Advice sought on buying a Traveller

[pgp001]

Hello all

I don't own a Traveller yet, but have seriously considering buying one to run as my everyday and only transport when (or just before) I retire in about four years time.

I currently run a 1.8 TSI petrol Skoda Yeti as my everyday car, and my other car for playing in at weekends is a 1936 Austin Seven special. The Austin has been with me for 21 years, but now we have a dog it is not quite as practical as it used to be and is getting used less and less as each year goes by. Hence the plan to get a Traveller which should get a lot more practical use..
My question is do I sell both these cars and spend the money on a fully sorted and upgraded Traveller in as new condition with a warranty etc from a dealer, or just sell the Austin Seven and buy a half decent Traveller from someone privately.

I certainly don't want a project car, it would have to be ready to use from day one, my main worry about all this is how the wood frame and underneath the body etc will survive stored outdoors, I do have the option of putting a carport up at the side of our bungalow.

Having asked various Traveller owners at recent car events, I am getting widely differing opinions.
Some said it will be no problem at all keeping it outside and using it all year round, another said that if it had been raining that day they would not have even risked coming to the event in their Traveller.

My gut feeling at the moment is to keep the modern car for everyday use, then sell the Austin and buy a Traveller for playing in during the summer months.
I would probably put up a car port to keep the wind and rain off it, and maybe tuck it up under a breathable tailored cover as well when its not being used during the winter months. Unfortunately it will not fit in the garage where the Austin lives, it would if I sold both my motorcycles as well, but that is not an option I would consider.

Does anyone on here have any practical suggestions or advice they can offer please ?

Thanks
Phil (West Yorkshire)

PS, My wife says it's a Traveller or nothing, so saloons and vans etc are off limits !!

[palacebear]

My personal viewpoint: You may have to spend A LOT of money buying from a dealer. Dealer warranties often aren't worth the paper they're printed on. Even cars restored by Minor specialists are sometimes not as good as you might expect. You can easily get a clean useable one (maybe needing a little improvement) privately for far less. Depending on your budget you should have money left for unforseen repairs.

If you have to leave the car outside, a breathable car cover may not afford the protection you expect as condensation can still form beneath it. I have no personal experience of how well the timber frame withstands the elements, but I'm sure there are plenty of folk on here who will gladly share their experience.

[SteveClem]

In my opinion it's essential to keep a trav under cover and well ventilated.
Mine had to sit outside for a couple of months a few autumns ago while the garage was extended and the wood was soon showing signs of some kind of mould. Little black spots that were a devil to get rid of!

[myoldjalopy]

When these cars were new, lots of them sat outside. And many weren't looked after very well, especially when they moved into the second-hand market. Over time, many bit the dust, including one I had back in the 80's! Now, of course, they are collector's items and deserve much more cosseting - which includes regular servicing/maintainance and keeping it in a garage, if at all possible. That's not to say they shouldn't be used, that's why they exist - indeed, my 1955 saloon is the only car I have. But whether you keep the traveller as a 'hobby car' or as your only driver depends whether you want to use it a lot and for what purpose - and how much time/money you want to spend keeping it in good condition.

[simmitc]

It's a question that is asked quite frequently. A search of old posts will reveal widely differing opinions. What is right for you has to be your decision, but it will be well informed from advice on this site. We run two travellers as every day transport (one each) and they both sit outside and get driven in all weathers. In winter people at work have remarked how my traveller always manages to get there. They will never be concours cars but they are absolutely fine in the wet. For regular winter driving I advise heated front and rear screens and halogen (Wipac quadoptic) headlamps. If you want to go the hole hog you can have heated seats too

[SteveClem]

Yes,I agree that they should be used,and in all weathers. Just pointing out that if they are left outside and neglected they will deteriorate more quickly than a modern car.
If used on salted roads I think it's wise to power wash the underside afterwards. And an annual coat of waxoyl isn't a bad idea.

[pgp001]

It's a question that is asked quite frequently. A search of old posts will reveal widely differing opinions. What is right for you has to be your decision, but it will be well informed from advice on this site. We run two travellers as every day transport (one each) and they both sit outside and get driven in all weathers. In winter people at work have remarked how my traveller always manages to get there. They will never be concours cars but they are absolutely fine in the wet. For regular winter driving I advise heated front and rear screens and halogen (Wipac quadoptic) headlamps. If you want to go the hole hog you can have heated seats too

Hi Simmitc and all the other people who have replied.

