RE: You Know You Want To: Morris Minor

[uncinquesei]

Mr2Mike said:

I like it in general, but it just sits too low. I think it would look hugely better without the tyres disappearing up inside the arches like a barried E36.

Same here, looks "stanced" as da yout' say... Normalish ride height, set of minilites of a not too outrageous size and it'd be perfect. Oh, except for the headlights, I can't get my hat on with the lower lights of early minors. Morris Thousands look better in my eyes. Love it though, and love the use of Fiat twin cam instead of the usual suspects, RV8, Zetec, K series etc.

[jackdebray]

ArosaMike said:

It's a race/Hillclimbe car though which means, if it's well sorted which it would appear to be, normal valuation is impossible.

Good luck finding someone in the trade who will come up with a figure anyway near that valuation.

[Life Saab Itch]

jackdebray said:

Good luck finding someone in the trade who will come up with a figure anyway near that valuation.

As has been said; a person could easily spend that on a bare shell restoration, let alone some bespoke high end track modifications to turn it into a competitive hillclimb/sprint car. It also seems to be immaculate. It also is the rarer low-light shape.


A figure of £14K is about right given this example.

[jackdebray]

Just because this figure has been spent does not mean that you will recoup it come resale time, modifying a car in any fashion seldom adds value and more often than not makes it harder to shift.

[EggsBenedict]

v8will said:

This meets with approval!!

Anyone got a link for the build thread?

yep: http://www.beardmorebros.co.uk/website%20pages/new...

[ArosaMike]

jackdebray said:

Just because this figure has been spent does not mean that you will recoup it come resale time, modifying a car in any fashion seldom adds value and more often than not makes it harder to shift.

I completely agree, but what I was trying to get at is that a cars success and ability as a competition car far outweighs any kind of normal road car valuation. As an example, two or three years ago, one Caterham race car that had won two championships in a row with two different drivers went for £22k....pretty much £1k more than it's 'as new' kit cost!

The original builder of this Minor is a very skilled engineer/fabricator (and a bloody nice guy as it happens), and it shares more in common with a space framed racing car than a Minor. The shell is just a sillouette.

[pwrc]

peterg1955 said:

There's video of this car at Harewood hillclimb

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6OBHu02MKU

phwoar, wouldn't mind seeing it there again

[benzito]

wow, i really really don't want to

[ES335]

The Reliant Kitten build is amazing - all credit to these guys for genuine "enginuity".

[carnut360]

its just UGH!!

[JMF894]

All that time, effort and money and only 190bhp?

An opportunity wasted imho

[carinaman]

Isn't it about BHP per ton and how it fucntions rather than a number?

Or are you saying the Fiat Twin Cam was expensive to tune for 190bhp.

[Pothole]

uncinquesei said:

Mr2Mike said:

I like it in general, but it just sits too low. I think it would look hugely better without the tyres disappearing up inside the arches like a barried E36.

Same here, looks "stanced" as da yout' say... Normalish ride height, set of minilites of a not too outrageous size and it'd be perfect. Oh, except for the headlights, I can't get my hat on with the lower lights of early minors. Morris Thousands look better in my eyes. Love it though, and love the use of Fiat twin cam instead of the usual suspects, RV8, Zetec, K series etc.

In Minor circles, the twink was the usual suspect a few years back...

[jackdebray]

ArosaMike said:

I completely agree, but what I was trying to get at is that a cars success and ability as a competition car far outweighs any kind of normal road car valuation. As an example, two or three years ago, one Caterham race car that had won two championships in a row with two different drivers went for £22k....pretty much £1k more than it's 'as new' kit cost!

The original builder of this Minor is a very skilled engineer/fabricator (and a bloody nice guy as it happens), and it shares more in common with a space framed racing car than a Minor. The shell is just a sillouette.

No thats a fair point Mike, and I dont doubt it took a lot of time and skill to build and all respect to the fella, I think im just struggling with the price tag on a Morris bodyshell but each to their own.

[a11lvj]

heres king of the rats http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZqsxkDbphQ&lis...

[Fast Bug]

Either you get it, or you don't. I don't get people spending silly money on an Audi/BMW/MX5 that looks just like every other Audi/BMW/MX5 that's been made.

And as my Mum always says 'if you've nothing nice to say, say nothing at all'

[itsrodders]

I love the Fiat twin cam, having owned longitudinally and transversely mounted, boggo, blown and twinspark versions of it - it's my favourite fourpot (tho I've never owned a BDA...heh).

Mounted into this MM (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Minor#Minor_MM) I cannot think of anything I'd rather jizz fourteen grand on right at this minute - if I had fourteen grand, that is. I don't.

But do I want to? Oh, yes.

Or would I rather sink £14k into a version of my own, based on a complete 4WD Integrale engine/running gear...?

Mmmmm...

[v8will]

markh450 said:

It won't have to pass any approval if it is still registered as a minor, as its pre 1960 then no MOT and I suppose the DVLA doesn't get to find out what mods have been done to the chassis/ engine etc etc?

Looks like there could be a boom in heavily modifying pre 1960's cars soon.

all OK until you crash your carbon fibre bodied, flat plane V8 engined, 200 mph austin 7 into somebody and the insureance start asking questions!!

I meant it meets with my approval, a throwaway thumbs up comment.

I really think a subtle, lightly modded Minor could be alot of fun.

[jensenhealey2]

Love Minors love this. Carandclassic has three minors on right now at 10k + including a pick=up at close to 14k, so I don't think the price is outrageous for what this is. It will be some-one's cup of tea.

Lets face it the three cylinder Focus elsewhere on PH was over 21k and will lose value like a wardrobe going over a cliff.

[MadDog1962]

Veeayt said:

Everything's perfect about this car. Except for the price

I dunno. Like other's have said before me, I totally agree AWESOME :-)

But as for value at 14K? Building it yourself would probably cost a hell of a lot more. Not to mention the hours that have clearly gone in to it.

I reckon that the decision to use a FIAT based engine is pretty brave, but good. I'm guessing it would be a fair bit lighter than a Rover V8 lump, and as it is that Harewood hill climb video seems to indicate it's breaking traction on gearshifts. It sounds terrific too.