1961 Morris Minor Pickup - Will It Run?

[@simoncampbell-smith6745]

Steve so much preserved British heritage. You should get a medal for it. More videos please.

[@davidcole5979]

I was a moggy owner in the Uk, as per my previous comment, and I have to say you are an absolute credit to youtube, your video is very clear and concise, no stupid music, the sound and video is perfect. You should be a teacher to our young kids, they need inspirational people. I used to work on my Moggie, but it's only now, after many years of Renaults, Vauxhalls, Fords, VW, etc, that I realise that they are so simple to work on, and I just yearn to have another moggie for it's simplicity.

[@WilliamBHickock-kj4yy]

Yes,do more Morris Minor videos. 👍Great job!!!

[@TheByard]

I worked on the construction of the Victoria Line subway in London UK, when equipping the project the contractor decided on Morris vehicles and within 2 weeks of site start up. 13 Morris 1000 travellers, 2 5cwt vans and 3 pickups, 2no. 15cwt J4 vans. 3no 5 ton flat bed trucks. Were delivered along with 2 Humber Snipes for the section boss's Then the actual construction equipment started to arrive, a large proportion was new stuff so what the capital outlay was to set up shop was staggering.

[@archangel6415]

Great to see this old Morris Minor worked on. I had the van MM in the early 80s, similar vintage which I bought from an old flame for £30.00! I had it sprayed metallic Gold and refurbished inside. It worked a dream and wish I hadn’t given it away for free in exchange for a new van more capable for my needs I loved the sound of the 1000cc tight engine, it’s pure simplicity to work on under the hood. Any key opened the door! Miss it some, as these were very collectible, still are, but very rarely seen here in U.K. However, a close neighbour has the car with the wooden trim! Thanks for posting, takes me back.

[@gazzafloss]

My dear old Dad would be well pleased to see that old Moggy box ute, he was a Morris Minor fan through the 50's and 60's, I remember as a kid riding in his Morry sedan, two panel vans, (he had a business servicing washing machines and was the local Singer sewing machine man), and a neat Red coloured ute. Yes, that stupid brake, (what brakes?), master cylinder was a pain to deal with. He could replace a set of engine main and big end bearings with the engine still on the car in one night. Steve, thanks for the memories

[@davidcole5979]

Hello from Great Britain. I had the saloon Moggie and the Morris Traveller around 1970-75, both superbly reliable cars and so easy to work on. Watching your video brings back so many memories but I was seduced away from the Morris by a Renault 4 because it was quieter and apparently more comfortable. However, now, there are very few Renault 4 's on the road now, but there are still tens of thousands of Morris Minors on the UK roads and elsewhere.

[@alanbuckingham8788]

My dad had a blue Minor from 1963 and we drove all over England in it with camping gear loaded to the roof rack. I used to sit on my dad's lap and 'drive' the car into the garage. Loved it so much

[@neilwilliams2409]

Them were the days.👌

[@stevandupus6010]

I have spent a lifetime messing with British cars and currently own a 60 Sprite, 71 Midget, a restored 65 Minor pickup, plus another unrestored Minor pickup and a Minor Van. That I am currently restoring.

[@curbmassa]

I had a '61 Van I restored back in the late '70s. A few tips: The emergency brake cable has a grease fitting. How nice is that? I think the rear axle has 4.88 gears. Some of the Sprites/Midgets had I think 3.90s or 4.11s. Easy swap. Disc brakes from the Midget can be used on the front with a bracket that is probably still sold. That front fender looks pretty solid, I'd consider repairing it. Check the frame where the lower control arms bolt through the frame, a notorious rust spot but not hard to fix with some welding. Easiest car you'll ever work on, except the master cylinder.

[@TheCounty90]

So much room under the bonnet of a Moggy. They look to be a delight to work on, that is why we see so many today sat in rush hour traffic commuting today in the UK! There is a Morris Minor Specialist called Charles Wares Morris Minor Centre here in Bristol if you need parts for it.

