CHARLES WARE’SMORRIS MINOR CENTRE

LOCATION

Central A

rea

M5 GloucesterMidlands

M5/J15. M4/J20

M4/J19M4 Bath/London

M32/J1

M32A4174 Ring RoadA420

Temple MeadsClothier Road

Emery RoadPark&RideA4Bath

M4 South WalesA38 Gloucester M5 ExeterSouth West

J17

A4320

J16

A38A4018

J2

J3

A37 Wells/South WestA4174 Bristol Airport

A38 BridgwaterSouth West

Birmingham

LondonBristol

Cardiff

Approx.100 miles160 Kms

sN

Approx.2 miles3.2 Kms

20 Clothier Rd Brislington Bristol BS4 5PSOffice /CarSales Enquiries0117 3003754Parts 0117 3003753Fax all departments0117 3003769morrisminor.org.uk

morris.minor@ukonline.co.uk

The Centre was founded in 1976. Without it’s innovative andpioneering work in creating a lifesupport system for Morris Minors,there would now be very few left

Since 1976 it has featured in the following newspapers and magazines:

AutocarBath Evening ChronicleBirmingham Evening Post Country Living Magazine Classic Car Mechanics The Daily Telegraph The Daily Mirror The Daily Express The Daily Mail Elle Magazine Evening Standard (London) The Financial Times The Guardian The Motor Trader Motor Trade Executive Medeconomics The Observer The Observer Colour Magazine Practical Classics The Sunday Telegraph She Magazine The Sun The Sunday Mirror The Sunday Times The Times The Telegraph Magazine Today Time Out Thoroughbred and Classic Car Western Daily Press Wolverhampton Express and Star The Yorkshire PostPlus other magazines andnewspapers around the world.

Radio and TV coverage...there have been mentions on the radio and television we have missed, but these are themain programmes in which the Centre has featured:

1977 BBC TV. Pebble Mill at One. BBC TV Bristol. Points West. 1978 BBC Radio 4. Today. BBC Radio Bristol Radio Melbourne, Australia HTV NewsBBC TV Bristol. Points West.

1979ITV NewsThames TV. Afternoon PlusITV. Wheels 1981BBC Radio 4. Today. BBC TV Bristol. Points WestBBC TV. Blue PeterHTV News1983/84 BBC TV Breakfast Time BBC Radio Wales BBC Radio Scotland BBC Channel 4 ITV. Car ProgrammeBBC Radio1 BBC Radio Bristol BBC Radio 2. John Dunn 1985 BBC Radio 4. Today BBC Radio Nottingham1986 HTV News BBC TV. Top Gear. BBC TV Bristol. Points West 1987 CNN News USACNN News Europe1988 ITN News at 10 BBC TV. 6 o’clock News BBC Radio 4. PM News BBC Radio 4. Documentary featuring the Morris Minor BBC Radio Swansea1989 TV AM HTV News BBC Radio Bristol1991-5 BBC TV 2. Perpetual MotionITV. The Business Man, theBuddhist and the Morris Minor ITV News BBC TV. News BBC Radio 1. Breakfast TimeBBC World Service BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 4. Midweek with Libby Purves.Plus many local radio stationsthroughout the UK and manyothers since, which we have not listed.

In addition over the last 12 years we have had several mediareferences every year

MEDIA COVERAGE

can be compared with theconservation of traditionally builtand well designed old buildings.It is pointless wasting moneypulling down and replacing a well designed old house if it canbe gently adapted to modern useand subsequently maintained.It has been shown that a shortterm approach to building is veryexpensive in the long term, thestructural failure of the ‘systembuilt’ high rise buildings in the1960’s proves the point.

Our ‘Series 3’ adaptions show how modest updates to theMinor’s original mechanicalspecifications can make it a lotmore efficient and usable in todays driving conditions. It canbe compared with the installationof central heating in an old houseformerly heated by coal fires.

The most important aspect ofDurable Car Ownership is that itallows owners the option to spendmoney on a programme to suittheir needs. Starting with an oldrun down car it is possible to payfor dealing with the ‘dry rot andrising damp’ and not on superficialcosmetics. Like an old house itdoesn’t have to be like a ‘new pin’in order to be safe and functional.The owner of an ageing moderncar does not have this option.Once the rust is bubbling throughthe seams it has to be scrappedand the endless problem of findinga new car begins again.

