Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi everyone

A simple question if I may but I realise it will have many nuanced answers. We have moved to the Lincolnshire coast and the weather is pretty awful during the winter (not much better in the summer ). I now only have a single garage and just had a car port put on and because of a chimney breast I am just shy of getting a car down the side under cover, school boy error but one nonetheless.

I can’t quite make up my mind on a saloon or a traveler I will be happy with either, but the car will have to live outside on the drive.

I have done lots of research and the arguments of cover verse no cover seem quite varied and I get that, we each have our own experiences and opinions.

Given the car will have to live outside on the drive, I presume the saloon would be ok, but in your experiences please would a traveller be ok or would it just be madness given the wood.

Looking forward to the NEC show and new ownership.

Cheers

Ian

Ian,
Do you plan to drive the Morris during the winter? Do you get snow and are the roads salted in Lincolnshire? If the car won’t be moved I would suggest getting it up off the ground both to save the tires from flat spots and to increase air circulation under the car especially if you do cover it. Snow and salt are car killers here in upstate new york.
Bill B

Hi Bill and thank you for your answer.

Yup I do intend to drive through the winter just to keep it going.

In Lincolnshire the only thing they do to the roads is ignore the potholes.

I doubt if we will get much snow but the wind and rain is vicious during the winter.

Cheers

Ian

I have no experience of covers to comment on them, but if you are going to keep it outside without one, all you can do is keep the exterior well waxed, and rust-proof the cavities and underside, and keep an eye on things to make sure rust doesn't start to creep in. If it does, you'll just have to deal with it before it gets too bad. And make sure there are no leaks to the interior - wet, soggy carpets are a fast track to chassis rot, not to mention the condensation and smell.

I would have thought that the Traveller though the more practical car is less suited to outside living than the saloon.

Quite a while ago I worked at Cranwell and recall the foggy, cold damp of Lincolnshire in Winter. I also drove through Beast From the East and Beast From the East 2 which was "interesting". Actually it was rather terrifying but we made it with no dramas whilst all around there were abandoned cars and cars off the road in ditches in the deep snow. It was nice to see Lincoln cathedral in the snow. Very atmospheric.

Lots of people say "but these cars were always outside when they were new". Yes most of them were and they rusted away rather quickly......


Stephen

myoldjalopy wrote: ↑Fri Oct 30, 2026 4:51 pm I have no experience of covers to comment on them, but if you are going to keep it outside without one, all you can do is keep the exterior well waxed, and rust-proof the cavities and underside, and keep an eye on things to make sure rust doesn't start to creep in. If it does, you'll just have to deal with it before it gets too bad. And make sure there are no leaks to the interior - wet, soggy carpets are a fast track to chassis rot, not to mention the condensation and smell.

Thanks much appreciated.

Yes it does look like keeping on top of things is the best approach. I’ve just finished a 50 year affair with motorbikes and I’m sure the same principles apply.

I think I would rather like the traveller as it does look much more practical and I want to be able to get my road bike in for any races I might attend and I think it may just fit in without dropping the front wheel out.

I think what worries me more would be the wood frame being out in the elements all year round. If it can stand up to it with proper treatments and care then that would be fab, but if not then I think it is a non starter.

Cheers

Ian

svenedin wrote: ↑Fri Oct 30, 2026 5:08 pm I would have thought that the Traveller though the more practical car is less suited to outside living than the saloon.

Quite a while ago I worked at Cranwell and recall the foggy, cold damp of Lincolnshire in Winter. I also drove through Beast From the East and Beast From the East 2 which was "interesting". Actually it was rather terrifying but we made it with no dramas whilst all around there were abandoned cars and cars off the road in ditches in the deep snow. It was nice to see Lincoln cathedral in the snow. Very atmospheric.

Lots of people say "but these cars were always outside when they were new". Yes most of them were and they rusted away rather quickly......


Stephen

Oh how I remember the Beast from the East, we were living on Hessle Foreshore by the country park at the time, we had a house fire and lost heating etc, that was a fun filled time for one and all. Never been so cold. I think I was warmer on exercise in a Norway each winter many years ago.

I think your wise words about a traveller whilst not being what I want to hear are no doubt correct and the saloon much more suited.

I get what you are saying about what people say about being always outside and yes there are many cars and bikes lost to rust because of it. I’ve got the time now to lavish love and attention on what ever I get but don’t want to be on a looser from the start. I’m sure a saloon will just as much fun.

I am off to the NEC for the show to drool and make me mind up. Looking forward to it.

Cheers

Ian

You could keep a traveller outside, and some do, but then you have the risk of wood rot as well as metal rust. The thing would be to carry out annual maintenance of the wood to make sure it is as weather-resistant as it can be. Others on here with travellers will be able to share their thoughts on the best approach to this job. I did have a traveller once, but that was way back when these cars were thought of as 'old bangers' and it eventually fell to bits as I totally ignored its structural deterioration - mushrooms in the woodwork, back doors fell off, chassis crumbled etc.
Its ongoing work really, so a saloon would be less labour-intensive. But they are all going to rot away eventually. All we can do is slow that process down as much as we can.