Morris Minor Owners Club

I'm wondering about my 1968 Maroon Traveller, UPG 997F. I noted on the DVLA website that the tax expired in early 2016, and the MOT in 2017.

Named Maurice, he was my first car in 1976, purchased for 250 pounds. He was a godsend so I could see my girlfriend (now my wife), who lived far from a bus route. We travelled all over the country together, with our black lab "Ike" (still have a photo!).

I put a new gearbox in, replaced the rusted front wings, and bondoed the rotting wood (sorry, I was on a bit of a shoestring). When we emigrated to the USA in 1980, with nowhere to store him, he was a forced sale to a corner garage near Heathrow, and I always regretted having to do that.

I'm amazed that he was still surviving in 2016. Now I'm curious if that was the end, or is he lovingly stored in someone's garage?

Do let me know if you know this vehicle! Thanks.

What’s on the dymo label beneath Ikes right paw?

Anti Theft Alarm Fitted - (not)!

Hi
Just thought you would like to know that we spotted Morris on the afternoon of 9th of August 2024 in Mousehole, Cornwall, England.

He was parked by the harbour wall and looked in pretty decent condition, a few scrapes and knocks but is obviously still being used for what he was intended. The owner wasn't around to ask any questions but I took a few photos out of interest, then we found your post.

Yours sincerely
Karl.

Great find, still looks very presentable! I was going to add, that it is currently still taxed to 1st March 2025, and the last V5C logbook was issued on 26th March 2024. The MOT history states it last had 96,038 miles,in 2016, so I suspect the old boy has exceeded 100,000 miles by now...

Thanks for the reply. Hopefully I'll get a reply from the guy looking for info on his old car. I could be wrong but I suspect that this old boy is used as a summer runaround by someone who has a holiday home here. I saw another Morris Minor today in St.Just, it didn't look in very good condition but was still out on the road going places. I couldn't find a parking spot otherwise I would have posted some pictures of it.

KW1968 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 11, 2024 8:16 pm Thanks for the reply. Hopefully I'll get a reply from the guy looking for info on his old car. I could be wrong but I suspect that this old boy is used as a summer runaround by someone who has a holiday home here. I saw another Morris Minor today in St.Just, it didn't look in very good condition but was still out on the road going places. I couldn't find a parking spot otherwise I would have posted some pictures of it.

Hi 53lake,
I have your car! Bought her last week. The plan is to use her as a daily. She’s also my first car, and her (she’s a girl now) name is now Pig because of the number plate. She’s pretty rough right now but still in working order. I don’t have lots of money to put into her so the plan is to get her working well and safe to drive. She now resides in Cardiff. If you have any info it would be appreciated. It was fantastic reading your story.

Tom

What a lovely story. The car survives and once again Maurice, now Pig, becomes someone's first car. I love that. My car, Xavier was my first car.

There was a young lad, 19, posting on the MMOC Facebook group asking for sealed beam headlight parts. I said I have those parts and he came round to my house like a shot. I heard how his Morris, Doris, is his first car and how he is on such a tight budget and how many things have gone wrong and need doing. Sounded all very familiar. In the end I gave him the parts for nothing. I am really pleased to hear and see enthusiasm for these cars from the generation who will look after them after we've hung up our driving gloves.

Stephen

Oh my goodness!
I just logged in to the message board after many months, and found your postings (EPTOMC and KW1968). What a wonderful surprise to see Maurice (now Pig!) looking so good (and more importantly, alive!). He is in very good company next to a Rolls Royce! Y'all have made my day.
Tom, you asked for more information. Not much to add. I purchased him (sorry, now her!) privately from someone in Chertsey I think (I lived in Shepperton at the time). I'm pretty sure the mileage was up around 60K already, quite a lot for a car then 8 years old. The steering rack always rattled, and it dropped out of 4th gear so I had to hold it in while cruising, and decided that would be the first repair. I bought a gold seal reconditioned gearbox from a motor factor in Staines, and spent my weekends under the car to put it in. Quite a sense of accomplishment!
My girlfriend and I puttered around the Surrey area, camped in him at West Wycombe, and did many trips to Devon and S. Wales, always with "Ike". One funny story: Baskin Robbins had just opened a branch in Windsor, and my girl being American insisted we go to try it. We bought a half-gallon of ice cream, and then left it briefly in the car (with Ike) while we did some more shopping. You can guess the rest....
I've attached a photo of my girl admiring Maurice on the day I bought him, and another on a beach in S. Wales.
For our 25th wedding anniversary, my wife located and purchased a 1968 Almond Green Traveller in Dallas, TX. On retirement, and as a COVID project, I did a nuts and bolts restoration, and now take him to shows around Central Texas. And yes, He's also called Maurice!
Thanks so much for contributing! I hope Pig serves you well for many more years.