Morris Minor Owners Club

Tim_t commented on Bring a trailer about a ‘59 pickup:
“ original spec is grill would have been body color, bumper painted silver and wheels were commonly birch grey on dark green Morris vehicles..(after ’59 ‘old english white’ became the common wheel color, but van and pick ups switched to silver painted wheels from ’67 onwards)”. True??
I’ve been trying to find a sample chip online. The BMC tables Ive found begin with 1964. Online paint suppliers and examples here on the forum vary from a neutral medium to light tone to a warm brownish colour. That one referenced Rover. Maybe a different modern version?
I’ve got a set of spare wheels that I am going to clean and paint and mount 145R-14 Firestones on. I think a medium to light grey or muted silver would be a good choice. I painted the wheels on my previous truck grey.
I like the look of the whitewalls presently on the truck but they are 175’s and predate DOT date codes. They show no tread wear and the sidewalls have only minor crazing but they are probably 25 years old.
Any source or suggestions on what Birch Grey looks like?

I matched the grill and wheels colours on my original 61 van prior to restoration. The grill colour was Old English White and the wheels were darker than Birth Grey I matched it to RAL7001.

I touched up my old spare from the previous truck with a little Rust-oleum spray. I didn’t know how close it is to Birch Grey but I kinda like it. Could be a touch lighter. The wheel is a stock 3x14. The tire is a more modern space saver, probably from my old ‘01 Golf. It tucks nicely between the cab and wheel arch. Im thinking of mounting it there. It had been mounted in the standard spot to the cab of the previous blue truck. A PO of the current green truck filled in the mounting hole in the bulkhead. Rather than drill the metal I think I’ll screw a bracket to the wood. I don’t really like the wood anyway and might remove it in the future. I don’t know what’s behind it so will have to find matching paint if it’s not painted.

If you remove the timber, you’ll have to relocate the wheel. I suggest you find the original mounting hole. I’ve attached a picture of a wheel retaining ‘bolt’ which you may find useful. The dimensions are to suit a 4 1/2 inch wheel, so for your narrower one, you’ll may have to extend the threaded part of the bolt.

Thanks Les,
Do you know what the thread is? I didn’t find any UNF or ISO metric bolts that fit the old truck. I ended up chasing something on my lathe but don’t recall the dimensions. If I do recall it was close but not quite 7/16s

Ah you’ve caught me there, I can’t remember but I would suggest it’s a BSF thread either 7/16 or 1/2 inch. I know someone with a pickup if I’m able to contact him, he may know.

Just been in touch with Keith, who is busy restoring his pickup. He confirmed the thread is 7/16 BSF.

Thank you both.
Can either of you confirm that ‘59 LCV’s had Birch Grey wheels and what shade grey that was?
Bill B

Bill,
I matched the grill and wheels colours on my original 61 van prior to restoration. The grill colour was Old English White and the wheels were darker than Birth Grey I matched it to RAL7001. Later wheels mid 60s were silver for all LCVs

According to Ray Newell's "Original Morris Minor" book, all Series 111 commercial vehicles (from 1956) had Aluminium Silver wheels from new.
I don't personally remember seeing Birch Grey wheels on them and certainly the later 1960s commercials had a darker metallic silver wheel colour.