1950 Morris Minor

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whitebuffalo
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1950 Morris Minor

Post by whitebuffalo »

So, with the premature demise of my beloved Innocenti Mini Cooper I had to find something to fit in the empty space left behind.

Thankfully I am underway rebuilding my Sunbeam Imp, however, wanted a third car that was special enough. Found a Hillman Husky that would have be great fun, but the seller also had a nice Morris Minor. Was going to buy it, but he decided not to let it go.

Slightly dejected, I looked at Craig's List and found what is to me a very rare find, a lowlight split window Morris Minor that wasn't rusted out or modified poorly.

This is a 1950 Morris Minor MM that is all original. Was a knock down car shipped to New Zealand and assembled by Dominion Motor Limited. Has original flat head 918 motor and original interior with plywood headliner.


Here is Kiwi coming home.
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She fits perfectly on the trailer.
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Early lowlight grille and wings, split windscreen. The first Minors from 1948 to 1951 had the lowlight design which was changed to the highlight design known so well due to American headlight hight regulation changes and the need to incorporate 7 inch headlights.
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Original plywood headliner
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Last edited by whitebuffalo on Sun May 17, 2015 6:14 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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Steve Simmons
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Re: 1951 Morris Minor

Post by Steve Simmons »

Hey, that's different and fun. I like it! :thumbs:
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Re: 1951 Morris Minor

Post by Stewart »

Very very cool. What's story of the octagon on the bonnet?
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whitebuffalo
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Re: 1951 Morris Minor

Post by whitebuffalo »

Stewart wrote:Very very cool. What's story of the octagon on the bonnet?
Not sure, the guy I bought it from didn't know either. I am guessing it had a sticker as advertisement or something. It is a recessed area so makes me think that once the items was pulled off, it took the underlying paint with it and was touched up after.

I have the original log book that shows original registration number of AR 1406 with the address of the previous owners. May be able to write and maybe someone knows the history.


A little puzzling is the first entry on the Certificate of Registration shows the first date of 25 June 1957 into Christchurch , NZ then being sold to Winifred Kigh in 14 August 1957. So was it languishing at the dealer for those 6 years unsold? It transfered to another lady in 1958, but the names are illegible. On 18 July 1967 the car wat registered to a Dorithy Maude Beatie then sold to Aaron Haws in 1990, so 6 owners from new :lol:

Found this picture. From what I found out, Domionion Motors assembled the complete knock down cars(un-assembled) and had a dealer network. here is one of their show rooms from 1955
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Kind of fun to have that history.
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malcolmr18zoy
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Re: 1951 Morris Minor

Post by malcolmr18zoy »

Wow!! You've done it again. What a great find. I hope you leave it all totally original, and unmolested, including the paint.
Malcolm
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whitebuffalo
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Location: Lancaster, Ca
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Re: 1951 Morris Minor

Post by whitebuffalo »

malcolmr18zoy wrote:Wow!! You've done it again. What a great find. I hope you leave it all totally original, and unmolested, including the paint.
Malcolm
I do plan on leaving it as original as possible. Will see if I can restore the interior, if not then I will get a new interior trim kit in leather from Newton Commercial. I do plan to keep the motor running for as long as I can. If it ever gets too costly then I would put an A-series in it, but will try to hold out as long as possible. I will not change the paint or wheels, which are the same bolt pattern as a Triumph TR4.
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VWNate1
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Mercedes Diesels OM 616 & 617

1969 Chevrolet C/10 pickup shop truck
250 I-6 , TH350 slushbox

1959 Nash Metropolitan FH Sports Coupe

1961 Morris Minor W/ 1973 1275 CC engine & gearbox

Ural Solo Motos , old Honda 90 CC Tiddlers
Location: Sunny So. Cal. , land of fruits , nuts & flakes

Re: 1950 Morris Minor

Post by VWNate1 »

Sweet Mike ! .

I see it has the correct early split bumpers too ! :thumbs: .

Interesting story behind those .
-Nate
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whitebuffalo
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Location: Lancaster, Ca
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Re: 1950 Morris Minor

Post by whitebuffalo »

VWNate1 wrote:Sweet Mike ! .

I see it has the correct early split bumpers too ! :thumbs: .

