Morris Minor (1948 – 1971) Review

Morris Minor (1948 – 1971) At A Glance

There's a Minor to suit all budgets, good to drive, brilliant parts and specialist back-up, A-series powered ones are easily tuned to stay up with modern traffic, classic flatulent exhaust note

If you like your classics rare, you might want to look elsewhere

Ask Honest John

Will it be okay to fit a starter from a Morris Minor to Wolseley 1500?

"Will it be okay to fit a starter from a Morris Minor to Wolseley 1500?"

We checked with MEV Spares and they confirmed that the Morris Minor starter motor is the same as the one on a Wolseley 1500.

Answered by Keith Moody

What's a good starter classic that's easy to maintain?

"My son wants to buy a classic car. His budget is £5k but will go to £10k for the right car. He is not mechanically minded so it must be reasonable to maintain. He fancies a Morris Traveller but is a Ford or other mainstream car a better choice?"

Great news that he's interested in a classic. With a budget that size, he'll have a substantial amount of choice. If he's not mechanically minded, it might be worth saving some of that budget for maintenance - you should budget for this anyway. Generally speaking, the older the car is then the easier it is to work on. For example, a Triumph Spitfire is very easy to keep going on your own (and he may wish to learn) while a more modern classic with ECU's and fuel injection require a bit more know-how and specialist gear. That said, there are always exceptions - this is only a rule of thumb. A Morris Minor is an excellent first time classic - but a Traveller can present issues as the wood is structural and needs to be in good condition for basic safety needs. Remember, some examples will be exempt from the MoT test but if it must be roadworthy to be insured. If you do go for a Traveller, try to buy the best one you can - although be mindful that buying a car 'too good' can detract from the enjoyment if you're afraid to leave it in a car park or worried about taking it out in the rain. I think it's really important he gets a car he likes so rather than trying to steer him away from a Traveller just help him choose a good one. The club is fantastic and but if you're entrusting all the service to a specialist make sure a good one isn't too far away.

Answered by Keith Moody

How can I preserve the battery of my car when it's stored over winter?

"I plan to over winter my old Morris Minor in an underground car park that has no source of electric power or light. What do you suggest I do to preserve the battery so it will start after three or four months? Alternatively to avoid taking the battery out of the car are there reasonable portable power packs that work, that you can recommend? Anything else I should do leaving it for such periods?"

Make sure the battery is fully charged before you store the car and then disconnect it. Ideally, you'd want to hook it up to a trickle charger but with no electricity that's going to be hard unless you remove the battery and take it home with you to charge. Before storing your car, make sure that it's topped up with fuel as this will help prevent corrosion in the tank. It's the same for anti-freeze. Lubricate and grease any nipples and make sure the car is clean and polished if you have time. Don't use the handbrake. There are plenty of portable jump start packs that will do the job if the battery goes flat.

Answered by Keith Moody

What should I look for when buying a Morris Minor?

"I`m thinking of buying a Morris Minor (later model 1962 onward ) fitted with the uprated 1098cc engine. Apart from corrosion, what significant mechanical problems best these vehicles?"

Like so many classic cars of this era, they're mechanically very simple and reliable as long as they're well looked after. Of course, the tradeoff is that they'll struggle to do more than 50-55mph and lack the creature comforts and performance of many modern vehicles (a positive in our eyes). Assuming the engine is running smoothly, it's not using oil or leaking, check the cooling system and the brakes as well as the electrics. Rear spring hangers are probably the car's Achilles heel - if they need replacing it's a long and involved job.

Answered by Keith Moody

More Questions

Model History

• January 0001: 01-10-1948 Morris Minor MM launched at the Earls Court Motor Show
• January 0001: 01-09-1950 Morris Minor MM launched in four-door and Tourer forms
• January 0001: 01-10-1952 BMC A-Series Minor Series II launched
• January 0001: 01-10-1952 Traveller launched
• January 0001: 01-04-1953 Van and pick-up versions launched
• January 0001: 01-10-1954 Revised with new grille and dashboard
• January 0001: 01-09-1956 Morris Minor 1000 launched, now with 948cc A-Series engine
• January 0001: 01-02-1961 Morris Minor 1,000,000 special edition launched to celebrated the production landmark
• January 0001: 01-09-1962 Morris Minor 1000 upgraded to 1098cc
• January 0001: 18-06-1969 The final Morris Minor Convertible/Tourer manufactured
• January 0001: 01-11-1970 The final Morris Minor 1000 saloon built
• January 0001: 01-04-1971 The final Traveller and commercial versions built

Morris Minor (1948 – 1971) Buying Guide

Bodywork

• If the outer panels are a bit ropey, don’t panic – new panels are readily available, although the cost can soon add up.
• If it looks tatty on the outside, there’s a good chance that the monocoque to which the panels are bolted will need extensive (and expensive) repairs.
• Woodwork on the Traveller is structural so make sure there are not discoloured areas. New wood will cost about £3000.
• Check the Minor’s Achilles’ heel – its rear spring hangers. These can take a day (each side) to repair.
• Rust can take hold in the rear chassis extension and front chassis legs (which run either side of the engine).
• Other common rot spots include the sills and the doors, especially along the bottom edges.
• Good-quality repair panels for doors are available (vans, pick-ups and four-door saloons used the same doors, too).
• Crucial pressings like the floorpans and the crossmember (which braces the whole shell) are common rot spots.
• To identify a genuine Tourer, check the plate on the offside bulkhead onto which the body number is stamped. The second letter of a 1952-1958 Tourer's chassis number will be C, while later cars used an MAT prefix. Any car built after June 1969 will be a conversion.

Engine & Gearbox

• Sidevalve engine shares many components with the Morris Eight Series E.
• Exhaust valves burn out as a result of incorrect tappet adjustment.
• Timing settings can be thrown out because of the distributor not being lubricated often enough.
• Post-1956 cars got the 948cc A-series unit, which is hard-wearing and reliable.
• Look for exhaust smoke under power, noisy tappets and reduced performance (it’s not great to begin with).
• Listen for big-end knocks when the engine is started, timing chain rattle and an oil light that's slow to go out.
• Final and most usable version of the A-series is the 1098cc unit.
• You can upgrade the A-series by fitting an unleaded-ready head and duplex timing chain conversion.
• Gearboxes are a weak spot – synchromesh gives up easily (no Minor had it on first gear).
• Once the teeth are chipped the ‘’box will become noisy and start jumping out of gear.
• If the rear axle is noisy when you lift off at speed, the differential is worn.

Running Gear

• Trunnions and swivel pins at the front wear out unless they're greased at least every 3000 miles or three months.
• Pressed-steel wheels were fitted to all Minors as standard, and they don't give any problems.
• The brake master cylinder lives under the driver's footwell and gets attacked by all the debris thrown up from the road.

Electrics and trim

• Good news: just about everything available for the interior of a Minor, and none of it is very expensive.
• Switchgear and instrumentation is also available, except for the Bakelite switches used on early cars (although plastic replacements can be bought).
• Electrical issues are generally caused by previous bodges or old/cracked wires. New looms are available and easy to fit.

Can I run it on unleaded?

• No. An additive is essential, or you can fit an unleaded head.

Morris Minor 1000

Morris Minor Series II

Morris Minor Series MM