April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
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April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Hi all,
After my break from Morris Minors for a few years I have finally got back into the fold.
The Traveller I bought back in 1992 and restored with my dad from 1992 - 95 now needs new wood etc, but is still tucked away for another day.
I have a 2 door saloon to put back on the road, which will hopefully be a quick -ish turn around. Will start that in the new year. That's the one I want to use next year..
"This" topic will cover a Traveller I haven't picked up yet, but have bought. Its going to be a challenge to say the least, but I will get there and at the end I hope she will be looking as good as she did when she left the factory back in 1963.
"April" as I have named her, is a Almond Green 1098cc 1000 Traveller, registered in August 1963, and is one of those "inbetweeny" cars. and as such has the flashing sidelights and brake lights for the indicators.
She is in a bad way, but is complete and the engine turns over.
I expect to be swearing alot, replacing many panels along with the wood, as well as spending lots of money.. but she will be worth it. I am actually looking forward to it...
When done I intend on giving her to my dad as he has always wanted a green traveller.
I am also thinking on re-spraying her "Sage" green.. There can't be many Travellers left in that colour..
anyway - pics as found.. more pics once I start stripping her out once she gets home......
After my break from Morris Minors for a few years I have finally got back into the fold.
The Traveller I bought back in 1992 and restored with my dad from 1992 - 95 now needs new wood etc, but is still tucked away for another day.
I have a 2 door saloon to put back on the road, which will hopefully be a quick -ish turn around. Will start that in the new year. That's the one I want to use next year..
"This" topic will cover a Traveller I haven't picked up yet, but have bought. Its going to be a challenge to say the least, but I will get there and at the end I hope she will be looking as good as she did when she left the factory back in 1963.
"April" as I have named her, is a Almond Green 1098cc 1000 Traveller, registered in August 1963, and is one of those "inbetweeny" cars. and as such has the flashing sidelights and brake lights for the indicators.
She is in a bad way, but is complete and the engine turns over.
I expect to be swearing alot, replacing many panels along with the wood, as well as spending lots of money.. but she will be worth it. I am actually looking forward to it...
When done I intend on giving her to my dad as he has always wanted a green traveller.
I am also thinking on re-spraying her "Sage" green.. There can't be many Travellers left in that colour..
anyway - pics as found.. more pics once I start stripping her out once she gets home......
Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Good luck, get some varnish on that timber before it’s too late !
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Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Lots of work but looks restorable. Hope not too many nasty surprises when you strip her down.
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Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Ps. Must have been one of the last with the’clap hand’ wipers?
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Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
hehehe Les.....
and yes Steve, defo restorable, but lots of work.. Starting her over the xmas holidays..
and I agree about the wipers.. never had a rare-ish MM before.. looking forward to seeing her done..
and yes Steve, defo restorable, but lots of work.. Starting her over the xmas holidays..
and I agree about the wipers.. never had a rare-ish MM before.. looking forward to seeing her done..
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Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Good luck. Sage green is a nice colour and as you say most 'green' survivors are of the Almond variety.
Porcelain Green is another rare Minor colour for you to consider too.....
Best wishes,
Mike.
Porcelain Green is another rare Minor colour for you to consider too.....
Best wishes,
Mike.
1954 Series 2: 4 door: "Sally" -- Back on the ground with (slave) wheels and waiting to be resprayed......
1970 Triumph Herald 1200: "Hetty" -- Driven back from Llangollen in Wales (twice.....)
1970 Triumph Herald 1200: "Hetty" -- Driven back from Llangollen in Wales (twice.....)
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Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Thanks Mike,
and yep - Porcelain green is nice too and very similar.. will have a think....
Kevin
and yep - Porcelain green is nice too and very similar.. will have a think....
Kevin
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Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Good to hear that a car in that condition is to be restored. It looks quite a challenge but still in pretty original form isn't it. Neither Sage Green or Porcelain Green were officially offered on the Traveller (and neither were current by 1963) but I have seen one or two in Sage Green (special order perhaps?) and it is a most attractive colour. It is rather fun to own a car which is a little different to all the others anyway
Good luck with your restoration.
Good luck with your restoration.
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Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Thank you...
