Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi. I've just got a 1970 Morris Minor saloon. The carpet just lays over the gear lever onto the gaitor. Should it be clamped under the retainer ???

Yes the Gaiter surround frame goes over the carpet.

On a 1970 Minor, the carpet does indeed go over the top of the gaiter and retainer. The carpet set changed (different pattern and a different material) at around that time.

Quicker and therefore cheaper to fit. Damn accountants trying to reduce the losses that the company was making without worrying about aesthetics.

simmitc wrote: ↑Wed Apr 27, 2022 10:03 am Quicker and therefore cheaper to fit. Damn accountants trying to reduce the losses that the company was making without worrying about aesthetics.

A worrying trend that has led to the uglification of our modern world......

Thank you for your help. Think it still has original carpet, a little worn in a couple of places but it's staying put !!!

I still think that it looks better with the carpet held in place under the gaiter frame but.... Each to his own.

ManyMinors wrote: ↑Wed Apr 27, 2022 7:27 am On a 1970 Minor, the carpet does indeed go over the top of the gaiter and retainer. The carpet set changed (different pattern and a different material) at around that time.

Just noticed in this picture of the last Minor saloon to be built that they have the gaiter frame fitted over the carpet. FMT 265J is a restored to original 1971 vehicle and the carpet sets available all seem to fit under the frame?

Yes. that is one of several "Minor errors" in the restoration.
A restored car is seldom "original" is it.

Aye, you may lay to that matey!
By the way does anyone have a picture of the over the top carpet? Just curious to see what it looks like.

Here you go.....
Original 1970 black "Veltone" carpet.

Errrr...... Yes I see,
I'll stick with my set up!
Thanks for the picture.

Well the rubber gaiter on my '55 fits in the cut out in the gearbox cover and the carpet just has a slot in it.
So I have no idea what it's supposed to be like on a SII.....


Basil hasn't even got the correct SII handbrake lever; we've speculated in the past on here that the all chrome finish might be a Mini lever....

That gearstick/carpet arrangement is correct for your car.......

myoldjalopy wrote: ↑Sat Apr 30, 2022 11:11 am That gearstick/carpet arrangement is correct for your car.......

Thanks. I'm assuming it's not the original carpet, but was probably put in around late 90s when it was having a lot of work done.