Morris Minor Owners Club

i have cleaned the engine bay since this picture but it is the one which shows the leads best. Look pretty old, don't they? They were on the car when i bought it a year ago and seemingly work fine (car runs great)

Could they be original?

These were used on Series III cars in the late 1950s with, as here, a side entry distributor cap. Great for originality, not so great if you are working near them when the engine is running, or using a radio in the car.

I recognise those! They were used well into the 60’s. My car had them. Once I accidentally touched a spanner against the copper spark plug connector while the engine was running and I got a bad electric shock. They are original or if not actually the original set, an identical set. They are copper cored, not suppressed and they never did have rubber boots over the spark plug connectors. Although I no longer have those leads (the insulation eventually broke down) I still use side entry distributor caps. Looks much neater. If you ever have reason to work around these whilst the engine is running, use thick rubber gloves and be careful.

What year is your car?

Stephen

svenedin wrote: ↑Wed Jun 10, 2026 7:16 am

What year is your car?

Stephen

It's 1965

The car is getting tuned this weekend (by AC Dodd) so will likely be replacing the leads but i will keep them as part of the car's history

Your engine steady bracket is upside down!

jiminwatford wrote: ↑Wed Jun 10, 2026 8:25 am

svenedin wrote: ↑Wed Jun 10, 2026 7:16 am

What year is your car?

Stephen

It's 1965

The car is getting tuned this weekend (by AC Dodd) so will likely be replacing the leads but i will keep them as part of the car's history

I have heard good things about AC Dodd. Yes I would think he would want to replace the spark plugs, distributor cap, HT leads, rotor etc. The distributor looks original and it may well be that it is very worn with possibly inoperative mechanical and/or vacuum advance. Do keep the distributor if it is changed as it can be rebuilt. Your coil looks like an old unit too and I would keep that as well because old coils tend to be a lot more reliable than the modern replacements.

Yes the engine steady bracket on the engine is upside down. I am not sure it really makes any difference but if you want to correct it, remember that is a cylinder head stud and it must be torqued back up appropriately.

Stephen

Thanks for the info!

I also have the same dizzy cap, leads and coil..........they were on the car when I got it and, I think, original. But I keep them as spares

I'll definitely keep them. It's nice that they still work so can be put on for that authentic appearance at shows and things