1955 Traveller, VAS 788

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Alex_Posch
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1955 Traveller, VAS 788

Post by Alex_Posch »

Hello!
As I'm new to the messageboard, I'd like to introduce myself to you. My name is Alex and I'm from southern Bavaria in Germany.
A year ago, I bought myself a 1955 split screen traveller and restored it. I bought it from a german guy whose brother lived or is still living in Leamington Spa, who got it from an Englishman (6 former owners). The british reg number was VAS 788, the body number is FLE11/379144.
So if anyone knows anything about the history of this little Morris of mine, please let me know.

Many thanks,
Alex


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SII Traveller, 1098ccm, restored and fun to drive
firedrake1942
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Re: 1955 Traveller, VAS 788

Post by firedrake1942 »

Interesting colour!
Alex_Posch
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Re: 1955 Traveller, VAS 788

Post by Alex_Posch »

Interesting colour!
I wasn't able to get a proper empire-green/almond green mixed in Germany... But yes, it's interesting :lol:
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SII Traveller, 1098ccm, restored and fun to drive
palacebear
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Re: 1955 Traveller, VAS 788

Post by palacebear »

Looks almost like BLMC Aqua, used on very late Travellers. Both nice looking cars :)
1956 4-door called Max
DAVIDMCCULLOUGH
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Re: 1955 Traveller, VAS 788

Post by DAVIDMCCULLOUGH »

Welcome Alex, I also have a series 11 traveller. There is a register for the remaining cars and a website.

Happy motoring!

David

http://series2saloonconvertibleregister.weebly.com/
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Alex_Posch
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Re: 1955 Traveller, VAS 788

Post by Alex_Posch »

Thanks a lot, David!

Lovely Traveller of yours!
Image
SII Traveller, 1098ccm, restored and fun to drive
firedrake1942
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Re: 1955 Traveller, VAS 788

Post by firedrake1942 »

Clarendon Grey? AND you take her out out in the rain. Respect !!! (innit)
Tea
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Re: 1955 Traveller, VAS 788

Post by Tea »

Nice car, Alex!

Did you keep the tow bar on the car and, if so, do you have extra supports going from it into the floor or does it solely rely on the bumper posts? We're in the process of fabricating ours at the moment.
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Re: 1955 Traveller, VAS 788

Post by DAVIDMCCULLOUGH »

firedrake1942 wrote:Clarendon Grey? AND you take her out out in the rain. Respect !!! (innit)
Yes clarendon grey, coming over to the national in it next week, might even get time to polish it before hand!


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firedrake1942
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Re: 1955 Traveller, VAS 788

Post by firedrake1942 »

C u (as my kids would type) there in my Clarendon Grey 57 4 Door.
HarryMango
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Re: 1955 Traveller, VAS 788

Post by HarryMango »

remember it well - used to be owned by forum member rayofleamington

Rog
rayofleamington
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Re: 1955 Traveller, VAS 788

Post by rayofleamington »

Hi!
Good to hear from you.

Yes the car came from Leamington Spa.
I don't know much of the history - I sold it to a young guy from Germany who was in the UK at a drinking/camping weekend in Devon*
(* It was a warm up session for Plymouth-Banjul charity rally).

I bought the car from Yorkshire. The modifications were done before I got it.
Eg 1098 engine and gearbox and front brakes.
Late model Traveller locking steering column.

The car looked nice but the repairs underneath were not perfect. In my ownership I replaced all the brake cylinders and pipes and drums etc.. and filled with silicon fluid.
Ray. MMOC#47368. Forum moderator.

Jan 06: The Minor SII Africa adventure: http://www.minor-detour.com
Oct 06: back from Dresden with my Trabant 601 Kombi
Jan 07: back from a month thru North Africa (via Timbuktu) in a S3 Landy
June 07 - back from Zwickau Trabi Treffen
Aug 07 & Aug 08 - back from the Lands End to Orkney in 71 pickup
Sept 2010 - finally gave up breaking down in a SII Landy...
where to break down next?
2013... managed to seize my 1275 just by driving it round the block :(
Alex_Posch
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Re: 1955 Traveller, VAS 788

Post by Alex_Posch »

Did you keep the tow bar on the car and, if so, do you have extra supports going from it into the floor or does it solely rely on the bumper posts? We're in the process of fabricating ours at the moment.
No, I did not keep the towbar. The way it was mounted, it relied to the bumper posts and there were supports to the rear apron boot floor.

I bought the car from Yorkshire. The modifications were done before I got it.
Eg 1098 engine and gearbox and front brakes.
Late model Traveller locking steering column.

The car looked nice but the repairs underneath were not perfect. In my ownership I replaced all the brake cylinders and pipes and drums etc.. and filled with silicon fluid.
Great to hear from you!

As far as I can remember, the guy you sold it to was the brother of the guy who sold it to me. And he was frighened by the welding work that needed to be done, so he never started to restore it.... As I bought it, the brake system was still working great, but the required welding really was extreme - one of the pre-pre-pre-owners really was an artist in working with filling compbound! See image below

The modifications are still in, I'm fine with a little bit more "power" from the 1098 and good brakes 8)


Image
Image
SII Traveller, 1098ccm, restored and fun to drive
firedrake1942
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Re: 1955 Traveller, VAS 788

Post by firedrake1942 »

A really good job and back to what looks to be the original paint colour too.
Alex_Posch
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Re: 1955 Traveller, VAS 788

Post by Alex_Posch »

A really good job and back to what looks to be the original paint colour too.
Thanks firedrake, took me a few hours :lol:
Image
SII Traveller, 1098ccm, restored and fun to drive
Alex_Posch
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Re: 1955 Traveller, VAS 788

Post by Alex_Posch »

I've been in contact with Phil from the SII register. VAS788 was re-registered FEB 311 and it was used as a model for a insurance leaflet:
Image

So does anyone know details about FEB 311? :roll:
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SII Traveller, 1098ccm, restored and fun to drive
firedrake1942
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Re: 1955 Traveller, VAS 788

Post by firedrake1942 »

How many colours was that car ? I know which one I really want to drive, and who to drive it with !
sparesman
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Re: 1955 Traveller, VAS 788

Post by sparesman »

I think FEB311 was on the S11 Traveller register when I kept it in the 1980s. If so there would have possibly been some correspondence with the owner at that time. Phil may still have this old file.
Bryan
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
Alex_Posch
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Re: 1955 Traveller, VAS 788

Post by Alex_Posch »

Thank you sparesman, I'm going to ask him if there was a chance to get in contact with the former owner
Image
SII Traveller, 1098ccm, restored and fun to drive
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