DURABLE CAR OWNERSHIPDurable Car Ownership meansquite simply running a long term car which suffers nominalfinancial depreciation and islabour intensive to construct andmaintain. While at the same timecosting at least one third less permile to run than a modern car,built in a modern state of the artfactory using a minimum numberof people to construct it.

‘Durable Car Ownership’ the book written by Charles Ware, the founder of the Morris MinorCentre, shows quite conclusivelywhy it is possible to achieve thishuge saving running a DurableCar as against a capital intensiveplanned obsolescent modern car, just because it is contrary totodays manufacturing practices.

This practical philosophy hasguided Charles Ware’s Centresince it’s foundation in 1976 and shown thousands of Morris Minor owners how they can save many thousands of pounds over the years by avoiding thefinancial depreciation trap whichis at the heart of modern carmanufacturing, driven as it is byrapid change for the sake of itrather than quietly building onthe past. This approach leads tosteep financial depreciation assupercession makes moderncars less desirable and moredifficult and expensive to maintain.Essentially the practice ofDurable Morris Minor ownership

Comparative running costs per mileModern high-tech small car Durable car Morris Minor Overall cost average 24p per mile Overall cost average 13p per mile

PetrolMaintenanceTax and insuranceOverall financial depreciation

Tax and insuranceFinanceMaintenancePetrol

Green Apple Award 2003During November 2003 at the House of Commons we were presented with a prestigiousNational Green Apple Award forour environmental contribution to the motor industry by the Minister for Trade and Industry, Patricia Hewett.

Our philosophy and practice of Durable Car ownership over the last 30 years shows that byfollowing our programme aMorris Minor is cheaper toown and uses a fraction of theresources consumed during the life cycle of a modern car.A Morris Minor is logically thegreenest car on the planet.

The synopsis of our radical submission for the award...

Durable Car Ownership project aim and achievements:We can demonstrate that labour intensive manufacturingand maintenance offers the consumer many financial andenvironmental advantages overautomated mass produced modern car ownership.

Energy and natural resources.A durable car consumes about20% of the resources used inmodern car production.

Financial depreciationA durable car might depreciate by 10% over ten years. A modern car 85% over the same period.

Employment Labour intensive manufacturingmaximises the use of skilledlabour. Modern automated manufacturing systems minimisethe use of labour.

Running costsOwning a durable car costs at least 30% less overall thanrunning its modern equivalent.

Economic benefits Our labour intensive joint Sri Lanka/UK manufacturing company is cost effective andeconomically beneficial to thisdeveloping country.

The submission backed by the following informationshows the logical benefits ofDurable over modern massproduction methods.

Energy and resourcesThe components for durable and modern cars use the samelevel of energy and resources in their production but during the minimum 40 years life of adurable car, 3 or 4 modern carswill have been scrapped.A waste of resources.In the assembly process, adurable car is put together bysimple hands-on jigs, using very little non-human energy.The modern automatedmanufacturing and assemblyprocess is largely dependent onthe high use of energy and iscontinually re - inventing itself. A waste of energy.

Financial depreciationThe speed of the financial depreciation cycle determinesthe useful economic life of a modern mass produced car.The constant fashion drivenresearch and development programmes that automated production needs are so capitalintensive that high volume production is vital to maintainmanufacturers profitability. For some years, real demand for new cars has been saturated, so in order to keep productionlevels as high as possible, thebottom end replacement markethas been accelerated through alethal combination of financialdepreciation value engineeringand fashion.

Cars are now better made but value engineering (plannedobsolescence) is still an essentialpart of the life span of a car.Why make long - life componentswhen the useful economic life ofa car is 10 to 12 years and itsvalue has fallen by 85%. A minoraccident or component failurecosting more than the value ofthe car leads to its junking.Fashion now dominates the

marketing and manufacturing ofcars and the constant updating of the latest model ensuresthat a relatively new model isundesirable in a very short time.The pressure on the consumer to constantly trade upwardsis built into the process and thelength of the car's life is as shortas the market place will accept.The result of this throwaway philosophy is that the consumeris obliged to pay the high costs of financial depreciation, whichover a life - time of motoring issubstantial. A house is durableand over the long term willalways deliver a tax free capital gain.Owning a moderncar over a lifetime is a constantnegative financial drain on itsowners tax paid income, in many cases, wiping out that capital gain usually achievedthrough home ownership.

