Morris Minor Owners Club

Looking into a heritage certificate for a friend, couldn’t believe the cost. Now like most things, ——- all about money.

Depending on where he's located you can arrange to visit the Gaydon archive yourself and copy the details from the records if you know the chassis number. For the cost of the certificate you could have a day at the museum. You can even get a years membership for the price of your entry.
Unless of course its important to him to have the actual certificate.
Either way you are helping to support the museum

You pay extra for the privilege of having it e-mailed.

Bill_qaz wrote: ↑Mon Sep 29, 2025 11:20 pm Either way you are helping to support the museum

Sounds like a great idea, I didn't know you could get such details from the museum (never actually managed to visit it yet, so something to remember ).

Just something to note you can't buy a Heritage Certificate for LCVs or late Travellers after 1964, as the build records were destroyed in a fire at the Adderley Park factory.
Some of the gaps in the records could probably be filled from the records Chris has gathered for his book..

les wrote: ↑Mon Sep 29, 2025 10:38 pm Looking into a heritage certificate for a friend, couldn’t believe the cost. Now like most things, ——- all about money.

I may be wrong, but I think that's the same price (or similar) as it was when I first looked 6 or 7 years ago.

When it comes to museums trying to preserve heritage, I expect there to be a reasonable profit in it for them, they usually don't get any public money.

I don't know what processes are involved in producing a Heritage Certificate. Whether or not an archivist has to physically search for and through old ledgers or whether these ledgers are digitised. Nevertheless, it must be reasonably time consuming and then the certificate has to be created. The fees don't strike me as unreasonable especially as any profit goes to the museum.

Stephen

les wrote: ↑Mon Sep 29, 2025 10:38 pm Now like most things, ——- all about money.

In fairness to them I should say that I once tried to buy a Heritage certificate.

I forget exactly, but there was a point where you could either ask for specific details, or it was the case that they asked you what specifically you were after in terms of information on the application form.

I then received (email or post, I forget) a response letting me know that they didn't have the information on record, so had refunded me my money.

svenedin wrote: ↑Tue Sep 30, 2025 10:22 am I don't know what processes are involved in producing a Heritage Certificate. Whether or not an archivist has to physically search for and through old ledgers or whether these ledgers are digitised. Nevertheless, it must be reasonably time consuming and then the certificate has to be created. The fees don't strike me as unreasonable especially as any profit goes to the museum.

Stephen

They are hand written ledgers that the archivist (really helpful when I visited) goes through to glean the information. You can take notes,pencil only, but no photos, from memory. You have to pre-book your visit. I didn’t have a chassis number only a body number and a year range. A long winded process needing patience. I personally don't think the fees are high and it supports the museum if a heritage certificate is what you want.
If you visit don't miss the second building with the collection of stored cars and also the Jaguar trust and workshop.

Thanks for all replies, was shocked to see figures 50 to 60 pounds. but looks like I’m outnumbered !

les wrote: ↑Tue Sep 30, 2025 11:59 am Thanks for all replies, was shocked to see figures 50 to 60 pounds. but looks like I’m outnumbered !

I think as we get older, we don't keep up with the general costs of things and the relationship to other typical costs.

Eating out for example has soared in recent years, due to energy and other costs like wages.
I try to keep up with reports on the news about commercial/business costs and they are eye watering these days....

My local family run garage charges around £55ph, I hate to think what a chain/dealer franchise costs.

I know one thing about getting old, it’s remembering prices back then to what they are now. A Lambretta TV200 when new was £215 and a couple of bob, now a restored one of that model sets you back £12000 plus !

there has to be a sideline for a local, to have a look for your chassis number for you,

bobtail4x4 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 30, 2025 6:46 pm there has to be a sideline for a local, to have a look for your chassis number for you,

Sorry I don't understand what you mean?

people just want to know the build date and where it was delivered to,
I was thinking of asking for a certificate for xmas, but not at £50, Im from Yorkshire,
if a local can look and let you know for say £20............
could do a few in one visit.

Other clubs, The MG F/TF register are one example, provide certificates on build dates spec of car etc in certificate format when you join.
I wonder if the MMOC could do something similar.

les wrote: ↑Tue Sep 30, 2025 4:48 pm I know one thing about getting old, it’s remembering prices back then to what they are now. A Lambretta TV200 when new was £215 and a couple of bob, now a restored one of that model sets you back £12000 plus !

I think that's probably more due to their rarity these days.

moggiethouable wrote: ↑Wed Oct 01, 2025 6:46 am Other clubs, The MG F/TF register are one example, provide certificates on build dates spec of car etc in certificate format when you join.
I wonder if the MMOC could do something similar.

Unfortunately no. The factory records are not held by the MMOC, they are at Gaydon. As noted by others, the records are handwritten ledgers so the only way to get the information is to go to Gaydon and read those books. The cost of travelling there for every new member would be prohibitive.

les wrote: ↑Tue Sep 30, 2025 4:48 pm I know one thing about getting old, it’s remembering prices back then to what they are now. A Lambretta TV200 when new was £215 and a couple of bob, now a restored one of that model sets you back £12000 plus !

That's a blast from the past. I passed my motorcycle test on the one I owned, back in the day. I knew it as a GT200. Two tone green and white side panels.
No CBT then, just the examiner standing at the side of the road and watching you ride round a short course. Plus walking beside you to check walking pace competency!

Engine stamped TV but yes it was the GT 200, bought mine from a dealer in Clapham, ‘64 model £65. Still got the receipt. Covered in sand, probably from Margate beach ! I sprayed mine Brown and mustard yellow. Wish I’d take a photo. Big regret.
Examiners took a risk in them days, for emergency stop they’d jump out in front of you. Health and safety —— what’s that !