I had to buy the poor thing when I saw it... Poor Morris... and I now think its important to save cars in this condition if at all possible...
I have no idea when this car was last on the road.. DVLA don't show the MOT history online anymore.. pity...
by the way - has anybody seen this car before?? at all????
Kevin
I had to buy the poor thing when I saw it... Poor Morris... and I now think its important to save cars in this condition if at all possible...
I have no idea when this car was last on the road.. DVLA don't show the MOT history online anymore.. pity...
by the way - has anybody seen this car before?? at all????
Kevin
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Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
At the request of the customer I would have thought they could have had any colour currently available in the range (and a few that were not)…...Neither Sage Green or Porcelain Green were officially offered on the Traveller (and neither were current by 1963) but I have seen one or two in Sage Green (special order perhaps?)
1954 Series 2: 4 door: "Sally" -- Back on the ground with (slave) wheels and waiting to be resprayed......
1970 Triumph Herald 1200: "Hetty" -- Driven back from Llangollen in Wales (twice.....)
1970 Triumph Herald 1200: "Hetty" -- Driven back from Llangollen in Wales (twice.....)
Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
good luck with the restoration! another one saved
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Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Thanks Sid.. and indeed it is... Can't wait to get this one on the road..
anyway.. April arrived today from her previous home.. so, see some pics I took shortly after..
As you can see - and even before the majority of the work is revealed - I have my work cut out.. but she WILL make it and be restored to her former self once more..
anyway.. April arrived today from her previous home.. so, see some pics I took shortly after..
As you can see - and even before the majority of the work is revealed - I have my work cut out.. but she WILL make it and be restored to her former self once more..
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Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
more pics from today....
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Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
few more....
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Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
and more....
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Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
last lot for today....
more pics to come as April starts to undergo her surgery.....
more pics to come as April starts to undergo her surgery.....
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Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Hi Kevin
From your comments at the beginning of this thread, I gather that you are experienced at vehicle restorations. Would you expand on this a bit, please?
This project looks errrrmm... challenging. It reminds me of Taupe's Traveller restoration.
I have a Traveller about 1/4 restored in the garage, so I will be watching with great interest.
Regards
Don
From your comments at the beginning of this thread, I gather that you are experienced at vehicle restorations. Would you expand on this a bit, please?
This project looks errrrmm... challenging. It reminds me of Taupe's Traveller restoration.
I have a Traveller about 1/4 restored in the garage, so I will be watching with great interest.
Regards
Don
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Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Hi and morning Don, and thanks for the interest in the restoration..
As far as me and cars go - I restored my 1st MM back in the 90's with my dad, learning as I went. I then started saving and restoring Morris minors myself in my spare time. Then moving onto Rovers - the P6, then Cortina's, an XJ40 and finally a Mini. I sort of drifted away from Morris Minors..
I have recently been working alot on Rover 75's - we currently have 10. Been saving and sorting them.
Too many modern cars and my classic cars are getting neglected.. so - slowly getting rid of some..
anyway - now time to prioritise my Morris minors and another turns up... total = 3 now...
So - looking forward to doing this one, then my other traveller (the one me and my dad restored back in the 90's) will be then be restored again.
So, that's my history in a nutshell regarding restoring cars..
Kevin
As far as me and cars go - I restored my 1st MM back in the 90's with my dad, learning as I went. I then started saving and restoring Morris minors myself in my spare time. Then moving onto Rovers - the P6, then Cortina's, an XJ40 and finally a Mini. I sort of drifted away from Morris Minors..
I have recently been working alot on Rover 75's - we currently have 10. Been saving and sorting them.
Too many modern cars and my classic cars are getting neglected.. so - slowly getting rid of some..
anyway - now time to prioritise my Morris minors and another turns up... total = 3 now...
So - looking forward to doing this one, then my other traveller (the one me and my dad restored back in the 90's) will be then be restored again.
So, that's my history in a nutshell regarding restoring cars..
Kevin
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Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
You are a very brave man. Good luck.
1969 Traveller in Almond green. Owned since 1979.
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Re: April the 1963 Traveller - Restoration
Hi KevinAs far as me and cars go
Thanks for the background. With all that experience I'm sure you are up to this very demanding task. I'll be watching with great interest.
Don