My brother has spotted one for sale outside a 'nice house'. He's hankered after one for a while now. He's thinking as a replacement second car or even as a third car.
He has only visually inspected it and read the details in the window.
Car is H reg, reading 9,000 miles, so no real idea of true mileage (probably irrelevant anyway). New wood, full MOT, servo brakes, good tyres, generally good condition. Some rust on rear door hinges, and signs of touching up below windows.
1. Any ideas re value? (I won't say initially waht it's up at)
2. How realistic is it to run such a car these days, even over fairly low mileages?
3. What should he look out for on this 33 year-old car?
4. Any advice re inspections?
Many thanks
Pat
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May I suggest a call to the Owner's Club (must be google-able)?
They should be able to put you right.
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Good that the wood is new. I expect it is varnished. If so, it must make the car look really smart, especially with white body paint, but is it very hard to keep the wood looking good. There is a restorer at Bath who can keep the car going indefinitely, and it sounds as if this one has benefitted from his attentions. This is a very strong car and I wish I had kept mine.
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Forget the sentimental garbage, they don't drive like a modern car, probably hasn't even got a heater, the seats are cruel after a few minutes, and the brakes are nearky non-existant. Test drive first then think seriously, many of my maters have had romantic ideas about old cars, then comes the dissapointment, and ooops, can't find any other mug out there waiting to part with their reddies.
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Nice to see an unbiased, cooly objective reply!
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Well, some excellent advice so far, though polarised!
Have to say that I agree to some extent with Flatfour's stance on this. And my bro is, in my opinion, looking through rose-tinted glasses! I'm not a mechanical expert, but I think cars from this era are quite high maintenance - grease nipples, points, etc.
I'll pass on what you've all said so far, but if there are any opinions etc then please keep them coming.
Thanks
Pat
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Pat, there was a topic on this some time back in which I posted fully, I think it was along the lines of ?what should I buy?.
I run two moggies as every day cars so I hope I know what I?m talking about and while I like the cars I also appreciate their shortcomings.
Check out Practical Classics magazine for a price guide and the Morris Minor Owners Club have a good website.
They make very practical and cheap cars for every day use, bits are very cheap, no tax or depreciation, insurance for me is £77 fully comp, agreed value, unlimited mileage.
I?ll try and find the other thread for you as I haven?t time to type out a buyer?s guide right now, but feel free to email me if you have any more questions.
Nick
ps, the heaters are ok!
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Found the thread, don't know how to post a link, but search on 'Minor' and it comes up as ' Morris minor - daily driver?'
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The MMOC club site is
www.morrisminoroc.co.uk/
In the current "Minor matters" magazine the Series 2 Traveller guide prices are
CAT 1 3750
CAT 2 2250
CAT 3 500
The categories are
1: excellent throughout, but not neccesarily concours - no visible rust
2: everyday use car in good condition (with mods, patches etc)
3: complete and running but needing major work to be fit for everyday work.
From a practical point of view -
They need TLC - suspension ("trunnions") greasing regularly. But if you enjoy getting your fingers dirty, the service kits are from 12UKP + VAT ( including oil filer and air filer, 4 plugs, rotor arm, distributor cap, points, and condenser ).
The biggest shock is the brakes ( but the servo mentioned should give you something approaching modern car feel).
Next is the gearing - it's like going everywhere in 3rd gear.
As commented the seats are not that nice.
Steering is nice and direct and sharp (if all is well)
Lever arm shock absorbers don't - but you can fit telescopics.
You can't keep up with the "cut and thrust" of the current traffic, but if you're in the usual jam, how fast can you go??
Make sure the woodwork is absolutely spot on, as it's structural!
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Memory may mislead me here but I am pretty sure that a pal of mine who used to restore and run Minors used a front disc brake conversion kit which was available, and also a Marina engine for more poke if required.
When I was in Darwin recently I saw three or four Travellers apparently happily running round.
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nick, to post a link, cut and paste the whole url from the address bar and remember to have a space before the http bit.
As nick says, very useful info on the "Morris Minor - daily driver?" thread here: www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=11319&...f
CMark (still running a 1968 Spitfire I "restored" 20 years ago)
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CMark
Thanks for that
Nick
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Many thanks for the useful info, guys. Esp Nick - cheers mate.
My brother has now had a teat drive is very impressed. Good interior, generally good bodywork. Says brakes need a bit of getting used to. No rear seat belts an issue as he has two kids, but presumably these can be fitted. I't got a 1098 engine.
The owner is asking £2595 and it sounds like it's a good cat 2 car, so I've advised him to haggle down a couple of hundred if he can.
He's very tempted and I think he'll buy it as a third car.
I'll keep you informed!
Thanks again
Pat
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For £2595 it's got to be a good example.
Just because the owner is asking that price though don't assume that it is a good example and not a plasticised rot box.
Tell your bro to take along a small magnet. He should look aroud the extremities (nost noteably the bottoms) of all the panels to check for filler, especially the wheel arches. Also, gently knocking the car with your knuckle will help to bear this out. Metal will give a more hollow knock than filler, but bear in mind where you're looking, ie an edge of a panel may sound different to the middle anyway.
In addition, take along a couple of sturdy car ramps and drive first the front, then the rear up and have a look inside the wheel arches. My Oxford did suffer from holes in these, though they weren't structural.
Finally, don't forget about its mechanical condition. Does the engine look suspiciously clean etc?
Also, regarding the price. Pricing of classic cars is a real lottery. My Morris Oxford was priced at £850 and with some careful negotoation I settled on £675, a large % drop. If it has been up for sale for a while, you may get a lot more that £200 off.
A mateof mine bought a Stag advertised a £2,500 a few years ago. He paid £1500.
H
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