It's funny, about six years ago when I was looking for a project I was seriously considering a Mini, but everything I saw was just too expensive for what it was. I "settled" for a Minor, and now there's no way I'd swap him for an equivalent Mini, not because Minors are "better", but because he MY Minor. I'm sure I'd feel the same if I'd put that amount of work into a Mini or a Spridget or whatever.

The whole Club Scene can really get me down, too. There are three different Morris clubs in the Brisbane Reigon, and it's not unusual to be told that people in club X are all wrong/crooks/idiots by members of club Y. I know that this is not exclusive to Minors too, because I've been told similar things by people in Mini clubs. ("oh, we don't go to that event 'cause it's run by X").

None of this is helpful to the Marques. Why can't we just be friends?

I came along to the '08 Carina display day and even though I was the only Minor there (fair enough too, it was a Mini day) I spent all day talking to Mini people and had a great time.

I like Ausmini cause it's a more active place, and there is heaps of useful info here. Sometimes I think I'm a bit too old (I'm 35) to be here, but then I think I'm a bit to young to be on MorrisDownUnder, too. MDU is perfectly good in it's own way too with excellent specific Minor experience, parts availability and events.

What I'm trying to say is: To each their own, but have your own without being nasty to anyone whose own is different from yours.

[/rant]

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1958 Morris Minor 1000 - "Nigel"

jeez, I thought you'd have been double that! I reckon if we took an age poll, you'd be bang on the average age for regular ausmini users

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

i must be ancient then

ta.

Say that again and I'll whap you with my zimmer frame, sonny!

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1958 Morris Minor 1000 - "Nigel"

Oh to be 35 again - it's been soooo long.

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

Your only as the woman you feel

You know, at the end of the day I drive what I think is a better than good example of what one survey recently classed as the most important car in history(just in front of the Model T) and I was impressed by the quality and variety of the other Morris' at the servo.
I made several attemps with several people to engage and if I were to remove the cars from the equation altogether I could only describe the people as PIG IGNORANT human beings. (happy Jess, no reference to any clubs).
And People, there really is no substitute for the experience that comes with age. I resent be lectured and/or moderated in matters of this nature by persons obviously lacking in life experience.
Its been coming for a while, the situation has been irritating me for some time.
So long and thanks for all the fish !
Matt

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I'm one of the older generation and have three Morris Minors and one Morris Cooper S. All Morris's and enjoy them all in different ways. Simon and his sisters learnt to drive in a Morris Minor and probably are better drivers for having done that. Simon drove down the Birdsville track when he was 13 - in a Minor. Two of my cars have 1275 engines, one started life in an 1100S, was converted to point the right way and fitted with a Wade 240 cam, hepalite pistons, twin Su's and exrtractors, disc brakes, taller diff and is a fun car. The other is a 1951 convertible with an English 1275 Marina Engine and flies down the freeway with a camper attached - so much fun. I have found that Morris Minor people can be people who like the Minor, join a MM club and enjoy the social side. You can pull up beside them in a Mini and it might as well be a Commodore, they are not "car enthusiasts". On the other hand there are members who are "car enthusiasts" like myself and will appreciate that it is your pride and joy and talk to you about your car in an enthusiastic way. So don't be harsh when someone appears to snub you, ask them about THEIR car and that will get them started.

That's a really good way to put it. Our club is the same. There's a real mix of members ranging fron "social" to "enthusiast" with everything in-between. I'm probably more enthusiast than social.

I respect anyone who drives, restores or cares for older cars, and I've had several impromptu car park conversations with randoms when I drive the Minor. Usually, folks have a story to tell, but I've found out about parts suppliers, cars for sale and other useful stuff as well. I'll always try to make time for a chat, but sometimes you have to cut it short if you need to be somewhere, but even though I'm not the most social creature, I'd never be rude in doing so.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not apologising for the Morris owners in question. There's usually no excuse for rudeness.

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1958 Morris Minor 1000 - "Nigel"

I'd love a Morris Minor Van or ute or even a convertible, great car. The local mechanic is restoring one at the moment for his daughter (a fabled original rust free body) and there is another one that lives two blocks away with a "0-100km/h in 5 minutes" sticker on the rear window.

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One should never skimp on the zip ties.

The rust free bodies aren't as rare as you might imagine... Mine has no structural rust, the sills are all good, etc... And it's been off the road longer than I've lived (off the road since 78 )! Series II tended to last pretty well. Nice thick panels, etc. The newer ones are more susceptible to rust - just like Minis.

Come on, Speedy - Rover, then a Moke, a Minor would be the natural progression...

And then a vespa after that?!

I'll get a picture of the Minor body next time I go past. He said to me he is building it for his daughter, she must be patient, it doesn't look like its been worked on for over a year.

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One should never skimp on the zip ties.

Nah, no Vespa - an original Austin Seven!

My Minor might end up being for my son. But that's ok. He's 4. Maybe the local mechanic's daughter is young, too... But we all know, the mechanic's car (and also his daughter's car) never runs right... I mean, according to another thread on here, there's a mechanic on here who recently had a birthday who has a Blue Mini which won't go.

Having just been to Phillip Island it's obvious that Minors can't do what Mini's can on the race track, but Minors have their place too.
It's marvellous how many older women approach you at the supermarket with "I had one of those when my children were young, wish I had it now" to which I reply "but it doesn't have power steering and airconditioning".
Maybe that was 10 years ago, those old dears are either in nursing homes or no longer here. My 1275 Minor sedan has been all over the centre of Australia and NSW, with greater ground clearance and more weight it can tow a camper - shown here in September last year.



And the rest of my "family", The green one has a 1275 too....
1951 1275cc tourer, 1968 MCS, 1969 Mini K (now sold), 1951 sidevalve tourer.

I haven't seen that green Minor that used to race in Nb for a while, that thing was way cool

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?