Morris Minor Owners Club

On inspection it looks like im going to need 2 full headlight kits for Betty the 1970 Morris Minor i'm new to ..just discovered rotten inner wings whrre they join the body in the boot ! (no theres no body in the boot) One rotten sill passenger side and bottom of A post 3 inch rectangle of rust ..about 16 inches of holes and rust leading to it on the passenger side sill..other sides been done ok ..and a rear quarter sill on drivers side rotten..I was told that the underside of the car was great condition under the thick waxoil..we live and learn..feel like iv been conned out of a 3rd of what I paid for it though..anyway Im off on a tangent there..back to the headlight kit for both sides..mine are both yuk and rusted so theres another issue that I missed as its all hidden and I didnt ask the bloke to take the headlights out so I could look ..or the sill plates as the bolts that hold them and the trim had rusted on ..I had to cut them off with a grinder thingy..tale of woe eh !

Iv looked on line here and hither and dont want plastic nests/bowls ..need full metal kit and rubbers/gasket/seal's ? both sides and would appreciate greatly being pointed in the right direction in order to keep "Betty"right. Im thinking of changing her name thats been very professionaly painted on to her in 3 places ..two of which are hidden.

Thanks .

ESM have everything you need. If you are unsure, phone them instead of ordering online. My 1969 car has all metal bits that have actually lasted decades but the car isn’t kept outside. My headlight bowls etc are in fair condition but if they deteriorate further I would seriously consider plastic because none of it can actually be seen.

From your original, introductory posts it does seem that you may have bought the car from a motor trader and if that is the case you may wish to have a look at this:-

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights ... nMC5b0ZzJb

I'm not sure that there is much consumer protection relating to the purchase of cars more than 50 years old and several years out of MOT though
Unless you pay a lot of money for a restored car, we all have to expect to carry out a few repairs when we purchase an old Morris Minor. It is the nature of the beast isn't it?

Well, yes but the following would still seem to apply as there's no exceptions listed or even implied for 'classic' or non-MoT requirement cars:-

"If you're a motor trader, it's your responsibility to make sure that any vehicle you sell is roadworthy and exactly as you have described during the sale. This is because of the Trade Descriptions Act and the Consumer Rights Act."

Myrtles Man wrote: ↑Thu Feb 16, 2023 9:17 am From your original, introductory posts it does seem that you may have bought the car from a motor trader

I got the impression from those posts they weren't a motor trader but a private seller, selling cars aka 'flipping' (or given the benefit of the doubt, someone whose circumstances changed and they had to sell their new purchase - but I'd have said not since they knew little about the car).

ManyMinors wrote: ↑Thu Feb 16, 2023 10:07 am I'm not sure that there is much consumer protection relating to the purchase of cars more than 50 years old and several years out of MOT though

If it's sold as the underside being in great condition, and if this was written down in the advert, then you'd have more protection than if it were just a verbal comment since they'd sold it as such. All that said, it's been over a year so they'd have to go through all the problems of getting an inspection carried out, taking it all to court by the sounds of the Which consumer website, etc. etc. and it's possibly more hassle now than it would be worth since there'd be no guarantees of even getting a ruling in your favour I'd imagine.

Also if you blink you'll find your sills and arches have rotted out somewhere

Zuma wrote: ↑Thu Feb 16, 2023 2:44 am I didnt ask the bloke to take the headlights out so I could look

How foolish! Everyone knows you should dismantle a car on inspection and then watch it get put back together again, it's called a 'nut and bolt restoration'

Zuma wrote: ↑Thu Feb 16, 2023 2:44 am the sill plates as the bolts that hold them and the trim had rusted on

I heard of a potential buyer of a car who removed them, the rust was so bad afer removal the plates wouldn't go back on again, the owner was not a very happy person.

Zuma wrote: ↑Thu Feb 16, 2023 2:44 am I had to cut them off with a grinder thingy..tale of woe eh !

It was August 2022 since I did mine, but no space for grinding, all I had was plusgas, multiple spanner sizes and a hacksaw blade (no room for the handle). In crawling round on the concrete drive I busted both shoulders and pulled my neck muscles quite severly, here we are February 2023 and I'm still not recovered fully, doing my oil pipe the other day of course made things worse for a few days again - tale of woe, eh?

Mmm, Zuma's following post seems fairly clear, also he only bought it in December 2022:-


" Re: Betty ! The Morris Minor. Is the Car familiar to anyone ?

Post by Zuma » Sun Jan 08, 2023 5:52 pm
Geoberni, thanks for the info on Basil and oil . I will check out the oil ..I'v stuck it in the garage and gave it the wrong name i think ! Got it from Stokesley North Yorkshire area dealer . Good people very knowledgeable and that was just the owners missus ! She knows the Morris Minor inside and out. Bet she could rebuild an engine !"

Yes, but I think they were talking about where they bought the oil from, not the car.

In the first post, it only mentions buying it from "a previous owner".

Ah, yes. That subtlety passed me by I'm afraid. As a private sale then, unfortunately, 'caveat emptor' applies, so no redress is available, more's the pity.

Some interesting comments, thanks to all. Will address each one in time.

And well spotted..I was referring to where I bought the oil not the car . Car was a private sale.

I will endevour to put the car right..I can handle the rusty rotten sill and maybe have a go at the rear quarter sill but the two rotten inner wing bits that join in the boot are a concern to me, looks a big job ..i just happened to poke a finger in to what looked like solid paint with slight crazing cracking and my finger went through it..filler and trafalger blue paint..on finding that i tested other small areas..same result here and there.

Its only a car and i just want it tidy for nipping down the coast the odd day ..not ever going to show it . Its probably going to suffice after I sort out the issues. Not cheap i know. Maybe I will learn how to weld all over again ! Its been a while regards welding.

No worries and thanks to all for input.

Ps I carried out an engine compression test this evening..dry n' wet. 165, 155 or thereabouts psi on one two three and four no big discrepancies. Plugs were dry black carbon looking though .

All a good learning process or perhaps i should say re-learning as its years from when I owned Minis ..mk 1,2 Ford Escorts and some unmentionable vehicle's ..once had a Skoda ! It handled like a dinghy in a force 9 ! Oh and my Series 3 Landrover with a brand new front to back full galvanised chassis.

My friend had a saloon called 'Betty' a few years ago. I think it was green. (Colourblind)

It had a mechanical fuel pump, an HS4 carburettor (?) and went pretty fast.

I really hope this is not your 'Betty'...it was as rotten as a pear.

Zuma wrote: ↑Fri Feb 17, 2023 2:17 am Plugs were dry black carbon looking though .

Mine were like that when I last replaced them, think it was too much choke and the short moves on the drive (coming up to 6 years now since mine was last on the road coming back from an MOT - which it passed - due to various things happening, now slowly getting it back into shape).

It might make you feel better to know that your car sounds a lot less rusty than mine turned out to be after I got it.

stuffed pile..just sent you a private message/ thanks.

Chief, thanks for the info on the choke, Im going to have new plugs and have engine tuned although seems to scoot along well..60 mph once ! mostly tickling her around under 40 mph. good gearbox and all sounds well.

Thanks.