Marse Miner.

[Uncle Jimmy]

Anyone on here own a Minor? (The wheeled variety) Thinking of purchasing one of these fine gentleman's carriages.

But, are they painfully slow? Is motorway driving possible?

[vulgalour]

Yes and yes.  Also rust.

[Uncle Jimmy]

Slaying an MGB and putting the engine in a minor will solve all the issues in a poetic way then.

[eifion]

Motorway driving's possible in a standard Minor, I did it for many years, but you pretty much have to drive them flat-out to keep up with everybody else. I used to have a t-shirt with an old Minor advert on it that said "0-60 in 28 seconds" which should give you some idea as to how quickly they go. They can also be draughty and cold in the winter and you have to grease the front suspension and other bits every 1,000 miles. And, as Vulgalour said, they do rust. Oh, also, people will come up to you a lot and say "I used to have one of those."

 

 

That said, they're reliable, cheap to run, easy to fix and parts are readily available so if none of the above puts you off I'd go for it.

[HMC]

If your after more motive power the (relatively) big engine bay will accommodate everything from 1275cc of a series upwards. Back when fiat twinks were commonplace in scrapyards they were a popular transplant- wonder if anyone's lobbed an mx5 lump in one?

[Squire_Dawson]

The traveller is the one to go for. The saloon's boot will not take much luggage (though the rear seat folds down).

[mercrocker]

1098 models are perfectly adequate and ( if you are prepared to sit at 60 instead of 70 ) quite happy on motorways.   Travellers are indeed more useful but are made of wood - a completely useless material for everyday useage 50 years on.    On the subject of roominess a 2 door is a lot easier to get in and out of than 4 door saloons but will rot a lot more constructionally if those back windows let in rainwater (which they almost certainly will).

 

Acceleration from traffic lights, keeping up with traffic etc is all perfectly feasible.   You learn the old arts of anticipation and correct gear useage but once you are in the groove you won't be holding much up.   

 

If you do buy one, use it as you intended for a good while before planning any mods - they are easy cars to make unpleasant.  

 

I grease mine every month, its no real hardship once you have a routine established - takes me about 10 minutes, cocking around with the grease gun cartridges is actually more time consuming than the job itself.

 

They do rot and they are quite complex to repair properly  so do ensure you get the best possible body condition for your money - check front and rear chassis legs (spring hangers at the back), sills and have a look at the floor pan to get an idea of previous repairs.

 

Using one daily (have done for 11 years) is entirely feasible - winter prep consists of massive waxoyl (Bilt Hamber, actually in preference...) session around October, removal of carpets (damp floors are Morris killers), change of anti-freeze and that's about it.

Boots all leak - drilling holes in the rear boot floor panel is the best way to prevent water accumulation.

 

go for it - you will always find a willing buyer if you need to move it on.

 

I love mine even though I never really wanted one!

[vulgalour]

I wonder if a Triumph straight six would go in, I like those engines.

[purplebargeken]

Buy one. Just do it.

[dollywobbler]

Jumping out of my 2CV, I found a 1098cc Minor horribly slow and laboured. Which is odd given it has far* more power (48bhp to 29 IIRC). Felt flimsy too, though better than the 948cc one I was commuting in for a time. Also, brakes are AWFUL if you're used to something that actually has brakes.

[AlabamaShrimp]

1098 models are perfectly adequate and ( if you are prepared to sit at 60 instead of 70 ) quite happy on motorways. Travellers are indeed more useful but are made of wood - a completely useless material for everyday useage 50 years on. On the subject of roominess a 2 door is a lot easier to get in and out of than 4 door saloons but will rot a lot more constructionally if those back windows let in rainwater (which they almost certainly will).

 

Acceleration from traffic lights, keeping up with traffic etc is all perfectly feasible. You learn the old arts of anticipation and correct gear useage but once you are in the groove you won't be holding much up.

 

If you do buy one, use it as you intended for a good while before planning any mods - they are easy cars to make unpleasant.

 

I grease mine every month, its no real hardship once you have a routine established - takes me about 10 minutes, cocking around with the grease gun cartridges is actually more time consuming than the job itself.

 

They do rot and they are quite complex to repair properly so do ensure you get the best possible body condition for your money - check front and rear chassis legs (spring hangers at the back), sills and have a look at the floor pan to get an idea of previous repairs.

 

Using one daily (have done for 11 years) is entirely feasible - winter prep consists of massive waxoyl (Bilt Hamber, actually in preference...) session around October, removal of carpets (damp floors are Morris killers), change of anti-freeze and that's about it.

Boots all leak - drilling holes in the rear boot floor panel is the best way to prevent water accumulation.

 

go for it - you will always find a willing buyer if you need to move it on.

 

I love mine even though I never really wanted one!

This sounds exactly like the thing I'd want to hear if I wanted one.

 

It's getting all a bit retro rides with this "keeping up with modern traffic" and changing the engine shit. Just think more and actually look after it and an old/slow car is as good as any other.

Most of the time traffic isn't going above 30 anyway.

[captain_70s]

 I used to have a t-shirt with an old Minor advert on it that said "0-60 in 28 seconds" which should give you some idea as to how quickly they go. 

I have that T-shirt, clearly an iconic Autoshite fashion statement.

 

Can't be any slower than my Dolomite anyway. I timed my 0-60 once, 34 seconds with my foot planted to the floor and burning oil shooting out of the exhaust. I once had it sat at a steady 75mph on the dual carriageway for a few miles but I'm pretty sure that 10 min stint knocked 10bhp off the max power figure...

[PiperCub]

Remember reading a tale about  a chap who was reading the local paper in the west country, looking at the cars-for-sale section he reckons he saw an ad for a 'Marse miner'.