Interesting story behind those .
I always thought it a very funny thing to start production on the bumpers before you finalize the car's design. Just cut them and spread them to the new width of the car and fill in the hole :hammer:
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VWNate1
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Posts: 1402
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2009 7:41 am
Vehicles Owned: LBC's

Mercedes Diesels OM 616 & 617

1969 Chevrolet C/10 pickup shop truck
250 I-6 , TH350 slushbox

1959 Nash Metropolitan FH Sports Coupe

1961 Morris Minor W/ 1973 1275 CC engine & gearbox

Ural Solo Motos , old Honda 90 CC Tiddlers
Location: Sunny So. Cal. , land of fruits , nuts & flakes

Re: 1950 Morris Minor

Post by VWNate1 »

Wes , well Mike ;

You're neither British nor BMC so......... :hammer: .

Lord knows I do love me some LBC's ! .

Especially BMC products :thumbs: .
-Nate
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whitebuffalo
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Posts: 453
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 10:57 am
Vehicles Owned: 1973 Morris Marina (Morri)
1971 Morris Mini (Kiwi)
1967 Sunbeam Stiletto (Banjo)
1965 Lotus 7 (Westfield) (Westie)
Location: Lancaster, Ca
Contact:

Re: 1950 Morris Minor

Post by whitebuffalo »

VWNate1 wrote:
Especially BMC products :thumbs: .
My Minor is a Nuffield product :) Morris motors was Nuffield Motors after the war until the merger with Austin in 1952.
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VWNate1
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Posts: 1402
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2009 7:41 am
Vehicles Owned: LBC's

Mercedes Diesels OM 616 & 617

1969 Chevrolet C/10 pickup shop truck
250 I-6 , TH350 slushbox

1959 Nash Metropolitan FH Sports Coupe

1961 Morris Minor W/ 1973 1275 CC engine & gearbox

Ural Solo Motos , old Honda 90 CC Tiddlers
Location: Sunny So. Cal. , land of fruits , nuts & flakes

Re: 1950 Morris Minor

Post by VWNate1 »

Picky , picky :P .
-Nate
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whitebuffalo
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Posts: 453
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 10:57 am
Vehicles Owned: 1973 Morris Marina (Morri)
1971 Morris Mini (Kiwi)
1967 Sunbeam Stiletto (Banjo)
1965 Lotus 7 (Westfield) (Westie)
Location: Lancaster, Ca
Contact:

Re: 1950 Morris Minor

Post by whitebuffalo »

Got my little Morris running and driving well. Had to add a rebuilt carb and adjusted the brakes as well as bled them to get decent bite. Not the best yet, but a work in progress. The car is not a road burner that is for sure, but it is a fantastic little "take it slow and easy" type. I took it for a 20 mile drive today, her fist long drive since buying her and she drove well. You have to start the stopping procedure well before you have to. As the drive progressed the better she ran, must be burning off the build up in the cylinders left behind by an ill performing original carburetor.


Here she is at my favorite picture spot at the Bouquet Canyon/Elizabeth Lake Road junction.
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VWNate1
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Posts: 1402
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2009 7:41 am
Vehicles Owned: LBC's

Mercedes Diesels OM 616 & 617

1969 Chevrolet C/10 pickup shop truck
250 I-6 , TH350 slushbox

1959 Nash Metropolitan FH Sports Coupe

1961 Morris Minor W/ 1973 1275 CC engine & gearbox

Ural Solo Motos , old Honda 90 CC Tiddlers
Location: Sunny So. Cal. , land of fruits , nuts & flakes

Re: 1950 Morris Minor

Post by VWNate1 »

Looks VERY nice to me ! .

I'm not terribly fond of the ' low light ' Morries but this one could change my mind I think .

Have you sorted the brakes 100 % yet ? .

My '61 stops very well indeed .
-Nate
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whitebuffalo
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Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 10:57 am
Vehicles Owned: 1973 Morris Marina (Morri)
1971 Morris Mini (Kiwi)
1967 Sunbeam Stiletto (Banjo)
1965 Lotus 7 (Westfield) (Westie)
Location: Lancaster, Ca
Contact:

Re: 1950 Morris Minor

Post by whitebuffalo »

Haven't figured out the brakes yet, kind of pulls to the left when you push hard on them. Might be down to an adjustment. Have to open the drums up to see if there is anything obvious.

Would like to put discs on, but would have to get a complete front suspension from a Minor 1000 due to the fact that the side valve cars have a different axle diameter and even the bolt pattern is different than the later Minors.
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