Morris Minor Owners Club

Hey again,
I did an initial ‘budget’ sheet when I first started looking into MM ownership and I feel like it’s doable. Just going over figures and I want to check I haven’t missed anything. Now of course I know it’s impossible to plan for every eventuality, some stuff I will just have to deal with if it arises… but I want to keep a side pot for things that are guaranteed, like insurance etc
I’m not taking into account initial outlay for the car itself as I have been saving for that, I’m just talking about day to day things. So far I have:
Insurance
Service (I’ll put away for this but I plan to self service hopefully!)
MOT
Petrol
Oil/brake fluid/coolant etc

I’ve also considered tyres, but with the little bit of millage I plan to do I’m hoping that unless there is an issue, tyres won’t be something I have to replace often!

Is there anything major I’ve missed with regard to day to day costings?

It's going to depend a bit on all the modifications that may have been made, for example it may have a spin-on oil filter conversion so you'd be buying a different oil filter to standard etc. but here's the service kit prices these days:
https://www.morrisminorspares.com/search/service-kit

Some people just say to buy whatever oil you can get, rather than expensive stuff. In my case I tend to go for this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00OIPZ21A
since it's a known brand, and every so often Amazon drop the price considerably and it's the same (at least on the 948/1098) oil for the gearbox too.
This is what I put in the diff (again, Comma):
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003BPNP4O?th=1

Coolant, depends if you want to mix your own from concentrate or buy the pre-mixed stuff to just pour in. Making your own is cheaper but for some, less convenient.

Also disposal of the old coolant can be an issue depending on your local authority (for example your local dump.... recycling center.... may not accept old coolant. I forget which member got in touch and got permission from their water board? to flush it down the toilet.

Brake fluid, not sure if it makes much difference in a Minor to buy expensive vs cheap dot4.

MOT - In case of work required, you should probably find out the hourly rate of whichever garage would do it since that has a big impact on things. Back where I used to live, none of the MOT people would do the work required for mine (rust repairs) so it had to go to a specialist for the work to be carried out. Though you're unlikely to buy one as rusty as mine was

Tires - The recommendation is to start considering them for replacement depending on condition after 7 years, and definitely replace them by 10 regardless of appearance.

I base services on mileage, that is every 6000 miles I would change oil, spark plugs, points and filters.
Some of the more careful among us base it on time, every year they will give the car a full service.
Brakes at some stage will require new brake shoes, but that depends on when your car last had a full service, as the shoes may have been done, paperwork will prove that.
So, as with any car FSH (full service history) is always useful documentation to inherit.
Cars that stand still too much can end up with a seized hydraulic brake piston, but they are easily replaced and I would say if you run the car regularly over the spring and summer you will be fine.
My car has no history from its first 45 years of life, but in the last 15 years of my ownership has full history documented, a buyer would be content with that.
At 90,000 miles mine needed a new water pump, numerous rubber water pipes, a radiator and lots of worn out interior parts, seat covers and carpets etc.
Also, I fitted rear seat belts.
But those parts may have been renewed on your purchase.
Don't get too bogged down in maybes, if the one you find has a good history then jump in.
Even if something catches you out all parts are available and a darn sight cheaper than a modern, also there will be a local club and specialist services at your end too.
My only regret was not getting a traveller to squeeze the dog in, but he loves the back seat, so it all worked out.

moggiethouable wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 5:21 pm traveller to squeeze the dog

That must be a huge dog if it's still a squeeze

moggiethouable wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 5:21 pm Cars that stand still too much can end up with a seized hydraulic brake piston,

Since I haven't heard of that, is that even with the handbrake off etc.?

Well, its a generalisation, I have had two over the years, of course that was because I let the car stand still too long.
If I had bothered to squeeze the brake pedal from time to time it would not be a thing.
I built a kit car once and fitted a Rover V8 engine and manual box, the slave cylinder to the clutch did exactly the same thing and was a swine to remove and refit, so I learned my lesson.
Monthly I would jump in, depress the pedal and hey ho, no issues.

