is a hard thing to change on a car where, as you say, things like cosmetic trim are much more likely to have been altered over the passage of time.

ManyMinors wrote:The sure way to find out your build date is to get a production date from the museum at Gaydon. As mentioned already the windscreen trim changed (along with a different rubber to retain it). The headlights became sealed beam type. The bonnet mascot/handle change was much earlier - at the introduction of the 1098cc engine I think. One more change at around 1966/67 is the upper seatbelt mounting position on the 4door and Traveller particularly, which changed from having 2 different positions (high and low) to just one, positioned between the two earlier positions which were a throw back to having a trafficator mounting on earlier cars. The new middle position which my 1967 4door certainly had was a much more comfortable position for the belt. That is a hard thing to change on a car where, as you say, things like cosmetic trim are much more likely to have been altered over the passage of time.

Very helpful thanks.

I only seem to have a single seatbelt position, so probably she is a '67 model.

You would think there would be a list on the internet somewhere with the first and last chassis numbers for each model year, but if there is I can't find it.

I don't think you'll find a list on the internet. The BMIHT archive probably incorporates all that info, but obviously they're not likely to put it out on the www for free. Otherwise it's down to enthusiasts and voluntary number-crunchers like us (or some of us) to piece together production details as best we can.

palacebear wrote:I don't think you'll find a list on the internet. The BMIHT archive probably incorporates all that info, but obviously they're not likely to put it out on the www for free. Otherwise it's down to enthusiasts and voluntary number-crunchers like us (or some of us) to piece together production details as best we can.

Perhaps something the MMOC could usefully organise?

Don't hold your breath on that one!

I know exactly where you're coming from Brian. I stand to be corrected, but the various registers in existence which cover club cars, seem to be administered by individuals on a wholly voluntary and independent basis. As such they seem to lack cohesion and their remits overlap at times, although given the wide variety of Moggies produced over the years, the latter is perhaps unavoidable.
I was some years ago, membership secretary of a car club, albeit a smaller one than the MMOC. Unpaid committe posts then and now, include a registrar for each of the marques catered for by the club. IMHO this is a fundamental function of the club. If such registers and registrars, acting directly on guidelines laid down by the Club committe, exist within the MMOC, they must keep a very low profile as I've never heard mention of them.

palacebear wrote:I know exactly where you're coming from Brian. I stand to be corrected, but the various registers in existence which cover club cars, seem to be administered by individuals on a wholly voluntary and independent basis. As such they seem to lack cohesion and their remits overlap at times, although given the wide variety of Moggies produced over the years, the latter is perhaps unavoidable.
I was some years ago, membership secretary of a car club, albeit a smaller one than the MMOC. Unpaid committe posts then and now, include a registrar for each of the marques catered for by the club. IMHO this is a fundamental function of the club. If such registers and registrars, acting directly on guidelines laid down by the Club committe, exist within the MMOC, they must keep a very low profile as I've never heard mention of them.

There is a page on this forum for communicating with the committee. But I must admit it doesn't seem to get a lot of action.

Is there a copy of the club constitution anywhere on line? I can't immediately find one, although I do have a copy of the summary that is distributed to new members.

An obvious point that jumps out to me is that members' control of the organisation depends greatly upon physical presence at th AGM, or appointing a proxy. This strikes me as a little odd for a national organisation in the 21st century. Are the Scottish members supposed to attend at their own expense, just to vote? Committee members can claim expenses, so have no travel or accommodation costs, one would presume.

Previous organisations with which I have been associated had on-line voting. Every committee member stood down each year (MMOC seems to require only one third to stand down), anyone could stand as a candidate if proposed by a certain number of members, and all candidates could prepare a short summary of their merits that would be sent to all members before the vote.

Perhaps time for a change? Nothing against the present committee and they would all be re-elected if the members though they were doing a good job. But there does seem to be a disconnect and I doubt many ordinary members could even name any committee members.

Maybe the club is almost too successful,and relatively wealthy...breeding complacency?
I must admit that I find the Austin A30 club, and it's forum, a bit more fun. To be honest, I like my Morris cars but I love my A30!

BrianHawley wrote: There is a page on this forum for communicating with the committee. But I must admit it doesn't seem to get a lot of action.

Indicative perhaps of the complaceny 'on high', despite several requests, I still don't have the permissions required to post on the 'questions for the committee' or any other sub-forums within the members' area of the forum.

SteveClem wrote:Maybe the club is almost too successful,and relatively wealthy...breeding complacency?
I must admit that I find the Austin A30 club, and it's forum, a bit more fun. To be honest, I like my Morris cars but I love my A30!

Yes, love the A30.

My ideal stable would be a mog, an A30 and a Ford Pop. And the Nissan GTR of course:)

palacebear wrote:

BrianHawley wrote: There is a page on this forum for communicating with the committee. But I must admit it doesn't seem to get a lot of action.

Indicative perhaps of the complaceny 'on high', despite several requests, I still don't have the permissions required to post on the 'questions for the committee' area of the forum.

Tried phoning the office?

This thread is drifting a bit.

(Sorry, mods)

Quite frankly, does it really matter?
As for Gaydon they told us there was no French language workshop manual produced for MM, Series II and the first 1000s but we have a copy.
Drive the cars, love 'em and forget the anoraking

Mary, It matters and is of interest to some, so prima facie it matters!

And yes you can try phoning the club but it doesn't get one terribly far. I and still waiting on a rely from almost a year ago as to whether i can use my original membership number and e mails to committee members are not acknowledged or replied to. !

As for the AGM it was a sausage-fest of self congratulation and prize giving. (No doubt well deserved in individual cases), and just about quorate judging by the numbers in the 'beer tent' mostly there to escape the light drizzle. I know the lumpen proletariat like me are happy to be guided and without many of the Committee members we would not have a club at all, but it did at times remind me of a Moscow May Day parade with the entire Politburo upon the saluting dias

firedrake1942 wrote:Mary, It matters and is of interest to some, so prima facie it matters!

Thank you firedrake. Saved me posting a response that I'd probably have regretted later!

'Faut rien regretter! (Apologies to Edith)

firedrake1942 wrote:'Faut rien regretter! (Apologies to Edith)

La vie en Rose Taupe?

L'A (ccordeoniste) series engine ?

Vive La Differential


,,,,,,I'll get me coat !