EmploymentModern automated electronicmanufacturing is designed toreduce labour to a minimum.Durable systems create the useof skilled labour on a maximumscale. The cost of creating a new job in modern capital intensive manufacturing is veryhigh. Labour intensive jobs inDurable manufacturing can becreated on a huge scale, at lowcost, because the skills used are manually intelligent and have been proven over the centuries. They give its workerspride and satisfaction in their jobs and skills, which is sociallyand economically desirable.

Sri LankaUsing the relative values of the pound and the rupee, apanel, which would normally take a few minutes to make on a modern press in the UK can be manually formed in Sri Lankain four hours and still allows thepart to be viable commercially in the UK, whilst creating wellpaid skilled jobs in Sri Lanka.These jobs do not threaten UKemployment. The total annualproduction of our 30 workerscould be stamped out by 2 to 3people in the UK.The benefit toSri Lanka's economy is that each skilled worker supports on average 10 -15 dependents.

SummaryOur industrial model, based onthe continuing empirical history of the Morris Minor is of coursetransferable. A new durable carcould be easily manufactured by a large company, at relatively low cost. We know, from ourmodest experiment, that a verylarge cross section of motoristsreally want to own a long termcar, with known running costs.What could happen if industrialmodels like ours are properlyconsidered, is that small durableproduction systems could bedeveloped in parallel, to countermass manufacturing's profligateuse of energy and naturalresources. Of course, in the nearfuture the likelihood of changingthe direction of this juggernaut is nil. In the meantime, this throwaway culture is taking its toll of our environment.

RESTORATION SERVICESl Chassis and Lower BodyshellOur information sheet entitled‘The Morris Minor - Where to look for Rust’ shows how thecorrosion develops in the hollowbox and double skinned sectionsof the lower body, eventuallyspreading throughout the lowerbodyshell. The expedient methodof repair, used mostly to satisfythe MOT inspection, is to weld patches of metal sheet over therusted areas. Far from solving the problem it only makes itworse by sealing in the damp.

The long term method of repair is to cut out the rotten sectionsand replace them with replica strength panels, thus eliminatingthe problem. The good news is,in all but the most extreme cases,this work can be staged over afew years to suit your cashflowand targeted at replacing thepanels which will fail the MOT.

Chassis GuaranteesAny individual independentsection or related complex ofpanels fitted by us is covered by a three or five year guarantee.

D.

The area A to B on the left shows where the sill hollow box sectionrots from the inside out through internal corrosion.The area C shows where the laminated cross member breaks downdue to lack of maintenance.The area D on the right hand side shows the long term replacementsolution we have used for many years.

A

B

D

C

l Upper BodyshellThe important safety panels onthe upper bodyshell are the frontand rear bumpers and all fourwings, which act as impactzones. It may be necessary toreplace rusted out wings, whichusually have to be taken off whenextensive inner-wing restorationis carried out. Doors rust out when the drain holes at thebottom become blocked. Internal corrosion develops andrust eats through the lower face.This is a low structural priority, aslong as the door opens and shutssafely. The appearance canalways be improved by the use of filler and a spray can. It is amistake to re-spray a panel that

is a bit rusty, however lovely it may look when it’s finished thereality is that within months therust will start to bubble through.The time to use professional help is when the panel has ended its useful life and has to be replaced. However, as long as you understand this principle we are prepared to quote for acosmetic re-spray which will make the car generally brighterand even in colour.

Bodyshell GuaranteesGuarantees are subject to youfollowing our recommendedmaintenance routine and basedon what is reasonable and fair under the circumstances.

lTraveller WoodThe timber frame on the Traveller is structural and clad in aluminium panels it musttherefore, be rot free for basicsafety. Rot starts at the joints due to damp penetration. This first stage rot cannot beeliminated by bleaching and re-varnishing this merely seals in the damp, making the processaccelerate. However, if the oldvarnish is cleaned off and the rot area is treated with clearCuprinol and then finished with Danish or Teak oil this will givethe wood a few more years ofuseful life. Timber replacement is very labour intensive

therefore, it makes bettereconomic sense to replace a whole side at a time rather than fit an individual section. Since 1990 our wood has beenmanufactured by a small topquality bespoke kitchen joineryworkshop. The sections are made from seasoned Ash andincorporate the original designdetails. The joints are handfinished to ensure accurate fit.

