A car for the family to enjoy

Discuss anything Morris Minor related.
Forum rules
By using this site, you agree to our rules. Please see: Terms of Use
Post Reply
Mandrake
Newbie
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2015 11:37 pm
MMOC Member: No

A car for the family to enjoy

Post by Mandrake »

Following the very recent arrival of our first child I am considering selling my 1967 MGB GT for something that the whole family (2 adults, 1 baby and a small dog) can [safely] enjoy in the future. This will not be the main daily family car but will be for weekend and evening excursions and adventures. Ironically the Morris was actually my second choice when choosing the MG, but this was without the foresight to know that only a year later I would be a proud father.

I have read a number of buying guides and with a provisional budget is £3000-£4000 I hope I can get a good example of a late Morris Minor saloon. Whilst the saloon was designed as a family car for the masses there are a few more modern family considerations that I would appreciate further some advice on.....

Seat belts – I would be looking to get 3 point inertia belts fitted to the rear seats if not already present. How much should I budget for professional fitting? (Chertsey Minor is my nearest specialist)

Doors - 2 or 4 doors? Whilst I prefer the styling of the 2 door model the 4 door would obviously give more access to the rear. Can I assume the front seats on the 4 door are non tilting and bolted down which would therefore be safer for a child seat in the front later?

Childseats - We have a Maxi-Cosi Pebble already which can be secured by seat belt and not just via iso-fix base. I have no idea however if this will fit in either the front or back of a Minor. Any tried and tested makes and models from fellow parents would be appreciated as we will have to buy another seat(s) as baby gets older.

Boot - I cannot find any dimensions for a Morris Minor Sallon boot so if anyone would be kind enough to check if a folded pushchair measuring H80 x W62 x D25cm that would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks in advance for any comments, thoughts and suggestions.

Any contact with local owners in SW London (TW/KT) would be particularly welcome.

Regards,

Joe
bmcecosse
Minor Maniac
Posts: 46561
Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2005 11:24 pm
Location: ML9
MMOC Member: No

Re: A car for the family to enjoy

Post by bmcecosse »

Seems to me a Traveller will be more suitable for you! Original advertising shows prams/luggage/dog etc etc all being loaded up! You could easily install a dog mesh to keep the dog away from the people.....
ImageImage
Image
Mandrake
Newbie
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2015 11:37 pm
MMOC Member: No

Re: A car for the family to enjoy

Post by Mandrake »

bmcecosse wrote:Seems to me a Traveller will be more suitable for you! Original advertising shows prams/luggage/dog etc etc all being loaded up! You could easily install a dog mesh to keep the dog away from the people.....
Thank you for your suggestion, however I think a good solid Traveller is out of my £3000-4000 budget.

Dog is thankfully small and well behaved and we have a seatbelt harness to secure him to a seat. No current plans to further expand the family so four seats and a boot big enough to fit our very collapsible pushchair is enough.
irmscher
Minor Legend
Posts: 3773
Joined: Wed Jul 14, 2010 10:53 am
Location: South Manchester
MMOC Member: Yes

Re: A car for the family to enjoy

Post by irmscher »

There are plenty of travellers within your budget :D there may be one for sale in your local MMOC or someone who knows of one
SteveClem
Minor Legend
Posts: 1904
Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2011 11:37 am
Location: Near Belper
MMOC Member: Yes

Re: A car for the family to enjoy

Post by SteveClem »

I agree that a Traveller would be far more practical. Also much better rear vision so safer. Some in your price range in latest Minor Matters ads.
DAVIDMCCULLOUGH
Minor Legend
Posts: 3010
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2007 10:42 pm
Location: Whiteabbey, Co Antrim
MMOC Member: Yes

Re: A car for the family to enjoy

Post by DAVIDMCCULLOUGH »

There are no child locks fitted to a 4 door saloon, you simply unscrew the door handle and keep it in the glovebox for when needed! The front seats are the same on a 4 door and do tilt, but if you wanted to it wouldnt be difficult to make a bracket to hold them to the floor.

Im sure someone local would let you try your push chair in a minor to see how easy or otherwise it is to fit. I know pushchairs that fit into a mini boot are available!

