Most British car lovers (and a substantial portion of the rest of you) will find a soft spot in their hearts for the Morris Minor Traveler (wood-framed two-door station wagon). This particular car was being restored by a former Morris mechanic before they unfortunately died, leaving their child to settle the estate. The car is listed for sale here on eBay and is located in Huddersfield, United Kingdom. The no-reserve bidding is up to 2,150 pounds ($2,603 as of this morning) which seems like one heck of a bargain so far based on the auction information.
The Morris has been stored in this lockup since January 2019. The seller characterizes the car as an unfinished restoration project, but that at the time of their father’s death it was frequently being driven. The engine still turns over but does not start (the seller admits they are not in any way a mechanic, so it’s quite possible the problem is something simple). From the pictures, it appears that their father was working their way around the car, restoring it as they went.
This fender appears almost ready for paint. The seller also tells us that the car has received new door sills and has been the beneficiary of some underbody welding and sealing. The wood, which is actually structural in these wagons (estates, as the Brits call them), is said to be mainly solid with some minor (ha!) TLC needed in small areas.
The interior appears to have some wonderful patina and there is even a spare set of seats included with the sale. I wonder if those shoulder belts are mounted into anything apart from the wood at the B-pillar? The front seats tilt to allow access to the rear, in case you are wondering.
The complete (?) tool kit is nice to see as well. Lots of Minors were produced as commercial vehicles due to the surprising amount of space available in the rear. Over on this side of the Atlantic, I have seen lots of Minor Travelers (and the baby brother Mini Travelers) used as support vehicles for classic car repair and parts companies.
Underhood, we see an A-Series four-cylinder engine as fitted to numerous small BMC (British Motor Corporation) cars for many years. If it’s the stock, original engine, it will displace 1098 cc, produce just under 50 horsepower, and have around 60 foot-pounds of torque. Sounds like plenty to move this little wagon around to you? What do you think about this little woody?
Love these Travelers, but bringing one from the UK is a commitment. Full wood kits and parts are readily available. A 1275, Datsun 5 speed and disc brakes brings them to drivability over here. I had a Minor convertible for a while in college and took it on many “youthful adventures”
Would it have been too much of an imposition to roll this Morris out of the garage to take decent pictures?
Well Steve, by that comment I assume you’re looking for one of these as well … If not, why is there so much negativity in the world these days?
Yes if it where closer, I would simply ask the seller for more pictures please … and from what I see on eBay, I’d bid if it wasn’t a pond away =[ …..
Oh, and for all the MGB fans out there I bought a 72′ yesterday, true Barn Find!! hasn’t been on the road since 83′ =]
The B pillar is steel, the first of the wood being attached to its aft side, and what you see in the picture is decorative interior finishing cladding.
Since the British mostly just salt their highways (plowing is reserved for the more northern sections) these cars could develop some serious rust underneath, even if you religiously reapplied your WaxOyl annually. there is actually a chassis under the rear of the Traveller and the one that I traded off last year need all of it to be re-created.
Shipping probably costs as much as the selling price. Too bad, this would be cool.
best thing bout BF is getting them running. Fun (so many different ways based on ur preliminary tests) but it’s all wrk after that (to me).
Love to have this one (traveler is only model besides today’s clubman) drivin down the road w/the squeaky wood’n all. Even’d wanna bring it back acc the pond (dad did w/an escort, drove it all over europe to finally sell at road’s end, a yr later). Yeah, join the Travelers (caravan housed, ppl of the road) init, sleep out back’n adventure. Couldn’t do it life long like them. Esp w/the discrimination & hardship~