Upper Bodywork and Traveller Wood GuaranteesSubject to following a sensiblemaintenance programme our paint finishes and wood areguaranteed for two years.

l MechanicalThe Morris Minor has a simpleelectro-mechanical specification of legendary reliability. Mostowners worry about the engine,unless it is using gallons of oil or is extremely noisy, don’t worry. The ‘A’ series always gives amplewarning before it packs up!The common items that can failwithout much warning are usuallyelectrical parts that may have been on the car for over 20 years.

Mechanical GuaranteesNew or factory reconditioned partssupplied and fitted by us carry aguarantee of 12 months or 12,000miles, parts and labour. Exceptionsare service parts, for example brake shoes, plugs and points, etc.

l Interior TrimA complete range of interior trim components are available for all the Minor variations from 1949 to 1971.

Accident damage estimatesThese are charged for unlessagreed in principle with yourinsurer. In order to give anaccurate quote we will need toinspect your car. Third partyestimates are charged for. The charge is refunded if the work is carried out by us.

Pre-accident ValuationInsurers respect our experiencewhen assessing the pre-accidentvalue of Minors. If you have aproblem please contact us toascertain whether their offermakes sense. If there is a case to take the matter further wewould agree a fee in advance.

Hire CarsWhilst work is being carried outon your car, we will, with advancewarning lend you a reliable Minor.The cost depends on how muchyou are spending. The rate forsmaller jobs is £20.00 per week,for more extensive work there is no charge.

Car CollectionIf your Minor needs extensiverestoration and is currently not in working order or without anMOT we can collect the car fromanywhere in the UK for a special‘at cost’ rate.

l How to get adviceMake an appointment so that your car can undergo a detailedstructural inspection, the resultsare then analysed and listed inorder of priority. We will also give you a free verbal estimatefor the complete job, a detailedwritten estimate is free.

If you are unable to visit thecentre we can send a detailedquestionnaire with instructions on how to complete it .When it is returned to us we can discussits contents over the telephone. If a written estimate is required it will be free. We also offer ahighly detailed mechanical reportcovering all aspects of the car.This involves workshop time soadvance booking is essential and the time will be charged for.

l Other Services

InsuranceThe centre will be happy torecommend Morris Minor friendlyinsurance companies

ValuationsWe carry out realistic ‘AgreedValue’ insurance valuations for owners needing special cover. In order to give an accurate written valuation we will need to inspect your car. The chargeis £25.00 plus VAT.

SERIES 3 UPDATESOur Morris Minor updates havebeen developed because of customer demand. Prices areexclusive of oils, fluids and where necessary, removal andrefitting of interior trim etc. All work is subject to VAT.All jobs by prior appointment.

l Suspension and brakingoptions.

Servo assistance to braking system*Can be added to the standardfront brakes and makes them bite quicker and more efficiently.It also reduces the amount ofbraking effort needed to bringyour Morris Minor to a prompthalt.The servo makes the brakes feel light and responsiveand comparable to a mid 90'sproduction saloon.This is one ofthe most popular conversions.

Front disc brakes This conversion can be used on its own or in conjunction withthe suspension modificationsdescribed below. Disc brakes fitted on their own without a servo are surprisingly no more efficient than the original brake drums but they do have other virtues:

a) they are self adjusting.b) they are not affected by water, oil or brake fluid.c) easier maintenance.d) if they are left for severalmonths, they are unlikely tobecome sticky and seize up, a common problem with the original wheel cylinders.

The kit includes a brake reservoir top-up kit in the enginecompartment, this is essentialbecause the disc brakes draw off more fluid than can be contained in the master cylinder.

Reservoir top -up kitThis is convenient on a standardMorris Minor because you cancheck brake fluid levels at aglance. Existing owners knowhow awkward it can be to checkthe brake fluid levels under thefloor. This is carried out as an individual job.

TyresWe would normally recommend155 x14 radial tyres. Please note,a set of white stove enamelledwheels can be fitted in conjunctionwith the above or as an individualjob in one day.

