Last Minor Ever......really ?? (Manchester)

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leafie
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Re: Last Minor Ever......really ?? (Manchester)

Post by leafie »

I am currently speaking to the owner about purchasing the car, it is very close to me and I have arranged storage until a decision can be made on it's future if I am successful.
The Issigonis Kid
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Re: Last Minor Ever......really ?? (Manchester)

Post by The Issigonis Kid »

He's acknowledged my message but not commented on condition. Given this, all you can do is assume it really does need ALL the floor, spring hangers, inner sills and inner wheelarches replacing. In which case, £500 is a fortune for a 2dr shed. But it would still be nice to have the last one!
ManyMinors
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Re: Last Minor Ever......really ?? (Manchester)

Post by ManyMinors »

LouiseM wrote:
ManyMinors wrote: NO Cowley built Minor 1000 2door saloons had the bright window surrounds
Unless you worked at the factory difficult to know for definite. At a factory which was mainly fitting stainless door tops who's to say that when it came to the very last 2 door saloon they didn't just fit what was available to hand?
No, I didn't work at the factory Louise, although several of my friends did and I went on (very interesting) tours there. I worked at one of their dealerships, repairing the cars - which gave me a good insight and knowledge of them. My point was that stainless steel door tops were never part of the deluxe specification on the Morris Minor which someone else had said they were. I am sorry if correcting this has in some way caused offence but if this is to be a respected specialist forum where owners can come and learn about these cars, then correct information is important isn't it?

What makes you state that the factory were "mainly fitting stainless steel door tops"? Only the Traveller had these. Was the Traveller not being built at Adderley Park by November 1970?
ManyMinors
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Re: Last Minor Ever......really ?? (Manchester)

Post by ManyMinors »

The Issigonis Kid wrote: £500 is a fortune for a 2dr shed. But it would still be nice to have the last one!
Is it really though? I'd have thought that £500 was pretty average now for a restoration project? The days of the £100 (or less!) Minor must be long gone. I must say that - IF I was looking for a project - the initial £500 wouldn't put me off and this car's history will make it a much more interesting car than most once finished. It has been poorly advertised but let us indeed hope that a buyer comes forward who will at least give it a bit more care than the last one :(
67-2door
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Re: Last Minor Ever......really ?? (Manchester)

Post by 67-2door »

Wish I could afford/justify it myself. I think it'd be a lovely thing to own. I hope it gets bought by an enthusiast on here & restored or preserved as it deserves.

LouiseM
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Re: Last Minor Ever......really ?? (Manchester)

Post by LouiseM »

ManyMinors wrote: My point was that stainless steel door tops were never part of the deluxe specification on the Morris Minor which someone else had said they were. I am sorry if correcting this has in some way caused offence but if this is to be a respected specialist forum where owners can come and learn about these cars, then correct information is important isn't it?
Well I think the point is that Martin was asking whether the deluxe spec would account for the stainless surrounds, rather than stating that as a fact, so your response "Where do you get that from :o " may have come across as a little harsh to someone who doesn't have your level of knowledge and was just asking a question. Nothing wrong with providing correct information but I guess it's how it comes across to the recipient that is the issue here.

You're right, traveller production had moved to Adderley Park by Nov 1970. Put it down to me posting at 6.00am and not being fully awake :) Hopefully Martin won't be put off and will continue to visit and post here. It still doesn't detract from the fact that there is still a possibility that the stainless door tops may have been factory fitted, who can tell without knowing the full history of the car?

Anyway, having been advertised on here I'm sure that the car will attract a few bids so will hopefully be put back on the road.


Eric - 1971 Traveller
Mark Wilson
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Re: Last Minor Ever......really ?? (Manchester)

Post by Mark Wilson »

Just come back to this and have to admit that I was the one who first mentioned chrome window surrounds as a variation from the standard spec indicated by the chassis number. OK, it should have been stainless steel, and was not related to the specification. But I was commenting on its likelihood of being the correct car for the chassis plate, not judging it for concours. The shouting down Martin got for repeating my error was totally out of order - this is a forum for all of us to learn from, but in a spirit of friendly encouragement, please. And I can't see why Louise might not be right - if they had run out of door surrounds at then very end of production, of course they were likely to have a few shipped in from Adderley Park, or direct from NMP or whoever was pressing the panels then.
67-2door
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Re: Last Minor Ever......really ?? (Manchester)

Post by 67-2door »

Well, it sold for £500. Bargain for someone I think if it is what it says.
Did anyone on here get it?