You seem to have a very positive view on the use of your Travellers, however I am getting even more confused about what I should be thinking, from the responses there seems to be two very different schools of thought here.

1. There are those who cherish their car and look after it in immaculate condition to the extent of almost being afraid to let it get rained on, and who would not dream of leaving it outside a heated garage.

2. There are those who use their cars for what they were originally designed for, but at the expense of having more maintenance to do to keep them in one piece, and are happy to let the car take its chances in the weather.

I think I might fall somewhere in between those two.

Looking at where we are today a Traveller would probably have to be just a replacement for the Austin Seven and thus not get used much if at all in the winter months. We would however be able to get much more use out of it the summer even if it is raining. We do use the Austin when it is wet, but it is getting much less enjoyable as years go by, and putting that hood up and down is a right pain.

So do we all think my plan to store it under a car port is going to work, it would be kept there all year round whether it was being used or not ?
I know a garage would be ideal, but that is not an option, surely if a car port keeps the rain wind sun and snow off it that is almost as good isn't it ?

Not sure if I should be excited or frightened at the prospect of Traveller ownership now.

Phil

[les]

You should find a car port fine, it allows air to get round the car. Its never a good idea to leave a wet car in a garage.
If you want a car that needs no work doing to it, you might have to sell both cars!

[pgp001]

I dont really know what I will get for the Austin yet, but am hoping for at least £9500 to £10,000 based on others I have seen sold that dont look anywhere near as well sorted as mine.
It really is a cracking little car that needs nothing doing to it. If I am not careful I will be wanting to keep it.

DSC04744.JPG (2.46 MiB) Viewed 2067 times

There seems to be a fairly good choice of decent looking Travellers for that kind of money, do you think I would need to spend more to get a really good one ?
Phil

[les]

Well no, that price is good car territory. You still need to be careful though, as no doubt you will be aware. Some people/companies see Minors for sale a very high prices and do likewise. Justified in some cases but not all. Car buying is a minefield, especially with old ones. nice Austin!

[pgp001]

Just had a thought.

I hope I havn't offended anyone by putting a picture of an Austin on a Morris forum

Phil

[myoldjalopy]

Good condition car.......car port......regular servicing and necessary maintainance........all should be groovy!

[philthehill]

My opinion for what it is worth:
Keep the Austin 7 Special and keep the Yeti.
You will only regret parting with the Austin and regret purchasing the Minor Traveller.

Unless you are prepared to spend time and effort in looking after and maintaining a Minor Traveller I would advise you not to go down that route.
Modern cars have serious intervals between servicing/maintenance. The traveller if used daily will require regular maintenance and if carried out to the maintenance schedule as published in the BMC wksp manual you will spend most of your time under the bonnet/car.
I know that others will disagree with me but having run a Minor as a daily runabout and as a long distance commuter vehicle and with no other vehicle available - having a modern to do the same means I can spend time on the important things in life.

Your Austin 7 Special is very nice and looks from the photo to have been very professionally finished - did you build her yourself?

[Blaketon]

Looked after, I don't see why a Traveller shouldn't provide good regular transport (That's what they were for) but I am a big believer in keeping cars garaged. I have no experience of these but they look interesting - http://www.gazebox.net/ . Is there room behind the garage, for a motorcycle store? How high is the garage - could you put the Austin on top of one of these - http://www.hamercarlift.com/ ? I don't have a modern car but it's also true that I cycle to work, so the Morris doesn't get a hard time. There are two reason for this; one to help the car last longer and the other is designed to make me last longer. Since I have always done my own servicing, I don't fancy a modern car (I did have a new car once but that was 30 years ago and it was a Mini).

Yours is one of the most likely modern cars I would buy; I have zero interest in modern cars but the Yeti looks like it was designed to do a job, whereas as most appear to be styling exercises, that went wrong. The Berlingo looks the same type of car as the Yeti but I suspect the Skoda might be better built.