Morris Minor Owners Club

What material was the panel of the rear trim cards that sit inside the wood beside the rear seats in a Traveller? Was it originally hardboard? Mine are both hardboard, and look old and like they are original, but I have in my head that my dad may have replaced the flat part back in the late 1980s.

I am referring to this item:-

(I've only just put the speaker in, that was not done in the 1980s)

I'm pretty sure mine were hardboard too when they were out during Ted's resto. They were a bit water stained but perfectly serviceable.

Thanks.
I am now thinking mine are original as well. If dad did replace the hardboard, I'd expect the chances of him getting the holes in the vinyl for the screws for the armrest moulding in exactly the same place are minimal!
Also I can't see what this piece of metal is for. It is located on the front lower edge of the panel right where it meets the inner box section. Seems to be on a kind of split rivet. Same thing is present on both sides.

Probably to strengthen the corner a bit

I did wonder whether it was to catch & engage with the box section to assist in retaining the panel in place?

ndevans wrote: ↑Wed Jan 08, 2025 3:21 pm I did wonder whether it was to catch & engage with the box section to assist in retaining the panel in place?

Curious....
I do wonder if it should be the other way up.
Close examination of the Parts Book appears to show it sticking down from the panel on the illustration.
Attention to very small detail by the illustrator.
It's not identified as a separate part in the Parts Lists.

Thanks for posting that, I hadn't thought to look at the parts manual!
The orientation of the photos has not come out correctly, both the metal tags are in the position shown in the diagram.

The metal tag should stick down as pictured in the parts book and not as yours are. The exposed tag then slots into the gap between the sill panel and the outer aluminium quarter panel and helps to retain the trim panel - otherwise there is nothing to hold that corner in position

ManyMinors wrote: ↑Wed Jan 08, 2025 5:32 pm The metal tag should stick down as pictured in the parts book and not as yours are. The exposed tag then slots into the gap between the sill panel and the outer aluminium quarter panel and helps to retain the trim panel - otherwise there is nothing to hold that corner in position

Thanks, I guessed correctly then!

I am replacing both hardboard panels as they have got damp and have warped.

Ahhhhh