Morris Minor Owners Club

I have seen rubber gaskets advertised for the ‘Morris’ badges at the front of the bonnet but don’t think they were an original fitting. Are they recommended or serve any purpose?

I can't say if they're original, but my guess would be they help stop the metal-on-metal contact from the badges rusting the bonnet by wearing the paint away when the engine is running.

I bought an old pair of over-riders once, the previous owner had split plastic tube (like wire insulation) to go on the sides of the curves where it's against the bumper blade, presumably for the same idea (except they'd turned to rock from age).

They do protect the paint

Well they might protect the paint but if badges correctly fitted there should be no such problem.
Certainly not original.

But a discrete and worthwhile 'upgrade' then