Why Moggy?

Post by **pskipper** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 4:11 pm

Hi,

Okay, it's a daft question and one I should probably be able to work the answer to myself, but for me and other Morris Minor lovers who don't know...

Why are they called Moggies?

Thanks

Philip

Post by **Gareth** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 6:48 pm

I think it was just a term of endearment, generally stemming from the "Morris" name. Some people call them Moggy Minors... It's a cutesy, fluffy, curvy, jolly sort of name - suits the cars, really! ;)

Post by **Cam** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 10:00 pm

Morgans are also called Moggies. Incorrectly of course!

Post by **rayofleamington** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 10:11 pm

Morgans are also called Moggies.

some ppl just call them firewood ;-)

Post by **Cam** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 10:12 pm

Oooooooh!!! nasty man!!

Probably right though, I've never cared much for them either!!!

Post by **salty_monk** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 11:09 pm

Moggies - suits the car but a bit gay tho innit....

Post by **rayofleamington** » Thu Jan 29, 2004 11:17 pm

in the 1950's sense of the word? Then I'd agree.

Post by **Chief** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 2:30 am

MOrris GaraGIES

well was a reasonable go at trying to work it out...... I always wondered why they were called Moggies as well.

Post by **Kevin** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 9:11 am

Moggies - suits the car but a bit gay tho innit

Well a real live Moggie (Alley Cat) is hardly a gay icon, more of a back street bruiser.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 9:42 am

MOrris GaraGIES

I was wondering that, but at I wasn't around in the 60's I was wondering if someone else would be able to shed more light on it. Most of the cars here would have been sold from/by Morris Garages.

However the real reason it is called a Moggy is because the name has stuck. If people didn't use the name, it wouldn't exist.
Similar with our friends down under - they call them a 'Morrie'.
Dunno what they call Impreza's but 'Scooby' has stuck over here.

When I was yound you couldn't kick a ball in the street without it bouncing off an Escort. We called then 'Dog Breath' (from the little known phrase 'common as dog breath'). And there were versions like the 'DB3i'
Most people at out schools knew the term well, but people elsewhere just looked confused.

Post by **salty_monk** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 10:40 am

Only messing Ray.... Our Morris is called "Pootle" how camp is that!!

Maybe that phrase is a bit too local to use on here.. (DB3i anyone??!)

I suppose I have the excuse that I bought it for my girlfriend, doesn't help when I'm driving though...

I wouldn't have thought that any reference to a real "Moggie" was made, I would have thought a Jaguar has more connection with a cat....
Chief's idea would work, probably just local slang from the factory or local area.

I have to say Ray that I'd be one of those confused lookers too..

Post by **rayofleamington** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 11:04 am

Ah yes, but a Jaguar is a 'Jag'
It seems to be a Midlands obsession with shortening names. My friend Michael came to work in the same office as me in Birmingham. For 3 months people called him Mike and everytime he corrected them with 'Michael'. Didn't make any difference as far as the brummies were concerned, so he was still called Mike... He left. ;-)

Morris shortened to 'Mor' doesn't sound quite right so Mog (and then Moggy) sounds much better. Lets face it the car is usually part of the family in the same way as a pet.

Pootle - was a kids tv program character. Don't see what's wrong with that. I was certainly unhappy when my car got christened 'Riley', as he isn't a Riley.. Hey ho, he was Gayle's car at the time, and I wasn't allowed to call him 'William the second' in memory of my first car William. These days I can only think of him as Riley, so it definately stuck.

Post by **Cam** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 11:45 am

Pootle - was a kids tv program character

Yes, I remember him. The young one from the 'flumps' I think.

I had never heard of DB3i either, we just call them 3i (or 2i for the xr2i). Actually scoob or scooby is also used locally for xr2s as well as Imprezas.

We call VWs dubs or bugs, BMWs beemers and cavaliers camel's ears, to name but a few.

I have always found it difficult to name cars. none have mine have names yet really. I toyed with Colin for my WRC registrated 4-door (after Colin McRae - but it's a bit cr*p) also Bandit (after smokey and the bandit) but I don't know.

Post by **salty_monk** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 1:00 pm

Colin is good - subtle, only car enthusiasts would get it - I like!

Post by **Matt** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 1:21 pm

mine hasn't got a name

and i cant think of a good one.....

Post by **rayofleamington** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 1:25 pm

I can think of some things that rhyme with sprite..

Post by **Matt** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 1:32 pm

what? s*i*e? anyway i was thinking of the morris, one sprite has reg plate NRD -> nerd, the other has 666 - guess what i'm gonna call that (Ps - its the one im going to mod..... 1.8i rover k-series etc..)

Post by **MatildaMiaowCat** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 8:26 pm

My Morris is called Matilda Miaow Cat (cause she's a moggy - get it!, Did you see what I did there...)

Post by **Chief** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 8:44 pm

It could be moggy as in the cat. There are some similarities between a minor and a cat.
When it's in a good mood it purrs. In a bad mood or ill it yowls.
You think of it as a pet, you've admitted already many pat their cars in the morning- that's almost stroking it !
And if it's about to break down you can tell by strange noises, when a cat is about to use you as a scratching post you watch it's tail flick about.
And you also say moggy is a cute and fluffy name, just like cats. (Can you tell I like cats

) So it could be a pet name for a car.

And almost everyone notices a minor when it's driving along- and I bet you would notice if a cat was driving along- see yet more proof.

Post by **les** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 9:07 pm

nurse, nurse, he's out of bed again!