Morris Minor Owners Club

My convertible is a converted saloon, I understand the conversion was done around twenty years ago.

As I am having a new hood fitted, I have decided to re-cover the rather tired rear parcel tray and surrounding area with a suitably coloured material. After removing the old covering, I discover a channel (arrowed in the photo below) and wonder if I should fill this with a suitable 'filler' before fitting the new material. The previous material simply bridged this rail, but sagged and just looked wrong.

I note that original convertibles have a wooden batten where this channel is, and Newton Commercial do a replacement rear parcel shelf material kit which is screwed into this wood.

I was thinking of filling the channel with a foam (after sorting out the surface rust), which when hardened I can shape so the new material can wrap smoothly over.

Has anyone else been in a similar position, and what did you do?

The large holes in the rear shelf used to house speakers, fitted by a previous owner!

Many thanks for your suggestions.

Pete

Hi Pete,
My convertible is also a converted saloon and I made a rear shelf when I replaced the hood frame about 3 years ago.
The shelf was originally board,foam and then vinyl covered which I reproduced. The rear section that you have highlighted has the wooden piece fitted on mine as a filler section,as you described by Newton commercial.
It maybe worth contacting Charles Ware who carry out most of the conversions to see what they suggest too?
best regards
Alan

Hi Alan,

Thanks for that info, I'll look into it!

Pete

On my original it's the wooden frame that the hood is attached to via screws. Guessing on yours its self tappers into the metal ridge at top rear?

welshrat wrote: ↑Fri Apr 30, 2021 12:44 pm On my original it's the wooden frame that the hood is attached to via screws. Guessing on yours its self tappers into the metal ridge at top rear?

That's correct. I wonder if all the converted saloons have the metal ridge as mine has, or if some converters replaced the ridge with wood?

Many thanks for all your suggestions. I bought a new wooden rear rail from Charles Ware, which fitted pretty well into the rail with only minor fettling needed. I bought some new material to match the rest of the interior and made a new rear shelf which I covered, along with the rear rail. The final trimming will be done when the hood is fitted. While waiting for the new hood to arrive, I've painted the white hood-frame black, as the new hood interior is black. I was surprised how rusty the hood frame had become!