Classic Minorsuspension conversion The system allows the owners of standard Morris Minors to keep their 14" wheels and tyres. We do recommend 155 x 14 radials, thus preserving the original apperance of the car but dramatically improving its road handling. Disc brakes can be safely added at the front, complete with servo and under the bonnet top -up brake fluid reservoir.

The necessary modificationsare then carried out to the bodyand the rear suspension and a pair of robust telescopic shockabsorbers are fitted to improveroad holding. A pair of telescopicshock absorbers are also fitted tothe front suspension.

This combination provides the necessary increase in stability. The more efficient braking allowsfull use of the Minors traditionalengine power, you can also add a 1300 engine safely to this package. This, our latest system,has been tried and tested in theLondon to Peking rally in which the vehicle came 10th in its class.The classic Minor handling andbraking system fundamentallyimproves the cars safety. We canalso offer the option of a front anti - roll bar, fitted serarately.

Anti -roll bar option As a separate jobThe front anti - roll bar firms up the steering and makes it more positive.

Front and rear handling kit

Front and rear suspension conversion

Front handling kit The front handling kit is in factincluded within the Classic Minorsuspension conversion but can becarried out as a separate job.

l Engine and power train options

Standard reconditioned 1275cc engineThis fits easily in place of the 1098cc Morris engine and the standard gearbox - it is all right ifthe car is not used as a 'racer'.The ancillaries from the 1098ccengine are fitted to the newengine. The increase in poweroutput is not great but givesmore flexibility to quickly passother vehicles and offers a comfortable cruising speed.The larger engine can be fittedwithout suspension improvementsbut it is advisable to improve the brakes and a servo would beconsidered a minimum. Also, it is necessary to fit hardened halfshafts to handle the additionalpower created by the both the1275cc and the1300cc engines.

All engines are supplied to run on lead free fuel. Leaded fuel can also be used in lead freeengines and will not damage the engine in any way.

l Gearbox optionsThe gearbox conversion we have developed is a 5 speedbased on the Ford Sierra box. It is strong and durable with full synchromesh in all forward gears.Fifth gear pulls well behind a1300 and is also suitable behinda standard 1098, offering lowerengine revolutions at cruisingspeed and therefore less enginestress and greater fuel economy. The kit includes bell housing,gearbox and all necessary items.

l Summary of electrical and other conversion options

2 speed wiper kitSlightly slower speed on first position and much more positivespeed in second position.

Alternator kit Essential if you need a heatedrear screen and if you are considering halogen headlamps.

Please note. Most Minors wereoriginally fitted with a dynamo and for motoring this is adequate.However, if you spend time driving in the dark or in slow moving traffic and have ancillary

components, for example, heatedrear screen, powerful radio andhalogen head lamps then an alternator will help make yourvehicle more reliable for the following reasons:

A dynamo's maximum output is22 amps. A normal vehicle, withheadlamps, wiper and heater onwill demand approximately 18amps, leaving only 4 amps tosustain the battery, an alternator,on tick-over will produce 28amps, more than enough to dealwith existing demands and anyadditional demands, such as aheated rear screen, a powerfulradio and halogen headlamps Also, batteries tend to last longerif they are kept fully charged, analternator is best at doing this.

Halogen headlamps Much brighter than the originalMorris Minor sealed beams, youwill see and be seen much better.

Hazard warning lights Standard on modern cars butMorris Minors were never produced with them. The switchcan be fitted in a position to suityou, either visible or out of view.

Headlamp flasher A neatly fitted switch on the dashboard. Including connectingin relay to operate headlamps.

Single speed heater Has a new high capacity matrixfitted in the existing later heaterunit together with a hotter thermostat and new large bore pipes and taps. It seriouslyimproves the output by 40%on a good working standardheater and quite a lot more on an average heater.

Heated rear windows forTravellers and SaloonsPlease note. The glass has beenetched and looks like modernheated windows. They work verywell. It is strongly recommendedthat an alternator is fitted with this conversion.

Unleaded device System 4This system is a practical andaffordable solution for running on unleaded fuel which we havebeen using for many yearswithout any problems. Furtherdetails available on request.

Unleaded cylinder head Please note. Before an unleaded head is fitted to an existing engine we recommend a controlled oil consumption test to be carried out. Please ask for more information on thisor our sheet on commonly asked questions and answers.