[@rustybum2]

An excellent refresher video for me, I have a 1971 Traveller which is half way through its second restoration and the full brake overhall is the next job. Thanks for sharing from an old Yorkshire fart in Ireland.

[@bcgrittner]

I miss my '58 Saloon. MM 1000. The holes in the brake drums are for brake adjuster access. You need a large straight slot screwdriver. I can't remember if the adjusters were at 12:00 O'Clock or 6:00 O'Clock. Use a flashlight. The thunk thunk electric fuel pump was standard. The SU carb is a peculiar little beast - make sure the oil level in the damper is at a proper level. My '58 MM 1000 was a saloon ( 4 door ). Mine was positive ground. I guess that was a British thing. I have seen positive ground on many British cars. No synchromesh on 1st gear - again, British. A MM 1000 pickup truck in the states? Very rare. Enjoy!

[@markdavissolarradio]

Professional job there with the proper tools. I changed the brake master cylinder on my Morris Minor some years ago, and it is a pain. When I fitted the new one, I reversed the mounting bolts and shortened them a bit (to clear the torsion bar) to make it easier should the MC have to be removed again. A great car to own and generally easy to work on - I often think about getting another. Congrats on your excellent videos.

[@chrisskelhorn5727]

I worked for a Morris dealer in the 1970's and was told to grind a lump off the end, paste 'em with Vaseline, and stick them in the 'wrong' way round! :-)

[@simonbarnwell7787]

I learned to drive in one of those in 1980 , it was a 1970 model , the chassis rails already needed a new top surface welding all the way under the floors , before we got her working . Your videos are great by the way , very informative

[@frglee]

A great simple car to teach/learn basic car mechanics, Every part is affordable and available. Minors are beautiful little classic cars as well - you'll get lots of admirers at car shows! This one is well worth renovation. Good luck with it!

[@g0fvt]

A local gardener still uses a rather nice one of these, ideal for carrying a lawnmower and other small tools. A few saloons, travellers and a van in the area. As others have said it is worth checking and greasing the trunnion bushes. This one sounds like it is running on 3 cylinders, perhaps it will settle down with a bit of running.

[@garycartwright3472]

Had a Morris Minor car in high school, drove it until I went into the military. Biggest problem I had was the fuel pump. Points burnt up just soldered new ones on when needed. Never had a engine issue with it.

[@keithwelton]

All the body panels are available to buy still as they are a popular classic car in the UK.

[@happyhermit2022]

" truly a horrible job do not try this at home " 🤣🤣...that is a classic understatement !!! Great video thank you :)

[@glinleyt]

Always get a giggle out of how much space there is under the bonnet on these old cars! Today's cars are so much tighter and a battle to get to things!

[@edwardmulder3777]

Good instructions and agreeable to watch

[@limeyosu2000]

Love your vids born and raised in England have lived in the us now for many years, love seeing you bring these British classics back to life !

[@peterbrown1477]

My first car was a Moggy Minor saloon. Cost me £25.00 back in 1970. Easy to service and cheap to run !

[@Edwin71077]

I own a 1958 Morris Minor Saloon. The master cylinder is not good. Love this video!!! Keep them coming!!!!!

[@AndyMarsh]

Ahh... an old Moggy Plod. Like to see more on this one.

[@JRattheranch]

That made me smile 😊😊😊 a lot! I've changed and serviced dozens of those brake master cylinders, long before you were born. It's an absolute , mother no father , of a job isn't it. 👌👍👍

[@Mercmad]

I was born and grew up in New Zealand where Morris's were very popular cars. It was also the country where the last ones were built and sold . I was working for a supermarket after school around 1972 .we could get a drivers license at 15 then ,so i was employed driving the stores brand new Morris delivery van. On Barn finders channel he found a blue one sitting in a US scrap yard with New Zealand number plates, a pity because it was very straight and rust free.

