Series 11 pickup found.

[Stevethetrain]

Hi there. I'm new to this site so I hope this is the place for this post.

I've found what is described as an 1968 Morris Austin pickup which looks exactly like the picture of Martin O'Dowd's pickup shown in the family tree. The seats are a mess and the paintwork is mainly navy with patches of self repair with a paint brush. Rust is very much in evidence but does'nt look too bad.

I've fallen in love with it, but is it worth the £2700 asking price (an outragious question for a potiential morris owner possibly) and where in London is the best place to get this beauty restored. I'm asking this because even though I want to buy this car it looks like the exterior needs work.

The current owner has a tax disc, 11 months mot and has just serviced and replaced the brakes if it helps.

Steve Graham.

Please advise as I'm going to meet its current owner this Monday.

[Multiphonikks]

Where are you Steve? It may be worth speaking to Bigginger. With Three (or is it four) pickups he's the resident pickup guy.

Hell, that sounded funny (Brain goes to thinking about the 'Fall' Guy.)

[SR]

ello steve,if its a 68 its not a series 2, which would have a split windscreen, dont buy it without taking someone with u who knows a bit about moggys,recently 2 people have bought thier first car and had nasty surprises, pickups do fetch decent money and with 11 months mot its dont sound bad structually , but even so the bits u find that do need attention can mount up in time and money ,somebody from your area on here may go and look with u if your lucky ,steve

[Stevethetrain]

Thanks! I'm in London Bridge planning to meet this guy tommorow at mid-day, I know the front windscreen is'nt splitscreen but the two side windows are, the back comes with a canvas cover which looks in good condition.

[Multiphonikks]

If you can, get hold of the Morris Minor Restoration book by Lindsay Porter. It's got some pretty solid advice on what to look for when buying a minor.

[LouiseM]

Steve,

Have you tried the London Morris Minor Centre in SE8, just a short bus ride from London Bridge?

I had some work done there last week. The owner Bob Hunt has years of experence, was very helpful, and he's got a few pick ups in at the moment in various stages of restoration so may be willing to point out a few areas to look at when purchasing. Might be worth giving him a call (0208 692 9544)

Louise

[les]

Hi Steve,
What ever else you check out, the chassis is your first priority, if it's got lots of patches or looking/feeling thin in places, don't walk away RUN.

[Stevethetrain]

Thanks for your help everyone! I have seen the type of car I want to drive but after much thought the 1968 Morris pickup ( reg WAB 743G) if that means anyone can gain some possible insight into its past from that, is (on advice ) overpriced.

The more I think about the more I think I will keep on looking. I've looked into the eyes (headlamps then!) of a morris pickup and found love.

Is there a morris pickup out there in reasonable condition?

Please let me know, you've been a great help in less than 48 hours and I hope I get the chance to return the favor.

Steve

[bigginger]

Shame about that, but probably a bit much at £2700. For that kind of cash I'd be looking to check that the metal panels of the pick up bed are actually there (they often aren't, plywood covering whole area - which is fine if the metal's underneath...), preferably original and in pretty good nick. Same goes for wings (though much easier to replace), the cab floor, inc seat belt mountings, the tailgate (often pure filler along the bottom edge) and the bottom (under the bed) of the cab back (tricky repair). Having said that, if it had been around £1500 - £2000, with 11 months MOT I'd have been very tempted! Oh, and I s'pose I'd better mention that I just bought one which turned out to have *NO* sills - welded on cover plate and some angle section bodged on instead - never thought of asking "does it have any sills?", but there you go. Not as much of a problem as it sounds, not as vital as a saloon structurally, but kind of useful for seat belt mountings, keeping the door aperture in shape etc etc!

[Stevethetrain]

I would have said yes at £2000 but the seller insists that he's spoken to a morris garage and thats what its worth. I still want one of those but if the "six" other interested parties turn around and walk away (as if! theres no shortage of people with more money than sense) but saying that I was still tempted to go for it. I was only going to use it for a dozen weekends around the country so whats the reliability like and how easy is it to get replacement parts ( i've seen one on ebay going for £1600 at the moment but don't trust auction sites much, I'd rather see it with my own eyes first).

[bigginger]

As reliable as any Minor, engine's pretty bullet proof. Suspension is better in some ways than Saloon, as teles at the back, but stiff - stronger springs/more leaves,, so harsh unless loaded - the P/U, that is, not you. As far as parts go, as far as I know you cas get everything except bed sides/waist rails, cab backs and new chassis' - though you can get chassis members for all 4 corners. Do check both sides of the bottom of the bulkhead too, cab fllor to bulkhead and tie plate to bulkhead areas as they often rot away, and the cab floor to b/head is often badly repaired/patched. Saw one yesterday -


which wasn't for sale, but every panel was original, only 1 hole in cab floor/b/head, N/OS chassis (they said - I didn't inspect it). - the best (I said this last week about another!) unrestored I've ever seen. I reckon I'd have gone 3K on that if the chassis and engine had been as complete, rust free and original as the body. Mind you, there'd have been a fair bit more to spend tidying it up, but what a car it would be... *sob*

[bigginger]

Oh, P.S., have a look at ESM minors for panels and spares - http://www.morrisminorspares.co.uk/
They're 'worth' a bit more if they're Austin, not Morris badged, but only a tiny bit, it's not a 'crank up the price 3 times' difference.

[rayofleamington]

you cas get everything except bed sides/waist rails, cab backs and new chassis'

New chassis are available. They aren't perfect though.

I sold a very solid chassis for £20 in the early 90's but these days they are going for hundreds

They're 'worth' a bit more if they're Austin, not Morris badged,

Oh! I thought the Austins were the poor cousins, but hey I've only had one 'Austin' Minor Van, so I'm far from an expert. Mine had been 'upgraded' with a Minor 1000 saloon bonnet anyway.

[bigginger]

Really? I'd not heard that - O.K., ebaby Austins seem to go for slightly more, but I guess what I'm saying is 'I'd pay a bit more for...
Yup, loads of them seem to have saloon bonnets, more's the pity. The difference, for those who don't know, is the real LCV bonnets don't have the little bead that, on a saloon, has the stripe painted on it.

[Stevethetrain]

He wants £2600 and while my heart says yes! yes! yes! my wallet says no! no! no! I can't afford it. I will point you in his direction if your interested.

Steve.

[bigginger]

'fraid not - 4's enough to be going on with!

[Kevin]

I would have said yes at £2000 but the seller insists that he's spoken to a morris garage and thats what its worth.

Steve they are only worth what the buyer is prepared to pay and there are a fair few owners that are convinced there cars are worth more than they really are, and if you felt it was too much so be it, if it was really good why is it still for sale and I bet the specialist said that was its insurance value which is a different thing entirely

[andrewwita]

hi there do you know what happened to the pick up it is one i used to own, was dk blue hand painted - i got picks of it being restored a while ago full chassis bare enging out n every thing, i boutgh it about 4-5 yrs ago for £1000, did see around bermondsey once bout 2 yrs ago, did you buy it in the end

[Stevethetrain]

No the asking price of £2700, shame because I really liked it. As far as I know it is still garaged in Bermondsey.

[Stevethetrain]

Sod it! Its love. We've agree £2600 as long as I can get the money together next week.