okp
Part of things
Posts: 183
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Jul 11, 2019 18:18:36 GMT
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I'm done with modern wibblepoo, just scrapped my e90 BMW after two days of ownership. Rammed full of unnecessary curse word technology, Now I have the opportunity to buy a Morris minor 1000, in good solid condition, engine rebuilt by a guy I know, k owns what hes doing, used to build race engines. So all round a good car, I know they were built as a family car to be used. But, in this day and age, are they good as a daily driver/ only car. I fairness it will be a weekend only car as I use my work van through the week, but the Morris would need to be up for some motorway miles. I arent expecting it to keep up with modern traffic and that's fine. Does anyone here use one as a daily? And what should I be worried about?? Cheers
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fogey
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,592
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Jul 11, 2019 19:07:24 GMT
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I would have no problem using a Minor as a daily, preferably a Traveller - you just need to understand its capabilities.
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Jul 11, 2019 19:24:11 GMT
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they were a daily 50+ years ago...still the same car , just the rest of the world has changed. as long as it will lift its skirts and not be a constant rolling roadblock then why not!! (i would)
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Last Edit: Jul 11, 2019 19:24:56 GMT by strikey
'80 s1 924 turbo..hibernating '80 golf gli cabriolet...doing impression of a skip '97 pug 106 commuter...continuing cheapness making me smile!
firm believer in the k.i.s.s and f.i.s.h principles.
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Jul 11, 2019 19:51:37 GMT
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i sold my modern car about 4 years ago and using a rover P5B as my daily. Overhauled the brake system and replaced all coolant hoses and waxoiled it as it lives outside. In the mean time, i replaced the automatic transmission and swapped the always leaking Rover steering box for a Volvo 164 one. It simply always starts, even in winter and no electric problems and it now has a few minor spots of rust but still in good condition. I almost think it is a German car disguised as a Rover. I had visions of non starting car moments, road side break downs but non of that all. It is a very reliable car and i even take my 85 year old father and 81 year mother out in it on 40 plus km rides The Moris is also rather simple so if the basics are oke, it must be reliabel
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Last Edit: Jul 11, 2019 19:54:59 GMT by petervdv
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okp
Part of things
Posts: 183
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Jul 11, 2019 20:06:52 GMT
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Ooft I'd love a p5b The styling is just spot on, and the grunt of the v8!
The Morris was a daily, and they were built for it, and that's my thinking, as long as its (like any vehicle) well looked after, theres no reason it cant continue to be a daily. With less to go wrong than a modern car... and the advantage that you could probably strip the full motor down at the side of the road with a swiss army knife hahaha
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There good little cars if looked after a few of my family own 1 or 2 at present. There’s loads of spares available still and I don’t find there prices too bad.
I prefer the Morris minor van and currently have my eye on a project. It’s crying out for a turbo and lowering.
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1967 Beetle
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We've run Classics as dailys for years, just gone for the sensible upgrades, electronic ignition, disc brakes where possible etc etc, you know the stuff. Not had a minor (yet!) But weren't they the most useable Classic in a poll a few years back? Do it, you'll regret it if you don't.
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ferny
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 984
Club RR Member Number: 13
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Morris minors ferny
@ferny
Club Retro Rides Member 13
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My only issue from using a Morris Traveller on a regular basis many years ago was that for shirt drivers they weren't very comfortable.
Even with drum brakes all around it was fine mixed in with modern traffic.
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A good mate of mine bought his Son one for his first car, he still has it aged 21. He learned to drive in it, took his test in it. His mates think it’s dead cool & as 17 yr old, about the cheapest insurance you’ll get
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first manual car i ever drove aged 8 was a caledonian grey moggy. super little cars.
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'80 s1 924 turbo..hibernating '80 golf gli cabriolet...doing impression of a skip '97 pug 106 commuter...continuing cheapness making me smile!
firm believer in the k.i.s.s and f.i.s.h principles.
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brachunky
Scotland
Posts: 1,316
Club RR Member Number: 72
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Morris minors brachunky
@brachunky
Club Retro Rides Member 72
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Jul 12, 2019 10:15:58 GMT
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A few pals have and love them although yours truly, has never even driven one! On the list to do!
