Four Door Saloon
Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2022 4:54 pm
I've just seen on the Morris Minor Facebook forum that the four door saloon is the least sought after Morris Minor. Is this a fact? What do other members think?
Morris Minor Owners Club
Promoting the Preservation and Use of the Postwar Morris Minor
https://board.mmoc.org.uk/
Four Door Saloon
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Re: Four Door Saloon
Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2022 5:40 pm
Certainly travellers, vans, pick-ups and convertibles go for higher prices. Can't think why a 4-door saloon would be less sought after than a 2-door though, you would think easier access to the rear seats would be more desirable. I suppose they might be harder to restore, and its arguable that the 4-door is more prone to rust. What might be more sought after these days is any model that hasn't been altered/molested to the point it is akin to a Frankenstein's monster!
Re: Four Door Saloon
Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2022 6:03 pm
The 4 door cannot be converted to a convertible which is what many seem to want to do. That might be one reason? I have heard other owners say that they prefer the "coupe" look of the 2door. Also, as stated earlier, maybe the 4door is seen as more complicated to restore?
For myself, I prefer the 4door to the 2door. I think it looks better balanced and I like being able to access the rear seat for loading. Also, the 4door has a much better upper mounting for the seatbelts - a small point but one which adds to the driving experience.
Everybody will have a preference and not everybody will agree, so I wouldn't think there is a great difference in values really. It is all about condition isn't it?
For myself, I prefer the 4door to the 2door. I think it looks better balanced and I like being able to access the rear seat for loading. Also, the 4door has a much better upper mounting for the seatbelts - a small point but one which adds to the driving experience.
Everybody will have a preference and not everybody will agree, so I wouldn't think there is a great difference in values really. It is all about condition isn't it?
Re: Four Door Saloon
Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2022 6:36 pm
Bought my first Minor, a 4 door, 6 months ago and personally was more interested in ready to drive,good history and solid car at the right price rather than 2 or 4 doors but then I wouldn't of looked at a convertible as I don't like softop cars, I ride two wheels if I want to feel the wind 
Like most things it comes down to personal taste and probably what people see as desireable or fashionable. It's funny to see cars that in my younger days were considered undesirable rubbish and were sold very cheap or scrapped are now classics and sort after but I guess it very different having a car as a fun drive rather than your every day only means of transport.
Very happy with my 4 door and glad the alleged undesirable status made it excellent value for money
Like most things it comes down to personal taste and probably what people see as desireable or fashionable. It's funny to see cars that in my younger days were considered undesirable rubbish and were sold very cheap or scrapped are now classics and sort after but I guess it very different having a car as a fun drive rather than your every day only means of transport.Very happy with my 4 door and glad the alleged undesirable status made it excellent value for money
Re: Four Door Saloon
Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2022 7:11 pm
One strike against the 4-door is it has twice as many doors to rust out than the 2-door!
But the trafficators look better higher up as they are on the 4-door
But the trafficators look better higher up as they are on the 4-door
Re: Four Door Saloon
Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2022 8:20 pm
I got a four-door because I preferred the look but you do suffer from all the doors being smaller, it is more difficult to get in and out the front, but of course easier for those in the rear!
Re: Four Door Saloon
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2022 8:36 am
Seems to be common across most classics that the 2 door is seen as more desirable, possibly because they were always the ones used in motorsport and therefore more memorable or desirable to modify?
We ended up with a 2 door but only because that was the first to come along, didn't really have any preferrance.
We ended up with a 2 door but only because that was the first to come along, didn't really have any preferrance.
Re: Four Door Saloon
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2022 8:45 am
There cannot be much difference between the 2 door and the 4 door as I was always getting in my fathers 4 door instead of my 2 door and getting ready to drive away before realising my mistake. They were both sage green. Spec savers was not about back then. 
Re: Four Door Saloon
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2022 3:58 pm
The 4 doors being less sought after than 2 door cars seems to been the case with vehicles in general. Those that wanted a sportier looking style car wanted a 2 door eg MK3 Escort pop 2 door modified to look like a XR3.