PaulTubby
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Re: Last Minor Ever......really ?? (Manchester)

Post by PaulTubby »

Hope our moderator has bought this!
busguy
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Re: Last Minor Ever......really ?? (Manchester)

Post by busguy »

67-2door wrote:Well, it sold for £500. Bargain for someone I think if it is what it says.
Did anyone on here get it?
Hi
Despite the lack of information about the vehicle, I said I was going to bid for it, and did! What's more nobody else bid!
So I am now the proud owner of what I consider to be the last minor saloon car off the UK production line on November 12 1970. Hopefully it will be transported back to the Cowley area next week for a period of storage and assessment. First objective, is to collect lots of bits and make it a roadworthy, MOt'd car. Everything original on the car that can be used, will be used.
Anyone know where the last traveller, van and pickup are?
Thanks to all the members that encouraged me along the way with this. Dogged determination is one thing, but their encouragement was very much appreciated along the way.
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Re: Last Minor Ever......really ?? (Manchester)

Post by sid »

well done busguy! looking forward to seeing at The National Rally :) :wink:
67-2door
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Re: Last Minor Ever......really ?? (Manchester)

Post by 67-2door »

Brilliant :D . Good news. Keep us up to date with the progress & put some more pics up of the condition when you get it home.

ianmack
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Re: Last Minor Ever......really ?? (Manchester)

Post by ianmack »

Congratulations! Let us know how you get on with it. Ian
The Issigonis Kid
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Re: Last Minor Ever......really ?? (Manchester)

Post by The Issigonis Kid »

So glad I put the post up (even though I was secretly hoping no one would bid and I'd offer £250 after the auction!!). I genuinely feel if I hadn't have raised attention we may have lost the last Minor saloon as it was listed under 'Parts and Catalogues'. Anyone searching for a project would have missed it. The seller would have probably got at least £750 if he'd listed it properly.
I personally wouldn't restore the cosmetic body, leave it as it is, it's been in this condition for 30 years, just get it solid underneath and MOT'd. Original platina is all the rage at the moment, just varnish the rust !. How about a build thread ??


The Issigonis Kid - Richard Troup - Sheffield - 1961 Morris Minor Traveller ...... at last
busguy
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Re: Last Minor Ever......really ?? (Manchester)

Post by busguy »

The Issigonis Kid wrote:So glad I put the post up (even though I was secretly hoping no one would bid and I'd offer £250 after the auction!!). I genuinely feel if I hadn't have raised attention we may have lost the last Minor saloon as it was listed under 'Parts and Catalogues'. Anyone searching for a project would have missed it. The seller would have probably got at least £750 if he'd listed it properly.
I personally wouldn't restore the cosmetic body, leave it as it is, it's been in this condition for 30 years, just get it solid underneath and MOT'd. Original platina is all the rage at the moment, just varnish the rust !. How about a build thread ??
Yes, thanks for posting it on here Richard. I maybe would have missed it.
I need to assess the work needed, and I agree with you, get it back to a solid roadworthy car using existing items where possible. 'If' replacement parts are needed I will be after genuine OE 'old stock' new parts, or good secondhand versions, so if anyone has late two door parts available, or a matching spec car for spares please, let me know. Probably the standard 1970 trafalgar blue, light blue interior parts are almost certain to be on the list.
Thanks again for spotting this.
busguy
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Re: Last Minor Ever......really ?? (Manchester)

Post by busguy »

If you see a rough blue minor on a trailer negotiating the M6, M5, M42, M40 and A34 today the 3rd, then it's probably this one starting on it's long journey back to good health. A great guy who is into Midgets and Minors is bringing it down to it's birthplace for assessment today. 8) First thoughts are ............. it's not a pretty sight! :(
Last edited by busguy on Tue May 03, 2016 2:03 pm, edited 2 times in total.
ianmack
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Re: Last Minor Ever......really ?? (Manchester)

Post by ianmack »

I have a Trafalgar blue drivers door with original weathered paint and needing small repairs to the bottom. If it's any improvement on yours you're welcome to it.
busguy
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Re: Last Minor Ever......really ?? (Manchester)

Post by busguy »

Thanks Ian. Much appreciated.
I will come back to you as soon as we have given it a good look over.
John
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Re: Last Minor Ever......really ?? (Manchester)

Post by Matt »

What a shame... I pulled an empty trailer from shropshire to Billinghurst on Friday... a minor would have easily fitted on it!

As has been said stainless trims were only factory fitted to travellers and 4 doors... but given this is the last saloon then maybe they ran out of mild steel ones a few dozen from the end and fitted stainless? Certainly not beyond the realms of possibility!
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Re: Last Minor Ever......really ?? (Manchester)

Post by POMMReg »

Several pics showing the last Morris Minor, as Mr.MM says, the cab dr tops look painted(?).

I doubt BL would have misscalculated by stocking fewer doors than bodyshells. Were all late Traveller's de-luxe models?
Further investigations uncovered it was an inside job!!
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