pomwah Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 (edited) Today I was invited to make an offer on a 1968 Morris 1100. It's running on a "club permit" but this was issued to it after passing an roadworthy inspection. The paint is rubbish, there are a couple of rust spots showing in the usual places and some of the panel gaps are a little "off". The interior is good. I believe it's mechanically sound because it's been repaired but had nothing major replaced. The dilemma is what to offer? The owner is a family friend whose husband died a few months ago. Example prices range from $350, complete but with a rubbish interior to $6,000 in "showroom" condition with almost every important component having been replaced recently. Thoughts? Edited October 16, 2014 by pomwah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Depends whether you want it / aim to do with it. I don't like them very much myself - just not a car I want to own. If you don't really want it yourself then best bet would be to contact the local owners club. They are a pretty rare sight in the UK these days - can't remember the last time I saw one, even at a show. Tinworm ate most of them years ago - they really know how to rot. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zelrik Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Wow - checking on local 1100 prices & I just seen what huge prices are being asked for Minis !!!!!! I remember back-in-the-day, that 1100s went nearly as fast as equivalent Minis and I reckon they handled better. Plus they were much more comfortable at the Drive-Inn. These days 1100s seem to be remembered because they were mostly owned by a friends mother (& they were popular - sold about 90,000 in Australia). Surely the mechanical bits are worth something? BUT will this soak up valuable time that you could be spending on your more important projects? Peter - Melbourne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2.5piman Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Hello Peter, Minis fetch a lot more as they are, for some reason, considered desirable, 1100s are not. Alec Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pomwah Posted October 20, 2014 Author Share Posted October 20, 2014 (edited) Gentlemen, I too was bemused by the prices Minis are fetching. I always thought of both them and 1100s as cars my mother's friends drove, I guess "The Italian Job" along with Cooper Garages has a lot to answer for. Peter, I don't think it would interfere with the Spitfire, it has been thoroughly overhauled and got a RWC less than 8 months ago. At about the same time, the owner was diagnosed with small cell carcinoma that had got into his brain. It didn't respond to treatment and he died within weeks of the diagnosis. He was a long time, and good, friend of mine. I was very reluctant to make an offer, I would rather have had his widow, Y, get the car valued by the local vintage car club. However, I got a call yesterday evening and, together with her eldest son, Y had decided to offer the car to me, as someone that knew her husband and the Morrie's history, at the price her husband had paid for it. There was one proviso, whenever said son was in town I should take him for a ride in it. I have to admit to feeling like I was caught between a rock and a hard place. The upshot is I will shortly become the owner of a Morris 1100, at well below market value. Still, SWMBO and I will be able to take Y out in the car on our monthly lunch dates. Just hope I've done the right thing. Edited October 20, 2014 by pomwah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Sad story. Socially you've done the right thing. Enjoy it if you can. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pomwah Posted October 20, 2014 Author Share Posted October 20, 2014 (edited) Thanks Nick. Perhaps I should have mentioned that Y was left in a very sound financial position. She could buy and sell me ten times over. Edited October 21, 2014 by pomwah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
logicaluk Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 Met a chap at a local show he had the 1300 gt version, IIRC metro turbo runing gear and efi, with cunningly sculpted arched to hide the extra width. Looked from a few feet away to be stock. Was pretty quick too. Cant find the pics tho. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pomwah Posted October 21, 2014 Author Share Posted October 21, 2014 Noooooooooooooo......... Dan, no. Don't go putting ideas into my head. Spitfire first, Spitfire first ....... FIRST. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zelrik Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 YES James - you have done the right thing. So money is not an issue here, its a 'reminder of the good times' thing. If you have the space, another car on club plates isnt a burden at all. And .... you can practice your MIG / TIG welding skills on the floor of the 1100. In fact Aussie built BMC minis are usually real rustbuckets too. Its an odd thing that some BMC cars of the era survived very well compared to the FWD Aussie cars. MGAs & MGBs built at the same factory lasted reasonably well - perhaps there was a different assembly line for Minis & 1100s or better production methods for RWD cars? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT6MK3 Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 Nicely played James. C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pomwah Posted January 18, 2015 Author Share Posted January 18, 2015 Took delivery of the 1100 on Monday. Plainly it hasn't been looked after over the last little while. Had a proper look at it, didn't seem right to "look a gift horse in the mouth" as it were. It's in very original, and remarkably good, condition. Never been restored, it has had an accident repair to the rear. Very little rust, 60,000 miles, original engine but in need of a good tidy up. It will do as a good around town runabout while I'm working on the Spit. Just some routine maintenance to keep it happy. Flushed the cooling system this afternoon, liquid rust. Replaced the top radiator hose but now I need to find a new, what I assume to be, thermostat housing. Pain in the neck working on old FWD cars though. Oil next, just a soon as I identify the filter, a new sandwich plate has been installed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustbuckit2011 Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 I owned an early MG 1100 2dr version for a time, and truth is, I bloody miss it! Every car feels better when it goes a bit faster and you are sitting on leather. Plenty of options there for the Morrie. I reckon you'll fall in love. These are still everywhere in NZ, so if I can help you with parts sent over, send me a PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pomwah Posted August 19, 2016 Author Share Posted August 19, 2016 (edited) I owned an early MG 1100 2dr version for a time, and truth is, I bloody miss it! Every car feels better when it goes a bit faster and you are sitting on leather. Plenty of options there for the Morrie. I reckon you'll fall in love. These are still everywhere in NZ, so if I can help you with parts sent over, send me a PM Thanks, I'll keep it in mind. The Morrie's been sitting under a tarp over winter, water is getting in to the passenger foot well and I'm buggered if I can find out where it's coming from. Edited August 19, 2016 by pomwah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted August 19, 2016 Share Posted August 19, 2016 Windscreen seal would be my prime suspect....... Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pomwah Posted August 19, 2016 Author Share Posted August 19, 2016 Windscreen seal would be my prime suspect....... Nick Mine too, just trying to eliminate everything else before I have to pull it out. It was replaced to get an roadworthy/MOT, that makes it a prime suspect in my book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeljf Posted June 17, 2020 Share Posted June 17, 2020 Hello, I have a Morris "850" 1962 (first year of production in Australia) . I bought about 28 years ago. It still has paint on the floor. How did you get on with the 1100 ? Regards,Michael. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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