[@williemwangi4959]

In my country~ Kenya,they weren't very common. My neighbor still has one,i guess it's a late 50's model and the old man isn't willing to part with it.And yes,i saw the one you just mentioned on Hagerty barn finds page~a straight body, rust free blue one he found in a yard.I would love to own one.

[@andrewnorris5415]

Tiff Needell learnt his car handling skills in a Morris Minor on wet UK roundabouts. He said it helped to have so little grip that it all happened at much slower speeds and so was easier to catch.

[@blacksquirrel4008]

Oh, that’s so true. I used to have donut contests with my friend in his CJ5 Jeep after rainstorms.

[@bonkeydollocks1879]

And James hunt did the same in his mums A35 👍🏾😷🇬🇧

[@barrierodliffe4155]

I did the same in My Morris Minor, it was fun and I used to give bigger more powerful cars a hard time. It served me well when I went to more powerful cars.

[@daniellamade7699]

Terrific. I love those old English tinker toys! Simple, fairly inexpensive, and different. Cheers!

[@kevinmcmahon7465]

Great video, I had a 53 unit RH drive 1100cc ugrade (Australia) same issue with master cylinder. I fitted Morris Major front brakes, they fit straight on with no mods required. Good luck

[@nicnak4475]

Those things keep going forever, My late father used to use the pick ups and the vans for his building business, Vans were ex Royal mail vans he bought for about £40 each and it was always the rust around the rear spring hangers that finally got them in the end , Nice Vid thanks.

[@overmarsdaria3222]

Gosh you are so calm and polite ! I would had say a few swear words while dismantling that master cylinder.

[@neilwilliams2409]

Great job on the tools and your narration. A real blast from the past. Good on you.

[@FluffleValveExpress]

Brilliant. I love old moggies. Years back, I fitted a Mirafiori 2000cc Fiat Twincam with 5 Speed gearbox to a pick-up. It went really well and I had to upgrade the brakes to Disc from a Morris Marina.

[@malcolmlane-ley2044]

I love your upbeat approach, "there's some rust on the tailgate", as an eternal optimist even I would call that partially rotted away! Great videos.

[@josephcalleja3532]

Had one back in the 80s. A traveller. Best car I ever had

[@davidcarruthers1547]

Hi Steve, another great video, good to see you saving these classics. All the best !

[@stevenmcc6052]

My neihbour has one in great shape. Good to c u woking on old english one. These are still affectionately received in uk. Make people smile. The engine crank seal was cork! The engine components were sometimes 'blueprinted' eg pistons were selected / made to fit individual bore abd worked real well. The exhaust often has a signature rasp or parp at certain revs. Nostalgic sound. Good on u

[@houseonpleasantstreet9774]

Great video Steve. Would really like to see more of this little Morris. Maybe even a restore or refurbish ???

[@promerops]

Agreed.

[@roguedalek900]

Oh yes please! Resto...

[@elliottharrisonellbot2814]

Alot of parts are easy to get a hold of even today because of the massive community for them

[@robnisch228]

I had a 59 Morris in the 70's.Loved it!

[@daveshongkongchinachannel]

It's truly a pleasure to watch you work on these old vehicles.

[@markdaniels6002]

I've had 3 morris 1000's I had a 1967 8cwt van, a Salon 1966 and a pick up 1972. Great runners never let me down.

[@edsalerno2790]

Glad to see it came out of storage. Amazed how well it runs again. I would said some non British words when I found the brake master cylinder inside the frame rail.

[@zingzing5077]

Oh man, finally a new video! Really excited to see a familiar car. Looks like a good project! Good thing is that every part is available and it's cheap. All the best!

[@darwinsmonkeybutler2113]

My first car was a 1969 1000 Traveller in trafalgar blue. Your great video reminded me it was a doddle to work on (hammer, socket wrench and blowtorch) compared to all my later cars (I have a very fussy 94 VW Corrado VR6 now). Six moving parts, a bottle of oil, five quids worth of petrol and off we went!

