Description
I’ve decided it is time to sell my 1968 2 door Morris Minor. I bought this car in 2017 with the intention of using it as a daily driver. It drove verry nicely (I also have a Midget so know about the A series engine and gearbox), however the paint is very poor, and it needed some work. I had the front chassis legs and tie plates replaced by Charles Ware (shows you how long ago it was!), who told me it only needed a minor patch underneath to get it through the MOT. I then took off the cill covers and looked more carefully in the wheel arches, at the spring hangers etc. and realised it needed more than a patch!
I took it off the road to carry out the repairs required. The journey I’ve been through is fully documented on the MMOC Restoration Projects forum – search ‘Vanessa ’68 2dr saloon’ .
The chassis has been fully repaired:
• Front chassis legs replaced including tie plates and front panels
• Front scuttle panels and inner wings repaired
• A posts repaired (doors fitted to check gaps)
• Cross member replaced
• Inner floor panels on both sides
• Boxing panels on both sides replaced
• Outer undersills on both sides replaced
• B posts repaired on both sides
• Rear ¼ panels replaced on both sides
• Front spring hangers on both sides replaced
• Inner rear wings and flanges on both sides replaced
• Rear spring hangers on both sides replaced
• Rear bootwell panel and lower boot surround replaced
I’ve probably missed something, but basically the body shell has been fully restored, at all stage taking care to ensure everything was dimensionally correct. The underside has been painted with hammerite and sprayed with Dinitrol 4941 underseal. As far as I am aware no further welding is required to the body shell.
The car is currently a rolling shell on fully refurbished swivel pins fitted with poly bushes, rear suspension has all new bushes etc.
As mentioned above the running gear was all good when taken off the road, gearbox has been stored wrapped in a dry workshop, engine was last run about 2 years ago when I put it in my Midget for a couple of months whilst I worked on its’ engine. A number of parts were replaced – s/ s exhaust, carb rebuild kit bought, new mirrors, etc. Everything mechanical has been stored in a dry garage, basically it just needs putting back together. Many of the window seals etc. had been replace shortly before I bought the car, I suspect when it was painted white, and are in good condition. Steel doors, bonnet and boot lid are all in good condition, although the drivers’ door bottom will require repair and the wings will need minor welding around fixing holes etc. Wiring loom will require replacing. Seats are in reasonable condition (we started replacing the foam and webbing on these) but will need refurbishing. New head lining required (the one removed was ‘tacky’ as it had been sprayed white with cellulose paint!).
The main issue is that the car was originally Peat (brown) and has been painted badly with cellulose which needs stripping off and the car painted in what ever colour you fancy.
I’m selling it as an incomplete project as we are in the process of downsizing, and I don’t anticipate having the space to complete this project. I really want it to go to someone who will take it on and complete the rebuild, it has the potential to be a very nice car when completed.
