Morris Minor Owners Club

I am working on a 1970 Traveler and need some rear brake parts. I have ordered parts from ESM Morris Minors in the past. The web site is up and my selections go to the order basket but when I go to purchase I get a message that the is something that can’t be shipped in my order. Doesn’t say what it is. The email question site will not send my email. I tried calling at 3am from California and got the number doesn’t work. Are they still in business or is it some kind of ghost website?

My understanding is that they will no longer ship to the USA because of the tariffs etc imposed on imports from the UK.

I am not aware that ESM no longer ship to the USA but there are definitely items that they cannot send by airmail. These items include paint, solvents etc. The OP would have to ask ESM directly what it was in his order that could not be shipped. Usually, the item description clearly states "UK mainland only". By the way, ESM is very much in business! I received an order with the usual next-day speed this week.

Stephen

I’ve used ESM for two restorations over the years, we are lucky to have such a company and as mentioned the delivery is second to none.

les wrote: ↑Fri Jun 05, 2026 8:05 pm I’ve used ESM for two restorations over the years, we are lucky to have such a company and as mentioned the delivery is second to none.

Yes, this is an interesting write up of the history of ESM written by the founder of the business. It was originally given as talk to the local MMOC branch. This doesn't display properly on my computer but if I hover my mouse over the text a plus symbol appears which if I click it brings up the article so it can be read.

https://www.morrisminorspares.com/downl ... _esm_3.jpg

Stephen

From another site
https://www.morrisminorforum.com/forum/ ... -uk.67199/

Well how very odd. Wonder what I’m doing wrong.

It's not just the tariffs. There are reports that numerous material content and source information is required. This information has been requested by manufacturers from their suppliers for years. Much of this had been originated by the EU and California has some additional requirements. This is an international requirement. I know the original (forty years ago) intent was to control/identify undesirable material entering a country, thus was required for importing. What may be new is requiring this information at the consumer level. ESM's suppliers outside of England should have this information but would also need it to export to any country. I understand there had been an exempt monetary level for importation to the USA for specific items such as auto parts which has been eliminated. This may be why the can of worms was opened.

I recently inquired about several items needed for my ‘59 pickup from ESM. I received the following response:

Hi Bill

Sadly we are unable to ship anything to America at the moment. We done a trial run of a few orders 3 weeks ago and I’m still trying to get them through customs. Unfortunately they now want numerous sheets of paperwork per item on an order.
If it helps, the wheels are available direct from John Brown Wheels, I’m not sure where they stand on U.S. shipping at present but it would be worth contacting them.

Best Regards,

Sam
ESM Morris Minors
The Old Factory Buildings
Battenhurst Road
Stonegate, East Sussex
TN5 7DU
Tel 01580 200203
www.morrisminorspares.com
www.austina30a35parts.co.uk

Very disappointing here in the US as I am unaware of anyone else with the broad selection of Morris parts. If they face the same problem with shipping to the Euro Union I would expect a big impact on their business. As for California they require whacky cancer and birth defect warnings on virtually everything. I suspect much of it is political motivated against interests and activities that aren’t far left liberal approved.

Moss is a US company originally but I don't know whether they have branches in the US or whether Moss Europe (Who list Minor parts) ship there. Minors didn't sell terribly well in the US, at least not compared with the VW Beetle or MG sports cars, so this may have a bearing on parts supply. Mini parts are supplied by US companies and the Mini wasn't a big seller there, though I think the Mini's competition successes have gained it a following in the US.

I would agree that ESM is a good supplier and their workshop is also first class. I tend to do most of my own work but of those, who have worked on my Minor for me, ESM are by far the best (And that includes a well respected body restoration specialist, who I am sorry to say, didn't do such a good job as the Morris Minor Workshop). I hope they keep going and stay independent.

Basically the current US Regime has increased the difficulty of exporting to the USA, aimed at making US manufacturers step up and make things instead.
No consideration of specialist supply lines for niche products.
No consideration of anything of any complexity.
No actual business sense....
I'm still wondering how NASA managed to get their rocket around the moon with a European Service Module attached.....
https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/or ... ce-module/

It'll drastically increase costs, but you could always go the forwarding address route where ESM would ship to a UK forwarding firms' address, then the firm (which you're paying a premium for) deals with all the customs stuff themselves and gets things sent to you.