[@DanJamesJames]

Aah, the memories! I spent countless hours under, in and around a couple of Moggies I owned in my teens, back in the '60s, doing all the same stuff as in this video, plus a whole lot more. Mine were Travellers - the first one a split-screen 803 cc 1955 model, the later one a 948 cc from '60 or '61. Excellent machines - I did literally thousands of miles in them, around Britain, with a little detour in the split screen down to the south of Spain and back in 1968. Great little cars! And I totally agree with the "don't do this at home" comment about changing the brake master cylinder. I seem to recall that I somehow hacked off the heads of the bolts behind the torsion bar, then put new ones in from the other side, with the nuts on the torsion bar side.

[@punchion]

My Dad had a 1948 Morris van back in the late 50s. Looking forward to seeing the rebuild!

[@88SC]

Fun looking project. Fairly clean for its years and rough handling. Wallace and Gromit theme is playing in my head now...

[@robertmeadows7508]

My dear Dad had a 1950s split-screen saloon ! So pleased to find you doing this 'old-girl' ,keep it up please ,I think She likes you ? Subscribed ! Thank you ...

[@simonwelch560]

Minor pickups are becoming rare and fetch a good price over here In the UK. Those A series engines are very tough and usually easy to get running. That Minor should go well if it's got the 1275cc engine. I think they come with a 948cc or 1098cc over here. The drum brakes aren't that wonderful and some people convert the front ones to discs. On mine I found adding a brake servo did the trick. I was wondering if a brake pipe would give out because that happens a lot ( including on my Minor) when they get rusty.

[@danmartin633]

Rare as hen's teeth over here. (US)

[@TheGodsrighthandman]

I'm in the UK - 55 years old - an' I ain't never seen one.

[@simonwelch560]

Most fell apart after a few years as happened with most BMC commercials. Charles Ware has one for sale for 26 grand. Personally if I had that sort of money I'd buy something more interesting.

[@VeyronBD]

Pickups are like any other old vans and commercial things, they just got run into the ground and if they got to be 10 years old they were doing good

[@TheEulerID]

How on earth do you fit a brake servo in one of those? I can only imagine that it's necessary to completely relocation the master to do that.

[@caroldave4037]

Well I'm now officially old!!!!!!! I passed my driving test (here in UK 1968) in the van version..cheers from dave

[@jerryhouck2708]

My Civics teacher in high school had one of these that he drove every day. His wife drove his new Corvette. Good work Mate!

[@bobburro3642]

I learnt to drive in the car version of this in New Zealand back in 1970 when i was 15. Great little car and super reliable.

[@BRI33NOR]

That little motor started well and sounded good. Back in the day I ran these for work etc., basically a very willing little truck. Rust always a problem of course. Well worth rebuilding, cannot be many left now.

[@Jeep4Wrk]

Such simple cars. Mom bought a '56 convertible new. Had a lot of fun with that car--many trips to the beach on Pacific Coast.

[@hardball107]

I had one of those back in '74, had a canvas back on it, Same color, looked like something out of the Rat Patrol. Used to drive it on Daytona Beach all the time, had 2x10 benches in the back full of beer and "fun". What a beach buggy, Conch Cruisin' at its best in Key West. Wish I still had it, a GM 60* v6 and T5 from an S10 would slip right in and get 'er over 50mph. I really miss that ride.

[@johnseeley6576]

Served my apprenticeship at Morris commercial Cars,where the moggy,was made,!seeing this reminds me of Good times, Proberably drove or moved one or two,all those years ago ,now 73 good training and experiences.".

[@richardjenkins9811]

Great stuff! Please keep this restoration going.

[@ianatkinson8464]

Would love to see the old moggy put back to work😎

[@fractul22over7]

That sound at 16:10 was worthy of a recording studio reverb effect, liking the videos

[@421CentralIowa]

Awesome to see that thing moving and stopping. Also good to see everything, including the master cylinder come apart rather smoothly compared to how it goes the other 50% of the time.