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Jul 12, 2019 10:18:55 GMT
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A minor sounds like a great choice, they don't seem to have the ridiculous price tags that some cars of that era now have either. I'm curious to know what happened to the E90 to see it meet the crusher after 2 days ownership if you don't mind me asking?
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Jul 12, 2019 15:53:31 GMT
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The later 1098cc models are the most usable. As well as the extra power they've got bigger front brakes and a nicer gearbox.
A stocker will sit at 60 all day on the motorway. It won't be very quiet though!
They do feel more modern to drive than you'd expect and they've got wonderfully quick steering (about 2.5 turn lock-to-lock).
If you want to improve performance and/or usability there are loads of options, how far you go down that route is up to you. Saloons are the most affordable, with the 4-doors fetching slightly less. Good ones start form about £3k, but there are still bargains out there, you just need to be in the right place at the right time.
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1953 Minor (Long term project) PT Cruiser
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dan
Part of things
Posts: 589
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Jul 12, 2019 16:28:54 GMT
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I ran mine as a daily for 8 years and I used to regularly do 190 mile journeys between Kent and Birmingham when at Uni. They're fine on the motorway and will sit at 65/70 happily. I tended to draft a lorry for a less stressful journey until the M25 or the inevitable roadworks and then I got to go in the outside lane lol
They're great for teaching you to how to conserve momentum, take racing lines and being rear wheel drive are great fun until it goes horribly wrong in the snow. My dad used to say I drove everywhere at 60 and it didn't make any difference whether it was motorway or country lane.
If I knew what I do now I would have bought a traveller as they're just more practical for my family life nowadays. Minors are very basic and everything rattles on them but they're easy to work on. Some new parts are a load of curse word but that is the case for most classics
As said there are loads of options for modifying them. Better brakes, freeing up the breathing, a lowering and some weight reduction makes a world of difference. Mine now has 190 at the flywheel and is a very different beast to its original incarnation and while it's so much better in almost every way I do miss the low speed, simple thrills and being able to leave it anywhere
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Last Edit: Jul 12, 2019 16:30:16 GMT by dan
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okp
Part of things
Posts: 183
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Jul 12, 2019 17:10:34 GMT
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A minor sounds like a great choice, they don't seem to have the ridiculous price tags that some cars of that era now have either. I'm curious to know what happened to the E90 to see it meet the crusher after 2 days ownership if you don't mind me asking? Crank shells wore, crank started to knock cam cover gasket blew. Central.locking had issues, wasnt worth the repair bill.
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okp
Part of things
Posts: 183
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Jul 12, 2019 17:13:48 GMT
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I've a Morris on the cards. It's a 1967 2 door, it's been rebuilt, all rot has been cut out and new steel welded in, full respray, seats have been recovered in rear and it's got alfa seats in the front. The guy who has it used to build race engines for mini .... not the BMW mini! And is currently stripping the Morris engine down for a rebuild and a bit of a tune up. So I know its gonna be a good runner. But we are a family of 5 and my only main concern is room in the back.
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jonk
Part of things
Posts: 154
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Jul 12, 2019 21:59:41 GMT
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I had one as an everyday car (although I did mainly cycle to work) and up to about 40-50 they're not even that slow. On the motorway it was mainly noisy rather than it being the case that the car was struggling at 60/65. The saloons are a bit curse word for carrying stuff though, as their boot is a weird shape and the doors don't open wide enough to get large objects on the back seat. As I found when I'd just bought a chair at an antiques fair.
They get the most positive reaction wherever you drive them.
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okp
Part of things
Posts: 183
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Jul 14, 2019 16:47:04 GMT
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I have work van so it will really only be used weekends, the one I'm looking at buying has a midget spec 1275 engine, so a little extra "umph" I think I've made my mind up, it's the one car ive wanted to own since a young lad, and I hate everything about modern cars. I just have to convince the kids they're not "crappy grandad cars" as they put it
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Jul 15, 2019 17:24:30 GMT
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"Dad, dad, why's everyone staring at us and/or waving, dad?"
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Jul 15, 2019 18:54:54 GMT
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this one i saw at a local show yesterday should certainly keep up with modern traffic!
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'80 s1 924 turbo..hibernating '80 golf gli cabriolet...doing impression of a skip '97 pug 106 commuter...continuing cheapness making me smile!
firm believer in the k.i.s.s and f.i.s.h principles.
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