Good luck in your search :D


Too many Minors so little time.....
mike.perry
Series MM Registrar
Posts: 10183
Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2005 11:39 pm
Location: Reading
MMOC Member: No

Re: A car for the family to enjoy

Post by mike.perry »

I fitted a boot rack on my Series MM to carry the push chair although it might fit between the front and rear seats. The boot opening is an awkward shape to fit long obects.
Early front seats had folding backrests and tilted forwards, later seats only tilted which makes entry to the back seats on a 2 door more awkward. Only the driver's seat is adjustable for reach.
I would not fit a child's seat in the front of any car as it is too easy to be distracted by the occupant.
You could fit later front seats which would be on an adapter frame securely bolted to the floor and both with adjustable backrest and reach.
I would go for a Traveller as the best option (I have one). If you buy privately you should find one within your budget
The London SW Branch meet at the Telegraph, Putney Heath on 1st Wednesday of the month
Last edited by mike.perry on Mon Jan 12, 2015 8:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
[sig]3580[/sig]
SteveClem
Minor Legend
Posts: 1904
Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2011 11:37 am
Location: Near Belper
MMOC Member: Yes

Re: A car for the family to enjoy

Post by SteveClem »

A decent Traveller takes some beating! I'm always collecting stuff that won't go in the Bosses year old Golf. And it's a lot more fun.
mowogg
Minor Fan
Posts: 356
Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2007 9:45 pm
Location: Chichester West Sussex
MMOC Member: No

Re: A car for the family to enjoy

Post by mowogg »

I have and continue to transport my children in a 4 door saloon. it works really well, and we have travelled considerable distances in mine

We have a Britax 3 wheeler buggy -this fits easily into the car boot. As they grow up we found a stroller was easier, which can be fitted in the rear footwell.

For seat belts I found issues with fitting some seats. Initially I fitted 3 point belts, but reverted one to a lap belt for the early stages.

Rear seats are considerably more springy than modern car seats, so you need to hold the seat in well and secure it against the base. I found 3 point belts tended to tip the car seat so reverted to a lap belt for the early stages. A base works really well -I used an isofix base (not using the isofix fittings as they also work with belts). These bases really stabilise the seat, as they have a foot on the floor. Lap belts secure these easily
Mandrake
Newbie
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2015 11:37 pm
MMOC Member: No

Re: A car for the family to enjoy

Post by Mandrake »

Thank you to everyone who has replied so far.

I appreciate the comments about the traveller, but I would like to stick with a saloon if possible. Also whilst my budget may allow a traveller it will probably get me a better quality saloon and with a young baby I suspect I will have limited time and money for any major repairs or restoration.

It has been very reassuring to hear about positive experience of family use and some great advice about of car seats.

In regards to boot space, hopefully it should fit but also hopefully I can find someone who will allow me to try in their saloon. mowagg if you can recall what model Britax 3 wheeler buggy you had that would be appreciated, for size comparison.

Regards,

Joe
mowogg
Minor Fan
Posts: 356
Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2007 9:45 pm
Location: Chichester West Sussex
MMOC Member: No

Re: A car for the family to enjoy

Post by mowogg »

We have an earlier version of the bsmart pushchair. You have to take the wheels off but this is very quick. After about 12 months the stroller takes over as it is smaller and quicker.
ManyMinors
Minor Legend
Posts: 2752
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2014 9:41 am
MMOC Member: No

Re: A car for the family to enjoy

Post by ManyMinors »

I broadly agree with what has been said by others. You would be very lucky to find a genuinely good traveller for £3-4000 now. Most in that price range require a bit of work which is hard to find the time to do when you have a young family. A traveller even in the best condition requires more maintenance than a saloon because of the timber frame. We have owned travellers as well as saloons over the years as second cars for a family and have come to the conclusion that the saloon suits us best in many ways. that budget will buy you a much better saloon than a traveller, as you say. Also, a saloon can live quite happily outside and be used daily if required where a traveller really needs to be kept under cover if the wood is to be preserved. I found the saloon to be quieter and more relaxing to drive and to be much more water-tight too!

Rear seatbelts. I bought a pair of inertia-reel belts for under £70 and fitted them myself without difficulty although I did also purchase some proper mounting plates (FIA approved from TRS Motorsport and very inexpensive). I also agree with one poster who mentioned that a lap-belt actually secures a metal framed child seat for very young children MUCH better than an inertia-reel belt in cases where the belt is around the SEAT rather than the child.

So, for me it's another vote for saloon - particularly in 4door form which gives better access to the rear for children and shopping etc. Another benefit of a 4door is that the front seatbelt mountings are better thought out too although of course the front doors are smaller. I have found this to be no real problem and I'm not really small. It also seems to me that 4door saloons are sometimes less expensive than the 2door versions!

Go for it!
Post Reply