Electronic ignitionThis is a very popular upgrade. It is very common for the pointson a standard Morris Minor toclose up, causing misfiring, poortiming and even a breakdown.The electronic ignition replacesthe points and increases the reliability of your Morris Minor.

Battery cut-out switch Incorporates an anti - theft device

Electric washer kitControlled by original style switch in the existing washerpump position.

Rear fog lamp

Reversing lamp. ManualPlease note. The automatic version is only available with 5 speed conversion. Please ask for further details

Water temperature gauge

Oil pressure gauge

Radio/CD player.Generally KenwoodWith radio data signal, powerfulspeakers and aerial. Pleaseask for specific fitting details.

Cigarette lighter/mobile phone connection

Classic door/wing mirrors

Tow bar kitsAvailable for most models.For further information please contact our parts department.

l Other major conversions

Lefthand drive conversion

Convertible conversionIf the chassis is in good orderand does not need to bestrengthened. This would be confirmed before we carried outthe conversion.

Hood BagsHood bags are also available inconjunction with this conversionor as an individual job.

l Interior trim optionsWe offer a modern but visuallycompatible pair of front seatscomplete with headrests, they can be trimmed in the same colour as your vehicle.The seats are easily adjustableand are on tracks, especiallyuseful if your car is used byseveral drivers.

Standard vinyl covered seats

Half hide traditional leather faced seats

l Seatbelts

Front inertia seatbelts

Rear inertia seatbelts

Rear lap belts

l Preservation of your Morris Minor

Injection of the closed box sectionsThis injection process, which we recommend is carried outevery three years, helps to prevent the incidence of rust from the inside out. Many of our customers who have had their vehicles injected stillhave a good sound rust freechassis some eight years later.

The compound we use, calledTectyl, is approved by over 30major manufacturers includingDaimler, Ferrari, VolkswagenPorsche, Toyota and RollsRoyce, to name but a few.

Please note, we can also carryout this injection on other classicvehicles and we would be happyto carry it out on your other car, if you have one, at special ratesfor our customers. Please ask for further details.

For further assistance, pleasecontact us either by phone, fax or email. If you are in the areathen please call in. Our friendlyknowlegeable staff will be morethan happy to help and adviseon any Minor matter.

Modern cars are built from such light materials that oncerust or bubbling paint develops in their structural seams, they are beyond their sell by date.On the contrary, Durable Cars,like the Minor are constructedfrom much heavier gauge steeland are relatively stronger so that even when in poor shape are still just about viable.

As an example of this refusal to to be scrapped, we recentlyadvised an elderly lady who hadowned her Morris for forty yearsfrom new. It was unfortunatelydeeply riddled with rust and hadbeen repaired with fibreglass and filler under its fairly newre-spray. The chassis was like a patchwork quilt, but it passedthe MOT and it worked well.The cost of restoring this car to its original glory would have

CARS FOR SALEbeen about £12,000, which for its owner, on a fixed pension,was beyond her means. Naturally she was upset and said 'but my garage has alwaysdone what was necessary' which was true because theywere in a mistaken way, trying to help her out by carrying outonly minimal work to keep bills on the low side.

The majority of Morris Minorshave many of these problemsbecause unlike with old houses,no one bothers to give anoverview of their real condition.All sensible home buyers want to know what is behind the wallpaper before taking the plungeand will always as a priorityspend whatever is necessaryto sort out the dry rot and the rising damp before consideringthe paint finishes.

'prodded' by strangers and ask us to find them a good home.Many of the cars on this list arepriced 'from'. This means thatmore can be done to them now or in the future, but in themeantime they will do their jobefficiently. One thing we havenever done (which is the motortrade norm) is to apply a nicecosmetic re - spray, which willlook OK for a year. Dressing'mutton up a lamb' is not wherewe come from. As a national and international business, wesell unseen quite a lot of our cars on detailed descriptions.We can honestly say that not one customer coming to see thecompleted job has rejected it.Durable Car ownership is about

We of course regularly carry out complete rebuilds for our customers to 'as new' standards,which will last for many decades,but the costs, anything up to£15000 or so, are beyond mostpeople's Morris Minor budgets.Fortunately because we havebeen around for the last 30years and have a wide range ofcontacts it is quite unecessary to spend such large sums toobtain a decent Morris Minorwith a good future. A large number of our best sales carshave in the past been fully or partly restored by us or otherrespectable restorers. Manynever go on the open marketbecause their owners hate theidea of their 'old friends' being

function, like a house it is notessential to have every roomdecorated in order to live in it.

