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https://morrisminor.car.blog/
1 min read
Hey! Long time since I've posted here, but there are things in the works. Trips have been planned, work on the car is about to resume!
If you'd be interested in seeing progress of my car's restoration please subscribe/follow me at morrisminor.car.blog/. It'd mean a lot!
Please also share it with people you think might be interested, as I'd like to start posting more.
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Molly the Morris minor is back
1 min read
With a new Air filter, ignition coil, radiator hose, repaired bonnet catch, gear stick knob and gaitor, as well as a nice old style AA badge, Molly the Morris Minor is back on the roads, sounding and driving much better than before.
Today I spent a while restoring the gear stick components, replacing the rubber gaiter in the car with an identical but better conditioned/brand new one. I then sanded, primed and painted the gaiter's retaining ring, and finished the job by replacing the old gear knob with a brand new but original-style morris minor one.
I've just placed an order for new carpets, a new bonnet badge, a few protective rubber mats, replacement door-pulls (Leather straps for the interior) and some brand new shiny hubcaps. Can't wait to see the results.
Today I spent a while restoring the gear stick components, replacing the rubber gaiter in the car with an identical but better conditioned/brand new one. I then sanded, primed and painted the gaiter's retaining ring, and finished the job by replacing the old gear knob with a brand new but original-style morris minor one.
I've just placed an order for new carpets, a new bonnet badge, a few protective rubber mats, replacement door-pulls (Leather straps for the interior) and some brand new shiny hubcaps. Can't wait to see the results.
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Well, it was short lived. My current time on the road with my first car totals two days, and already I've had a catastrophic breakdown. Molly the Morris Minor is currently sitting outside my house, having been delivered there on the back of a recovery lorry late last night.
Now, whilst it might be costly to repair her, and the fact she's not able to move under her own power might be irritating, I am lucky enough to work locally, so am able to cycle or walk to work. This car, being as fun and as comfortable as it is, is more of a hobby-like factor in my life, and is thankfully not a car I need to rely on 100% of the time.
Yesterday evening, whilst pottering about and just driving for the sake of it at the grand old speed of about 30 miles per hour, the car started to splutter, and began losing any kind of power. The car refused to travel in anything other than first gear - only stalling in higher gears. She kangaroo'd down a small road and limped into a parking space in a nearby retail park. After a quick inspection with the help of some nearby experts, It became clear that the cause of all the problems I had been having was misfiring sparkplugs, which were promptly and rather cheaply replaced. This happened at about 4pm, and was sorted within an hour.
For most of the rest of the evening, the car ran well and she was driving fine, with regular breaks, until about 10pm, when the engine suddenly made a few loud groaning and clicking noises, followed by the car conking-out completely in a nearby bus stop. After that, any attempts at restarting her lead to large plumes of smoke exiting from the engine and exhaust, and even a foot-long flame shooting out of the exhaust pipe.
I got out and pushed her into an ASDA car park, and was at a loss for what to do next.
Being as it was, I was with other people, who knew many car enthusiasts. A few phone calls were made and soon a crowd of mechanics were gathered around the car, who all arrived in convoy form, armed with tools and a vast knowledge of all sorts of cars. This was to no avail, as they all promptly agreed that Molly was not going anywhere.
Within the hour I decided to utilize my insurance policy's breakdown rescue service, and called them out, and within another hour, Molly was loaded on the back of the recovery lorry.
According to several people, she had suffered a blown head gasket. Tomorrow she's being towed away for repair, and will hopefully run better than ever when I get her back.
On the bright side, I can now name a lot of the stuff under the bonnet, and am sure I'll get to know these pieces of kit well over the next few years.
Now, whilst it might be costly to repair her, and the fact she's not able to move under her own power might be irritating, I am lucky enough to work locally, so am able to cycle or walk to work. This car, being as fun and as comfortable as it is, is more of a hobby-like factor in my life, and is thankfully not a car I need to rely on 100% of the time.
Yesterday evening, whilst pottering about and just driving for the sake of it at the grand old speed of about 30 miles per hour, the car started to splutter, and began losing any kind of power. The car refused to travel in anything other than first gear - only stalling in higher gears. She kangaroo'd down a small road and limped into a parking space in a nearby retail park. After a quick inspection with the help of some nearby experts, It became clear that the cause of all the problems I had been having was misfiring sparkplugs, which were promptly and rather cheaply replaced. This happened at about 4pm, and was sorted within an hour.
For most of the rest of the evening, the car ran well and she was driving fine, with regular breaks, until about 10pm, when the engine suddenly made a few loud groaning and clicking noises, followed by the car conking-out completely in a nearby bus stop. After that, any attempts at restarting her lead to large plumes of smoke exiting from the engine and exhaust, and even a foot-long flame shooting out of the exhaust pipe.
I got out and pushed her into an ASDA car park, and was at a loss for what to do next.
Being as it was, I was with other people, who knew many car enthusiasts. A few phone calls were made and soon a crowd of mechanics were gathered around the car, who all arrived in convoy form, armed with tools and a vast knowledge of all sorts of cars. This was to no avail, as they all promptly agreed that Molly was not going anywhere.