Thank you for the advice! Yeah I don’t want to get too bogged down, most of it I will just figure out as I go along haha… but I know there are things that are inevitable, like insurance so I just want to at least make sure I put money aside for things like that.

If I end up buying the little mog I saw on Sunday, she has new tyres and will have an MOT and service before she goes to her new owner… she’s going to be a hard one to beat tbh!

mrs.smith2012 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 5:43 pm she’s going to be a hard one to beat tbh!

https://youtu.be/pIr2KOD3gw0?t=91

Being realistic, you ought to budget for the inevitable repairs. No matter how well the car has been looked after in the past, it is old, and some of its components will be just as old and may fail at any time. Others may not be of the original quality.
May all your breakdowns be minor ones!

Might be an idea to budget for annual corrosion inspection/treatment (wax oil, Lanoguard etc) to keep the inevitable rust repairs at bay for as long as possible.

Chief wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 6:30 pm

mrs.smith2012 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 5:43 pm she’s going to be a hard one to beat tbh!

https://youtu.be/pIr2KOD3gw0?t=91

Hahaha! Man I LOVED this show! I remember watching that scene

myoldjalopy wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 6:34 pm Being realistic, you ought to budget for the inevitable repairs. No matter how well the car has been looked after in the past, it is old, and some of its components will be just as old and may fail at any time. Others may not be of the original quality.
May all your breakdowns be minor ones!

Plan is, once I have put aside money for the necessaries like insurance, MOT etc the rest will go in a ‘repairs pot’ just ‘incase’ because I know it’s inevitable that it’s going to need something at some stage! Of course that means no more vintage dresses or lunches out.. but I am fully committed to making that sacrifice
You can’t repair a car in a vintage dress anyway, I’ll have to invest in a nice pair of overalls

panky wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 6:44 pm Might be an idea to budget for annual corrosion inspection/treatment (wax oil, Lanoguard etc) to keep the inevitable rust repairs at bay for as long as possible.

Oh yes that’s a good one, I did get a price for this from the chap who’ll be doing my MOT so I’ll add that to my list! Thanks!

mrs.smith2012 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 7:25 pm You can’t repair a car in a vintage dress anyway, I’ll have to invest in a nice pair of overalls

Hasn't stopped me so far.....

Chief wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 5:17 pm

Coolant, depends if you want to mix your own from concentrate or buy the pre-mixed stuff to just pour in. Making your own is cheaper but for some, less convenient.

Also disposal of the old coolant can be an issue depending on your local authority (for example your local dump.... recycling center.... may not accept old coolant. I forget which member got in touch and got permission from their water board? to flush it down the toilet.

That was me, way back in 2017.....
viewtopic.php?p=617651#p617651

Chief wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 5:23 pm
Since I haven't heard of that, is that even with the handbrake off etc.?

Yes, it's to do with cylinders and their pistons, if not exercised.

viewtopic.php?p=706603#p706603

ndevans wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 7:34 pm

mrs.smith2012 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 7:25 pm You can’t repair a car in a vintage dress anyway, I’ll have to invest in a nice pair of overalls

Hasn't stopped me so far.....

I’m sorry but photo evidence is required

geoberni wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 8:05 pm

Chief wrote: ↑Mon Nov 24, 2025 5:17 pm

Coolant, depends if you want to mix your own from concentrate or buy the pre-mixed stuff to just pour in. Making your own is cheaper but for some, less convenient.

Also disposal of the old coolant can be an issue depending on your local authority (for example your local dump.... recycling center.... may not accept old coolant. I forget which member got in touch and got permission from their water board? to flush it down the toilet.

That was me, way back in 2017.....
viewtopic.php?p=617651#p617651

This sounds like a headache, I’ll just flush it down the loo (that IS a joke by the way!!) I will definitely have to make enquiries about this though

It’s not feasible to itemise every thing, the first year of ownership will tell you a lot. As you’ve more or less suggested, budget for necessary stuff then put what you can in the pot, or just pay as required. Putting money away religiously each week/month is easy to avoid, unless you’re very disciplined.

Good advice, thank you

Actually I must admit my biggest worry is not so much the cost, it’s learning to drive it
I’m under no illusions that it’s going to be anything like a modern car