Morris Minor Owners Club

I hail from Havelock North, Hawkes Bay NZ and have just purchased a 1963 4 door genuine 86,000mile beauty that was fully restored 35 years ago and has been a museum exhibit since. A friend purchased the car about a year ago when The British Car Museum in Haumoana closed its doors and has overhauled the fuel system, and all but finished a full refurb of the brakes. It also has just had a cooling system flush and a new radiator core fitted. I just need to reassemble the rear brakes and bleed them and it will be good to go. The interior is like new and the 35 year old paint work has never seen the sun or rain. The motor starts and runs very quietly and is verification of the rebuild. The tyres are as new, but at least 35 year old cross plies, so I have ordered a set of period correct steel wheels with M hubcaps 14 x 5.5 that I will fit 185/60 tyres. I will store the originals and have them on hand if and when I eventually sell it on and the new owner wants it back on the 'biscuit" ones.

A few more pictures. I hope to have it legally on the road by the end of this month. I do have a small patch repair to weld to the chassis member near the left rear spring hanger. When I get it mobile I have a 2 post hoist to make this task a lot easier.

And one last one.

It does come with a heater that I will have to install. It supposedly has all the parts and fittings, but I do have our whole Southern Hemisphere Summer to look forward to so have plenty of time to get it sorted.

Nice. Welcome to the forums.
What's the traffic laws in NZ?
Can you keep the original Indicator system or do you have to upgrade to a modern 'Amber All Around' arrangement?

In the UK, historic vehicles can retain period features such as the Red Rear Indicators.

Very nice car, congratulations and welcome to the board.

Welcome indeed. I'm thinking that you may have a so-called 'Dual Personality' Minor, given the '63 year of manufacture.

I've sent you a PM......which tells you all you need to know!

As far as I am aware, the indicators do comply in NZ. The previous owner has had it checked over and the brakes were the only real fail for our roadworthy (WOF) regulations. Provided a sympathetic inspection facility is chosen, older classic vehicles are treated with sensible consideration.

Owlsman wrote: ↑Wed Oct 16, 2024 8:08 pm Welcome indeed. I'm thinking that you may have a so-called 'Dual Personality' Minor, given the '63 year of manufacture.

I've sent you a PM......which tells you all you need to know!

Have made contact on FB

Nut17 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 17, 2024 8:08 am As far as I am aware, the indicators do comply in NZ. The previous owner has had it checked over and the brakes were the only real fail for our roadworthy (WOF) regulations. Provided a sympathetic inspection facility is chosen, older classic vehicles are treated with sensible consideration.

Good to hear.
Just in case you don't know, assuming it's still completely standard, the switching over of the Brake Lights to Indicators, and activation of the Front White Indicators, is controlled by that large Black painted relay on the inner wing.
That looks original,hence the black paint as it was probably looking a bit rusty.
If you ever get problems with it, the original ones are easily opened and cleaned inside, so don't rush to replace it with a modern one, which are just replica cases concealing 2 modern sealed relays.
The modern replacements are also very expensive, in the UK they retail for between £80-£110, depending who's selling them.