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April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2019 4:02 pm
by kbonney88
Hi all,
After my break from Morris Minors for a few years I have finally got back into the fold.
The Traveller I bought back in 1992 and restored with my dad from 1992 - 95 now needs new wood etc, but is still tucked away for another day.
I have a 2 door saloon to put back on the road, which will hopefully be a quick -ish turn around. Will start that in the new year. That's the one I want to use next year..
"This" topic will cover a Traveller I haven't picked up yet, but have bought. Its going to be a challenge to say the least, but I will get there and at the end I hope she will be looking as good as she did when she left the factory back in 1963.
"April" as I have named her, is a Almond Green 1098cc 1000 Traveller, registered in August 1963, and is one of those "inbetweeny" cars. and as such has the flashing sidelights and brake lights for the indicators.
She is in a bad way, but is complete and the engine turns over.
I expect to be swearing alot, replacing many panels along with the wood, as well as spending lots of money.. but she will be worth it. I am actually looking forward to it...

When done I intend on giving her to my dad as he has always wanted a green traveller.
I am also thinking on re-spraying her "Sage" green.. There can't be many Travellers left in that colour..
anyway - pics as found.. more pics once I start stripping her out once she gets home......

- April the Morris Traveller - 1.jpg (292.65 KiB) Viewed 3591 times

- April the Morris Traveller - 2.jpg (272.66 KiB) Viewed 3591 times

- April the Morris Traveller - 7.jpg (197.86 KiB) Viewed 3591 times

- April the Morris Traveller - 8.jpg (203 KiB) Viewed 3591 times

- April the Morris Traveller - 4.jpg (325.06 KiB) Viewed 3591 times
Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2019 4:58 pm
by les
Good luck, get some varnish on that timber before it’s too late !

Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2019 6:28 pm
by SteveClem
Lots of work but looks restorable. Hope not too many nasty surprises when you strip her down.
Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2019 6:31 pm
by SteveClem
Ps. Must have been one of the last with the’clap hand’ wipers?
Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2019 7:20 pm
by kbonney88
hehehe Les.....
and yes Steve, defo restorable, but lots of work.. Starting her over the xmas holidays..
and I agree about the wipers.. never had a rare-ish MM before.. looking forward to seeing her done..

Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2019 12:02 am
by jagnut66
Good luck. Sage green is a nice colour and as you say most 'green' survivors are of the Almond variety.
Porcelain Green is another rare Minor colour for you to consider too.....
Best wishes,
Mike.
Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2019 8:15 am
by kbonney88
Thanks Mike,
and yep - Porcelain green is nice too and very similar.. will have a think....
Kevin

Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2019 12:03 pm
by ManyMinors
Good to hear that a car in that condition is to be restored. It looks quite a challenge but still in pretty original form isn't it. Neither Sage Green or Porcelain Green were officially offered on the Traveller (and neither were current by 1963) but I have seen one or two in Sage Green (special order perhaps?) and it is a most attractive colour. It is rather fun to own a car which is a little different to all the others anyway
Good luck with your restoration.
Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2019 1:19 pm
by kbonney88
Thank you...
I had to buy the poor thing when I saw it... Poor Morris... and I now think its important to save cars in this condition if at all possible...
I have no idea when this car was last on the road.. DVLA don't show the MOT history online anymore.. pity...
by the way - has anybody seen this car before?? at all????
Kevin

Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2019 5:01 pm
by jagnut66
Neither Sage Green or Porcelain Green were officially offered on the Traveller (and neither were current by 1963) but I have seen one or two in Sage Green (special order perhaps?)
At the request of the customer I would have thought they could have had any colour currently available in the range (and a few that were not)…...
Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2019 6:24 pm
by sid
good luck with the restoration! another one saved

Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 8:19 pm
by kbonney88
Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 8:23 pm
by kbonney88
Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 8:26 pm
by kbonney88
Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 8:28 pm
by kbonney88
Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 8:30 pm
by kbonney88
Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2019 10:53 pm
by don58van
Hi Kevin
From your comments at the beginning of this thread, I gather that you are experienced at vehicle restorations. Would you expand on this a bit, please?
This project looks errrrmm... challenging.

It reminds me of Taupe's Traveller restoration.
I have a Traveller about 1/4 restored in the garage, so I will be watching with great interest.
Regards
Don
Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2019 8:30 am
by kbonney88
Hi and morning Don, and thanks for the interest in the restoration..
As far as me and cars go - I restored my 1st MM back in the 90's with my dad, learning as I went. I then started saving and restoring Morris minors myself in my spare time. Then moving onto Rovers - the P6, then Cortina's, an XJ40 and finally a Mini. I sort of drifted away from Morris Minors..
I have recently been working alot on Rover 75's - we currently have 10. Been saving and sorting them.
Too many modern cars and my classic cars are getting neglected.. so - slowly getting rid of some..
anyway - now time to prioritise my Morris minors and another turns up... total = 3 now...
So - looking forward to doing this one, then my other traveller (the one me and my dad restored back in the 90's) will be then be restored again.
So, that's my history in a nutshell regarding restoring cars..
Kevin

Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2019 6:44 pm
by King Kenny
You are a very brave man. Good luck.
Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2019 8:49 pm
by don58van
As far as me and cars go
Hi Kevin
Thanks for the background. With all that experience I'm sure you are up to this very demanding task. I'll be watching with great interest.
Don