Last days for one of my MMs

for those with Series MM sidevalve cars produced between September 1948 and February 1953
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Scott
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Last days for one of my MMs

Post by Scott »

After donating it's roof for the repair of SMM1228 in 1989 & sitting outside topless for the subsequent 27 years, it's time for this little MM to meet it's maker.

It's an unusual car (sort of) in that it's a CKD but it appears to have been built prior to the factory being officially opened in Australia. Wikipedia has the factory opening in March 1950 but this car has the features of a 1949 car such as the bonnet stay chain & early windscreen rubber (joiners now in the UK on Frank McDonagh's MM).
It has the 'rotodip' hole behind the battery but there's a contoured plate screwed in to cover it.
The roof had the rounded gutters & this was converted to sharp gutters for #1228.

Unfortunately, being a CKD, the actual car number seems difficult to work out (see photos) but the engine number places it around mid 1949. Seeing as '4047' is stamped into the body, I assume the '23518' is the UK number.

I can only assume it was sent out from the UK in 1949 & sat around in Australia waiting for the local factory to come on line.

Click on the photos for full size.

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Scott

[url=http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/523/bo16vy.jpg]1948 Series MM[/url]
[url=http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/2484/dcp001046qp.jpg]1962 1000[/url]
[url=http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/9625/19705bp.jpg]1970 1000[/url]
[url=http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7259/nullabor25ns.jpg]1959 Van[/url]

[url=http://www.morrisdownunder.com/forum/index.php]Aussie Forum[/url]
POMMReg
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Re: Last days for one of my MMs

Post by POMMReg »

30544/4047

30544 = UK chassis
4047 = 4047th 2dr Oz

The 6 digit number is the progressive number(I think?)

It's just a guess, much like all things....
Further investigations uncovered it was an inside job!!
sparesman
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Re: Last days for one of my MMs

Post by sparesman »

There must be some parts worth saving or are lowlight parts still plentiful in Australia? If it was in the UK we would strip it to a virtually bare shell before scrapping it.
1934 Morris 10/4 in Dark Green / Black - BGO517
1953 S11 Traveller in Birch Grey - oldest survivor ? Export model now reg PPO924
1953 S11 Traveller in Black - 3rd oldest in UK PPX344
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Scott
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Re: Last days for one of my MMs

Post by Scott »

It's been sitting outside with no roof on for nearly 30 years now. There's absolutely no interior & any saveable lowlight specific parts will be removed.
Interestingly, it had a 12/48 regulator on it so that will be handy for another early car.

The later engine had an early head on it so I removed that & was surprised to find the bores/pistons very clean. The motor even turned over easily by hand. This is after sitting for the last 27 years with no manifolds or bonnet so that must be a benefit of leaving a sidevalve sitting around - water can't go up into the engine!!

So the engine & gearbox will be removed now & I'll probably take the diff out too if it comes out easily enough (I think it will fall out anyway).
Scott

[url=http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/523/bo16vy.jpg]1948 Series MM[/url]
[url=http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/2484/dcp001046qp.jpg]1962 1000[/url]
[url=http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/9625/19705bp.jpg]1970 1000[/url]
[url=http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7259/nullabor25ns.jpg]1959 Van[/url]

[url=http://www.morrisdownunder.com/forum/index.php]Aussie Forum[/url]
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