Morris Minor Owners Club

Just curious for people how many annual miles do people do in their moggies

And how many people use their cars as daily’s


I recently bought my car end of March and I suggested 3,000 miles a year which is 250 per month but I love driving it so much at least drive I do 25 miles minimum per drive so I am racking up some mileage more so than I thought.
But they are designed to be used.

Im just curious as to how many miles people tend to do annually. And what model moggie they have

Mine is a 1959 4 door 948cc saloon.

Mine is a 1098cc 1969 convertible. I do about 4,000 miles a year, I did have a 3,000 mile per annum insurance policy but it wasn't enough. My car gets used most day except in winter when there is salt on the roads. Mostly the trips are quite short but once a year we go overseas with Minors on Tour.

Stephen

Nice one do you change the engine oil and filter annually also? Or more

jmk2g40 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 17, 2026 10:03 pm Nice one do you change the engine oil and filter annually also? Or more

Annual change of oil and filter. At one time I drove the car a lot more and would change every 6 months.

Stephen

Well yes, they were designed to be used, like all cars ! If you choose not to use it regularly, specify your estimate mileage for insurance purposes.

I specifically bought a Traveller to use as my daily drive. Mine is used several times a week, fetching and carrying all manner of things.
Mine is totally standard, no modifications and purrs along happily on cheap E10 fuel.
The only drawback can be the number of people who can hold me up by wanting to have the 'my first car/dad had one/is it really wood?' conversation. One of the best was a chap who told me he did his skid pan training in a Traveller while serving in the RAF.

1962 1098 4 door.
Summer use only, days out and classic car shows, 5000mls to date in 4 years ownership.
Oil and filter change once a year.

My SII (with 948cc engine) is my only car - I wouldn't drive anything else - and I use it regularly all year round, though certainly not every day. Having said that, I don't go very far and probably clock up a little less than 3,000 miles/year on average. When I used to use my Minor for work, I used to do in excess of 12,000 miles/year.....

Just got mine (1958 Saloon, 948) but plan to use it a lot, cars should not be sitting for too long, just cause problems , I just try to avoid using it in winter if roads are salty.

I have a few other cars also, but I still expect to drive it around 3000 miles per year or so.

We have classic car insurances here in Sweden that are cheap (30 pounds a year or so), but they are very limited, you can only drive a small amount every year and you are not allowed to use the car for any kind of daily driving, car have to be kept in locked garage and so on, so I do not use them.

I use a normal traffic insurance for up to 6500 miles per year, its around 90 pounds here so not very expensive any way.

Mine is under 1000 miles per year these days (depends on where Minors on Tour goes!).
Fifty years ago (when it was my only car), it was 12,000 miles per year, commuting from St Albans to White City. Plus annual trips to the Mediterranean.

Insured for 3000 miles, probably do 1000 pa. Garaged, short, slow local trips, roof comes down in April and hopefully stays that way till October.

Probably not the best way to use a car but it suits me.

Absolutely agree that these cars need to be used. We hear about so many problems caused by the cars sitting unused for too long. They need use and regular maintenance. Things seize up. petrol goes bad, grease hardens, brake cylinders seize, it's just not good for the car. Although I appreciate that there are owners who live in harsh winter areas, if at all possible take the car out even in winter on a nice day. Every year there are multiple questions about why cars will not start after winter "hibernation". I do not agree with hibernation. It causes too much trouble. A winter rest yes but not a hibernation!

Stephen

My Traveller is nominally the runabout but it doesn't get a lot of use. It was laid up for a while, whilst I didn't have time to rectify a bodged Ware's five speed conversion but up to that point, I had done between 12 & 13000 miles in eight years. I used to cycle more miles than I drove but since I now have to do my mother's shopping (She is 89), the bike isn't ideal for that, even if I fitted the pannier bags!! I've always made use of buses, to save wear and tear but now I have a pass, there's even more incentive to use them.

Now that the Traveller is more or less at the end of the various jobs (https://practically-classics.co.uk/foru ... php?t=8939), with only the new to me and modified by me front seats, to be upholstered, the car has had more use. It's done one 250 mile round trip, taking the seats to the trimmers and there will be another to collect them. I now have a bit more time to use the others but I never get near the 1500 mile limited allocated to each car by the collector's policy. For decades, driving has been something I do mainly for pleasure, though sometimes there will be another reason for the trip. I think when it's something you don't do that often, it will be more pleasurable. Thirty years ago, I craved getting behind the wheel more (Especially when I was driving a single seater in competition) but now I just enjoy a quiet run in the country and try to pick my times and pick my routes toward that end. I can't really get away for events and whilst I have no urge to compete again, I'd not rule out the odd classic car show, so long as it's not raining (I've had my fill of wet weekends) and I can enter on the day.

I've done about 1200 miles, in five years, in my late father's MG Midget, less than that in his MGB GT V8 and, at a guess, a bit less in my MG Midget 1500. I've probably driven my mother's MGB GT most of all in the last five years. One of the brother's, at the place who do MOTs, joked when I had taken the brake drums off one of them, to check the linings, that cobwebs would be all I'd find. I've just about finished changing the right hand exhaust gaskets on the V8 (Awkward to get at because of the steering) and fitted some tab washers, so I hope to give that an airing soon, as I hope to do with the Midget 1500. I keep notes in them, to remind me of when they were last used and which bit needs polishing next (Sometimes I will just do the lot in one go). They are started and moved, brakes operated regularly and always stored under dust covers, with the handbrakes off (In gear with wheels chocked) and the battery (Disconnected save for a small fuse) connected to a battery saver.

Blaketon wrote: ↑Tue Jun 23, 2026 2:43 pm now I just enjoy a quiet run in the country and try to pick my times and pick my routes toward that end.

When this World Cup stuff is on, the roads are clear for a pleasant drive, like being back in the 60s. !

I’m insured for 3000 miles a year. I was still waiting to get my full manual licence when I got Nellie so 3000 was all I could get insured for. I think it will be enough. I use her as my daily but as I mainly work from home I’m not doing lengthy commutes and most of my driving is local.

Nellie is a 1960 4 door saloon, 1098 engine

les wrote: ↑Tue Jun 23, 2026 7:22 pm

Blaketon wrote: ↑Tue Jun 23, 2026 2:43 pm now I just enjoy a quiet run in the country and try to pick my times and pick my routes toward that end.

When this World Cup stuff is on, the roads are clear for a pleasant drive, like being back in the 60s. !

That’s a good point, I’ll have to time my next drive for match day!

"When this World Cup stuff is on, the roads are clear for a pleasant drive, like being back in the 60s."
It was even better in 2020 during the imposed house arrest period. More like the 1950s then. No Feds around where I live - at any time, then or now.
A Tesco bag for life on the front passenger seat - "I'm off for some essential food Constable."

Just checked, there’s a game tonight, a bit late for a meaningful drive though, would be peaceful however.

I would be happy to be able to drive mine to work which is 8 miles each way 3 days a week...so like 50 miles a week and I would be happy...I do not plan any long trips with it...back and forth to work would work for me..
MikeC