Our priority is therefore to makesure that any car we sell has achassis with a good future, a new MOT and be mechanicallyreliable for everyday use. Ideally if you are able to come to see us, we will always find the right car for you within your budget price range, takingdetailed notes and by matchingthe cars we always have onour premises with your needs.

The only drawback to buyingfrom us is that we rarely have a line up of Minors ready to buyand drive away in because we normally agree a detailed specification with a customerbefore commencing the work.Sometimes it is possible with a very nice example.

If you have never driven a Morris Minor or would like to re-acquaint yourself with the experience, we are happy, byappointment, to let you drive one without any obligation.

SRI LANKASince our ‘handmade’ labourintensive craft based factory wasopened, in 1991 as a partnershipbetween ourselves and localinterests, tools and jigs for over80 chassis and bodyshell panelshave been developed.They have been designed to suitthe exacting standard of our longserving workforce. The panelsbeing made are sold in the UKand elsewhere because of theirconsistently high quality andcompetitive price.

It must be stressed that this is not an exercise in using cheaplabour to make cheap andcheerful products for westernmarkets, but a serious project,demonstrating how well paidcraftspeople in a developingcountry can sell their manualskills in a highly competitive world market. The difference inlabour rates between Europe and a developing country like Sri Lanka is fundamental to theproject, but we are not interestedin a like for like manufacturingprocess. For example, if thepanel was made in a modernpressing plant in the UK orTaiwan the same panel will becheaper in Taiwan because ofits lower labour costs.

In Sri Lanka we have adopted adifferent approach. In a modernplant the panel may take threeminutes to produce, in Sri Lankait takes two or three hours for a skilled well paid metal worker to make the same panel.The consequence of this is that our present workforce of thirtypeople make the same number of panels as perhaps three or four people in a modern panelpressing plant. This could appearto be a rather silly old fashionedsystem in the context of modernmass production methods, but inthe context of southern Sri Lanka,where unemployment runs at28%, it works. Each well paidworker supports in one way oranother an extended family of 15 other people, so at present our small factory is contributing to the well being of over fourhundred local people.

l Spares CatalogueOur illustrated catalogue shows all the standard Minor partsavailable. Based on the originalfactory drawings, many of whichare exploded, workshop manualstyle, giving a useful visualexplanation of their method ofassembly. Our parts departmenthas ample parking. It is mannedby a knowledgeable staff who are only too happy to give youexpert advice and assistance. The following list is just a sampleof the many parts available....

Engines 803/950/1093/1300.Clutches All types. GearboxesAll types. Including 5 speed allsynchromesh.Exhausts Stainless or mild steel for all models.

PARTS

Pumps All types for all models. Radiators All models. Electrics Dynamos, looms and other parts for all models.Brakes Disc and drum for allmodels. Componentsand service kits.Wheels New hub covers and tyres, all models. Chrome /Trim Complete range of body trim parts, all models. Repair panels Complete rangeat unbeatable prices. Traveller Wood All sections.Series 3 kits All kits are available ex-stock plus all the upto date components listed inSeries 3 Updates section.

l Durable CarOwnershipThe book describesin detail the theory and practice of ‘longlife’ car technology and shows how the use of skilled labourcan save owners ofdurable cars like theMorris Minor up to half the overall costsper mile normallyincurred by owners of new ‘throwaway’cars. A detailedanalysis of the MorrisMinor shows how theowners of badlymaintained and rustyexamples can investrelatively small sumsannually in theirphased improvementand in five to tenyears will be driving‘new’ cars and ownsound financial assets.

One of the mostinteresting books oncar ownership I havecome across. JohnLangley, MotoringCorrespondent, DailyTelegraphRead this and you will look upon old carsand rebuilding them in a different light.Practical Classics

l Morris MinorSurvival KitThree fuses. Fourspark plugs. One ofeach: Fan belt. Rotorarm. Contact set.Condenser. Stop/ tailbulb. Indicator bulb.Sidelight bulb.

PUBLICATIONS/PRODUCTS