Clearly the telesales girl was either new to the job &/or didn't understand west country accents. 

[They_all_do_that_sir]

Rover OMGHGF seems a relatively popular conversion.

 

I'd imagine even the 105bhp from a 1.4 k series in a minor would be entertaining, frugal and great Craic until the inevitable mixing of oil and coolant

[Asimo]

Avoid Travellers at all cost unless you want a summer only garage queen. They can deteriorate at a fantastic rate in British weather. The A series engine is awful, but awfully easy to keep going. For me the best bit is the steering, when all is in order and on good tyres the steering is sublime. Brakes aren't good, definately worth modifying, but leave the rest as is.

[plasticvandan]

One thing you can be certain of,is different opinions! I've owned three minors as dailys,not once did I think they were slow,but I've never owned a modern,so haven't gone soft.if you want to do 70-80mph,you need to move on a decade.The Minors launch predated the first motorway by 11 yrs.

 

Brakes,I never had any issues at all,the first one I replaced the entire system (shoes,springs,drums,hoses,cylinders,£100) and the brakes were as good as any drum set up.

 

I love the a series,very,very reliable,simple su carb and Lucas dizzy,head gasket change time of an hour.mods I liked were duplex timing chain,alternator,leccy ignition,halogens,radials. Not much else really.soundproofing makes a big difference,especially on motorways.

 

Rust is going to be the main issue,as with anything that age,if you can weld then no worries.parts cheap and everywhere,most of the big minor specialist have more on the shelf and a quicker service than most modern main dealers!

Avoid Charles ware unless you have very deep pockets.

2 drs better than 4 if you are tall.

Best to go for would be a late 2 Dr saloon.

[michael1703]

Bits thar rust:

 

Front panel,tie plates,front wheel arches,flitch panels,A posts,floor,boxing plates,B posts,crossmember,chassis legs,sills,sill extensions,rear wheel arches,rear chassis leg,spring mounting eye,spring hangers,rear bumpstop plates,boot floor,boot lid lower edge,rear panel,wings.

 

Roof,bulkhead and transmission tunnels are normally ok.

 

Brake master cylinder is normally pissing fluid but you don't know as it sits in the chassis leg.

 

I'd avoid a traveller as they're just extra hassle, the sliding window rubbers direct water into them

[Uncle Jimmy]

Weldage is within my capabilities, I is Actually thinking of a van. Failing the MM, then an A35 is another possibility.

Always seemed odd to me that the travellers framed back is ash and not something durable like teak.

[mercrocker]

Think it was ash for flexibility, not sure though....I have never seen the need for anything that once grew leaves to be anywhere near a motor car.

 

Vans expensive and if anything more rot prone and less pleasant at motor way speeds.

 

Having had both, I would deffo take the Minor over an A35, especially for daily-ing.   Easier to work on, easier to get bits for and in my opinion a better drive.   

 

However, this is not Which magazine and I suspect you might end up with a timber-framed Austin A30 van conversion fitted with a 3 pot Daewoo engine......

[loserone]

Avoid Charles ware unless you have very deep pockets.

We must be near that part in every MM thread where I link to this page, though

 

http://www.morrisminor.org.uk/index.php/durable-car-ownership.html

[michael1703]

I use http://www.dsnclassics.co.uk/minor-parts-shop/for minor parts.

 

I've been there a few times too, the bloke has every part number in his head

[barrett]

I once got very overtaken on the A23 by a young lass in a boggo Minor and she wasn't even trying very hard. Admittedly I was in a Standard 8, but clearly a Minor is a real rocketship even on today's roads. I'd like one but they're too expensive really and I'd rather have a Standard. Don't put bloody radials on ffs, it'll look and ride like shite

[Asimo]

Can't agree about not fitting radials: 80 series look fine on Minors and are a huge improvement over crossplies

[AnthonyG]

I drove a Minor for the first time in the summer and they are perfectly good cars, a 1098 is certainly capable in almost all situations and the handling is fine - the ride is the most obviously 'vintage' thing about the car. Brakes are OK for the cars capabilities providing they are as they should be, and disc conversions are fitted to many survivors.

 

As for rust, well all 1950s/1960s cars suffer from that and the Minor is the only model you still see in daily use, a result of the parts availability and basic simplicity of the body design I guess.

 

Be aware that vans are desirable, worth more than Travellers and on a par with Tourers, only the pick-ups have a higher 'scene tax'.

 

Bargains are 4 dr and 2 dr saloons, with perfectly decent, usable examples available for a grand and sometimes less if you are in the right place at the right time, or are prepared to take a risk on a non-MOTed example.

 

This reflects the amount of survivors, BMC 11/1300s are nicer vehicles in many ways but the number left of them on UK roads is probably less than 1% of the amount of Minors still trundling about.

[Eddie Honda]

Avoid a Travellers unless you want to be endlessly pondering the pea and ham / chicken conundrum.

 

[purplebargeken]

Minors are ace. Get one. 2 door is best, vans and pick ups are ace but fuggin expensive. Travellers look nice but all that rotting wood, nah. 

[cros]

Found a picture of my minor from 10 years ago. I sold it because of the pain of keeping on top of the wood- it was used all year round. It had a 1275 and 5 speed type 9, would leave it standard if I had another though. It managed the caravan OK except once into a very strong headwind and then it didn't. 70 miles in 3rd gear. When I see the monstrosities that people tow these days I reckon they must get into the same situation as modern stuff is so high geared. It ran on LPG and was spotted a few years ago, I hope its still going strong.

[mercrocker]

Cheltenham Fawn? Nice outfit - wouldn't try it with my 1098, though!

 

Portafold's my limit....(no airflow restrictions either!)