[@lioncrunch]

For all the UK watchers, I did this master cylinder in about 1968 in uk, in a 18 x 8 garage whist laying on my back, when I was 17, brings back memories. I bought the car from Pharo garage in Illingworth for £125. The drivers seat came away from the runners as I was going around the bend near Morrison’s Halifax, as I drove it away from the garage ,I then swapped the passenger seat for the drivers seat, I drove without passenger seat for many many months, great for courting. O happy days, no MOT no number recognition cameras, I still couldn’t afford the petrol even back then, some things never change.

[@stevedonaldson.8579]

Hey I am Steve from Australia, good to see a little Moggie being worked on in the USA. To watch it being followed through to on the road would be very good. No V8 just reliable for age work over.

[@Nigel-nar53]

Cool, I love Moggy 1000's It's 40yrs since I last had one. 👍

[@rumi9005]

Back in 1970, my friends and I used to roadie for a Manchester (UK) band called Greasy Bear. We used to get ALL the equipment, including light show, into the van version of this same model Morris Minor. it was a tight fit. We used EVERY cubic inch. But it was great!

[@MikeyMack303]

Thanks, Steve. I always learn something from your videos!

[@ginolabarbera2056]

Excellent work! I just love the Morris Ute. You have a long way to go restoring her! I will watch with enjoyment seeing her come up!

[@billwhite5188]

Love this Morris Minor truck. I learned to drive on an A40 Minor so as I see the interior it brings back some awesome memories.

[@darrylmcleman6456]

Great little town cars! You can start them with a hand crank! I had one at age 16 and could fix anything. Did a valve grind with suction cup darts. Parts from the wrecker were very affordable here on west coast Canada!

[@stephenfox966]

Lots of parts available for Morris Minors,the truck version is very rare and will hold its value well.Excellent engines giving 40 plus mpg Imperial English gallon.Rust was their major enemy as they were utility vehicles like the van version.

[@gaiyabum]

Definitely more videos of this truck. At least I know now of the future joys of changing the master on our Morris pickup.

[@mikaelabowen5781]

Lovely! She looks in pretty good shape, too. Most UK Minors have the ring of rust round the headlights and a column of rust on the front wings ahead of the doors (and plenty of other bits, too). My parents has a Series 2 Minor van as our family car when I was a kid, later replaced with a 1959 1000 Traveller. Happy times.

[@noneck3099]

I have a Morris Commercial LC5 truck...which was a restored barn find...didn't take much to get it going and it has cleaned up beautifully....but i wouldn't mind one of these as well..

[@johnshrader1655]

More MM pickup vids, please. It's a pleasure to watch you work. Brings back memories of TR3 struggles in my garage many years ago.

[@jackjacko8706]

Excellent instructional video. But I must make the comment, you have the cleanest hands and nails I have ever seen on a mechanic. If I don’t wear gloves, their is no way I can keep my hands clean. Lol.

[@mowler8042]

Super sweet will be a fun project. The engine looks great.

[@topixfromthetropix1674]

Strangely enough, one of my mates in Florence, SC, USA has an early 50's Morris Minor pick-up. He loves it, been in the family for years. He has the Morris bed cover although it's a bit tattered.

[@rappidog]

The joys of working on the Moggie master cylinder,,,, takes me back like a recurring nightmare,,,,,

[@vernvernon6424]

my big bro had a moggy traveller when I was a kid ... have never seen a pickup version ... great vid..

[@fbrew1]

What a great truck. If it was mine Id get it safe to drive and leave the looks alone. You forgot to sync that radiator with the ecm. Going to give you limp home mode on your next drive.

[@mwkaho]

Thanks for the memories. I restored a 1958 Morris Minor convertible in 1978. Your truck would be a great one to finish.