Within the hour I decided to utilize my insurance policy's breakdown rescue service, and called them out, and within another hour, Molly was loaded on the back of the recovery lorry.
According to several people, she had suffered a blown head gasket. Tomorrow she's being towed away for repair, and will hopefully run better than ever when I get her back.
On the bright side, I can now name a lot of the stuff under the bonnet, and am sure I'll get to know these pieces of kit well over the next few years.
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The continuing adventures of Molly
3 min read
Well, I've had my first car for two days now, and I've already broken down twice (Although both times were the result of human error and simply not understanding the car's weirdly arranged controls), I've been pulled over by a police officer at 3am, and I've spent almost all of my free time gallivanting across my home county.
The distance the gear stick moves (Roughly 10 inches between some gear changes) is immense compared to a modern car. The engine sometimes goes. Sometimes it doesn't. Seemingly she has a mind of it's own, and she's not always willing to start straight away.
I'm still trying to work out the mechanics of the choke lever, as I'd never even heard of one of these until about 3 weeks ago. The far wing's mirror is blocked by the left-hand window wiper, but it doesn't really give a view of anything anyway. The speedometer and tachometer is blocked by the driver's natural hand position on the steering wheel. The main beam is strong enough to melt a cow at a range of a mile, but is actuated by a awkwardly placed pedal, which mean's it's less convenient to switch-off quickly if another car is oncoming.
All the luxuries of a modern car do not exist in the world where this car came from. No seatbelts in the rear of the car (The front seatbelts were a later addition too!) and there is no radio. There is no ABS (Although the brakes work very well, as they've been upgraded to disk brakes), there is no central locking, meaning the doors all have to be locked separately, and one of the hubcaps is missing.
Molly the Morris Minor might not be perfect. She has quite a few flaws, design faults and problems in fact... but boy does she have character.
I never understood why people named cars, or why they spoke to them... but when you run out of fuel, and you have to nurse the spluttering car all the way across town at 3am, with yourself and four passengers shouting "Come on Molly!", followed by congratulations along the lines of "Well done Molly, you magnificent bastard", it suddenly seems to make a lot of sense. If you're nice to her, you might get home.
More photos will surely follow within the next few weeks, and I plan to document some of the upgrades I make to her.
The distance the gear stick moves (Roughly 10 inches between some gear changes) is immense compared to a modern car. The engine sometimes goes. Sometimes it doesn't. Seemingly she has a mind of it's own, and she's not always willing to start straight away.
I'm still trying to work out the mechanics of the choke lever, as I'd never even heard of one of these until about 3 weeks ago. The far wing's mirror is blocked by the left-hand window wiper, but it doesn't really give a view of anything anyway. The speedometer and tachometer is blocked by the driver's natural hand position on the steering wheel. The main beam is strong enough to melt a cow at a range of a mile, but is actuated by a awkwardly placed pedal, which mean's it's less convenient to switch-off quickly if another car is oncoming.
All the luxuries of a modern car do not exist in the world where this car came from. No seatbelts in the rear of the car (The front seatbelts were a later addition too!) and there is no radio. There is no ABS (Although the brakes work very well, as they've been upgraded to disk brakes), there is no central locking, meaning the doors all have to be locked separately, and one of the hubcaps is missing.
Molly the Morris Minor might not be perfect. She has quite a few flaws, design faults and problems in fact... but boy does she have character.
I never understood why people named cars, or why they spoke to them... but when you run out of fuel, and you have to nurse the spluttering car all the way across town at 3am, with yourself and four passengers shouting "Come on Molly!", followed by congratulations along the lines of "Well done Molly, you magnificent bastard", it suddenly seems to make a lot of sense. If you're nice to her, you might get home.
More photos will surely follow within the next few weeks, and I plan to document some of the upgrades I make to her.
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My first car?
1 min read
I've just been out to look at a 'new' car... well, when I say new, it's only 51 years of age.
I think I've found the car that is perfect for me. I love the style of cars like this, and it's simplicity is truly a novelty in itself.
This is a Morris Minor 1000, simply named Mollie. I've just gone for a test-drive and she looks pretty well-kept, and mechanically sound.
She started first time, and rolled out of her owner's garage without a problem. After a quick look around the car and an inspection of slight patches of rust, as well as a look inside, we were invited to go for a test drive around the local area. Whilst she was noisy, and had an oily smell about her, it was great fun.
It'd be great to own a British-built car, and to take pride in keeping such a lovely car on the road, so I really hope I can buy her within the next week or so.
I think I've found the car that is perfect for me. I love the style of cars like this, and it's simplicity is truly a novelty in itself.
This is a Morris Minor 1000, simply named Mollie. I've just gone for a test-drive and she looks pretty well-kept, and mechanically sound.
She started first time, and rolled out of her owner's garage without a problem. After a quick look around the car and an inspection of slight patches of rust, as well as a look inside, we were invited to go for a test drive around the local area. Whilst she was noisy, and had an oily smell about her, it was great fun.
It'd be great to own a British-built car, and to take pride in keeping such a lovely car on the road, so I really hope I can buy her within the next week or so.
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