Morris Minor Owners Club

I've had several 'failures to proceed' over the years and each time I've been thankful for the precence of a full hard shoulder to abandon the stricken vehicle. The first was a flat tyre in Phyllis, and the second a sudden loss of power whilst in the third lane of the M5, which was exciting to say t...

Sad news in terms of competition, I'm sure, but I have always been well served by ESM. Often they have had stock of items where Bull Motif and David Manners (Morris Minor Birmingham, as was) have drawn a blank. Times change and things move on; let's hope we can keep our Minors going for a while long...

Phyllis has a build date of 27th Feb 1962 and has the mouldings for the trafficator (as all 4-doors do) but the holes were never cut. I'd echo what @myoldjalopy says that your car could be a little older than you thought. If you havea copy of Ray Newell's excellent Morris Minor bible, all the detail...

Ooh, I know this one! It's the tab from a GB sticker from the AA. You can just make out the curve of the GB's oval shape. The AA headquarters used to be in Halesowen, as were Reliant (Reliance?) Printers who produced things like this for them. I always thought it odd that such high-quality (or at le...

I'm afraid that's down to Photobucket changing their service; it isn't down to you to upgrade but to the original holder of the image. You see, Photobucket now wish to charge users for linking images in forums etc. It is, in my view, a hugely shortsighted move which has overnight rendered endless pi...

On the A44 out of Worcester, there's a lay-by just before the bridge over the River Teme. There is often a snack caravan there - he's got a bit Welsh flag that he sticks out when he's "in residence". If he's not there, he'll be at Laylocks Garden Centre. Don't forget there are lots of gard...

Welcome back, and a huge 'thankyou' to the web team for getting the board back up and running. If it were an easy task, it would have been done quickly, so one can only assume it was a mahoosive headache to get sorted. Thank you, and 'well done'.

I know it was only used for a few years, but I reckon that Clipper Blue is one of the nicest shades.



Failing that, I'll gladly second black as the most sophisticated colour. But then, I'm biased.

Such sad news. It seems the signalman finally gave his 'Right Away' but it is right that we pause for a moment and acknowledge the tremendous contribution Roy made to our community. I agree that it would be entirely fitting that there should be a Roy Allingham Prize for Best Working (or Everyday) Mi...

In my experience, if you use unleaded petrol in a car designed for leaded, you'll have to make some adjustments (as BMC says) but be prepared for the soft valve seats to wear. How quickly that happens will depend entirely on your driving style and the condition of the engine. I've had to replace the...

The number should be stamped on the barrel. If you take off the boot lock, and then punch out the barrel (answers on a postcard for how to do that, please, especially if you know how to remove the barrel of a High Security one as sold by ESM a while ago to swap back a standard barrel, 'cos I'd reall...

Why has no-one mentioned the P5? http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/greatestp5_01.jpg Or the P5B which would get you the big woofly V8...? :P I'd agree with the idea of an X300, because they seem to go for chips now, almost to the extent that when it breaks, you'd throw it aw...

I ran Phyllis as my everyday car for about five years. I didn't earn a "No Claims Bonus", or "No Claims Discount" but when I bought a modern car for commuting, my insurers (who may well have been Footman James, or possibly just AON at the time) were quite willing to write a lette...

Hurrah! Another one, here - Phyllis passed her MoT this afternoon after my pacing the waiting room like an expectant father for the best part of an hour.

Not bad considering he was going to fail her because he couldn't get the main beams to come on. Couldn't find the dipswitch...

Is it right then that the Minor 1000 starting handle is a combined starter and wheel-wrench and the SII/MM version is a dedicated handle with a rotating sleeve? I've got both and can attest to the latter being much easier to use. A long-ish layup often sees Phyllis reluctant to proceed, but a few sw...

I don't think its so much that they are unreliable... they should be more reliable than the points versions. However, when the traditional type are ailing, it's usually possible to fettle them back into life and get you on your way again. When the electronic ones go west, that's it! New pump time. :...

As BMC says, the filter is located underneath the cast body of the pump - there's a hexagonal plug on the bottom which, upon releasing, will draw out the filter. Clean it with petrol and a brush (don't use a rag in case the fibres get caught in it). It may be that the pump is overheating because it ...

Unfortunately, for some of us anoraks, we will have noticed the seat-belt anchorage points on the B pillar wood capping - plainly visible behind Tuppence's wigged head close-up, whilst sitting in the Traveller, just prior to going for the "maid's" job. I'm so glad it wasn't just me that n...

I'd definitely recommend rebuilding the seats - new webbing straps and new foam make the world of difference. There is a diaphragm that you can buy (ESM stock it, plus others, I should imagine) which may help, but the individual straps are what was most likely there. I've used blocks of wood beneath...

I've done this mod to Phyllis and, if I remember correctly, for the rear doors it is easiest to remove the door cards. This gives access to the interior of the door and there is a bracket which acts as a wind-down stop for the window. With this removed, it is easy to get the lipseal in position. Whe...