[@mrg4722]

Hi nice pickup. This brings back memories, remember doing the brake master cylinder on an old GPO van about 40 years ago, blew out one of the steel brake pipes during bleeding so had to replace all metal pipes with copper/nickel made to measure repacements.

[@davewilliams6172]

Great set up on the brake cylinder eh? I have done dozens of these...we young mechanics always got the best jobs lol I am impressed that the suspension bottom trunnions didn't brake free of the Kingpins when you jacked her up!

[@dirkbonesteel]

Very cool. I have seen exactly one of these before. It's in New Mexico, condition same. Someone is driving it everyday, no auto inspections in New Mexico

[@perrosdemaiz]

Oh man! Cool truck. Thanks for the video! You’ve got some good mechanic chops.

[@nickblood5040]

Glad to hear you calling it a bonnet, it is a British car after all. But keep going Steve, the Brits I know love your channel

[@ecologicaladam7262]

Aww... lovely 😍 I used to have a Morris Traveller, half-timbered body and all. Great cars and excellent parts availability (in the UK at least 😉)

[@bcgrittner]

And the wood trim on the rear wings was actually structural, so you had to have wood that was in good shape.

[@hanwellfoxfoxy5008]

@@bcgrittner Yep one of the few cars that failed an MOT with woodworm and rot.

[@herschelmayo2727]

Pity the poor owner. A Morris was my college car. I went from knowing zip about cars to master mechanic in the four years I drove it. Number three cylinder cracks through the valve seat. Number three is also a chronic oil burner because of cylinder block flex. BMC even sold a piston for it with an extra oil ring on the skirt. The frame on the passenger side rusts, and the torsion spring mount collapses. So bad the car and I took turns pushing each other around town. .

[@Senbei01]

I bought a '64 Saloon 3 days ago. I have already learned more about car upkeep than I have in all of my previous 25 years of motoring.

[@2H80vids]

It must be a pleasure to work on such an immaculate, well-maintained car, not even getting dirty doing a brake upgrade.😁 Most folks would still be trying to burn off the first bolt, after skinning two knuckles and breaking a socket. I'd love to see more of this wee classic.👌

[@brentanderson4285]

Definitely more videos on this stinkin' cute ute! I didn't know that Morris made a truck! Now I want one!

[@boldorboy08]

"Most of the switches are there". Like. all four of them 🤪 Love to see more of this. Heck, any of your British cars.

[@oncewaslost1982]

This was a really enjoyable video. I hope you post more on this cool little truck. I'd love to watch it come together.

[@hfraat25]

All parts are still available for this truck. I think this is late 50s before 1961 look on the glass for the toughened symble it will be a semi circle under each letter is a dot first letter is 1 second 2 and so on. Will tell you the tear the glass was made within 10 years. Also there will be date stamp on the dynamo and starter.

[@richardparkersmith4810]

I grew up with Minors. My mother had a saloon and then a Traveĺler, my aunt had a saloon, my uncle had a van and my mate had a pick up. I had a Minor for a while and we all lived in the same house. The master cylinder swap out made me shudder. I did it once and never again! The pick ups and vans were prized for the higher ratio back axle. It made acceleration a lot better but not the top speed.

[@ianhanavan6566]

I'd love to see more. I have a '59 and brakes, carb, and wiring are the big things on my list. You made the brakes seem less scary and I hope you can do the same for other projects!

[@scottparis6355]

My first car ever was a Morris Minor sedan. 850cc! Zero to 60 in one afternoon. Everything on it is so simple that it's almost like working on a bicycle. Great starter car. Cost me about $50, drove it for two years. Second car was a hUUUge, overturned-boat style Hudson Hornet. Flat head straight six. You could stand in the engine compartment, next to the engine.

[@tripsadelica]

Great job! I'd love to see her fully restored and painted battleship grey as so many of them were back in the day.

[@doyleb4360]

I was sent here from Junkyard Digs. That is one nice little truck! Great video.

[@richardherbst8081]

Another job well done Steve. You have a keeper there!