I've had 3, 4 door Minors, not out of choice just what came up, there were considerably less 4 doors made.
Perhaps when new spending extra for 2 extra doors was not on the priority list for buyers.
Interestingly I've had several comments made on mine like 'oh you've got 4 doors' or 'i didn't know they made a 4 door?' and from fellow 4 door owners 'there aren't many of us about!'
I've had 3, 4 door Minors, not out of choice just what came up, there were considerably less 4 doors made.
Perhaps when new spending extra for 2 extra doors was not on the priority list for buyers.
Interestingly I've had several comments made on mine like 'oh you've got 4 doors' or 'i didn't know they made a 4 door?' and from fellow 4 door owners 'there aren't many of us about!'
Re: Four Door Saloon
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2022 6:53 am
I've only had 2 doors because that's what was cheapest back then.
But, apart from getting in and out, would you know which one you were driving when out and about?
But, apart from getting in and out, would you know which one you were driving when out and about?
Re: Four Door Saloon
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2022 2:45 pm
Yes, when you operate the trafficators! 
Re: Four Door Saloon
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2022 3:23 pm
Re: Four Door Saloon
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2022 3:31 pm
You just reminded me of an incident after a evening's business networking meeting I went to, pre-Covid.philthehill wrote: ↑Sun Jun 19, 2022 8:45 am There cannot be much difference between the 2 door and the 4 door as I was always getting in my fathers 4 door instead of my 2 door and getting ready to drive away before realising my mistake. They were both sage green. Spec savers was not about back then.
One of our regular business owning female attendees was standing at her car cursing, so I asked 'Helen, what's up?'
'My car won't unlock' she said...
To which I replied, 'Helen, why is that one over there flashing it's indicators every time you press the Fob?'
The row behind her, about 8 cars away.....
Re: Four Door Saloon
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2022 9:19 pm
Before I lose touch again, which one of you did I just talk to outside the music tent at the National?
Re: Four Door Saloon
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2022 9:38 pm
Just to add to this, many years ago (more than 9) I was talking to two people at the National and my wife joined in the conversation. Then the next day She saw them again and invited them in to our food tent for tea or coffee and put our water container onto a peg and broke it. So we talked for a while and then I realised that the slightly odd looks we got we’re not only of the water container leaking but because they were not the same two people and my wife’s continued conversation with them did not quite add up to them They were just two other people walking past our tent minding their own business when ‘accosted’. I realised this based on the technical description of one of their Minors rather than their faces as I am almost faceblind. So each year the guy from Billericay recognises me and we have a conversation. I don’t remember if you were in the first two or the second two though I remember the conversations. I’m sorry my overtired and cold daughter cut our conversation short
Re: Four Door Saloon
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2022 6:52 pm
Hi dp sent you a DM
dp wrote: ↑Sat Jun 25, 2022 9:38 pm Just to add to this, many years ago (more than 9) I was talking to two people at the National and my wife joined in the conversation. Then the next day She saw them again and invited them in to our food tent for tea or coffee and put our water container onto a peg and broke it. So we talked for a while and then I realised that the slightly odd looks we got we’re not only of the water container leaking but because they were not the same two people and my wife’s continued conversation with them did not quite add up to them They were just two other people walking past our tent minding their own business when ‘accosted’. I realised this based on the technical description of one of their Minors rather than their faces as I am almost faceblind. So each year the guy from Billericay recognises me and we have a conversation. I don’t remember if you were in the first two or the second two though I remember the conversations. I’m sorry my overtired and cold daughter cut our conversation short
Re: Four Door Saloon
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2022 3:55 pm
I seem to remember (as in many years ago) that people used to say they preferred the two door as it was indeed cheaper to restore as you could just weld on a replacement panel at the back, job done no extra doors to worry about (and less leaks).
(as an aside, mine's a four door, as is my mothers).
(as an aside, mine's a four door, as is my mothers).