“They don’t make them like they used to” is an oft-quoted phrase, but is that really a bad thing?
As I’ve mentioned before in this column I’m currently undertaking a couple of classic car restoration projects, both of which are being featured in other Kelsey Media magazines. In fact, my 1955 MG Magnette’s appearances in MG Enthusiast started with the October issue. The other project, a 1965 Morris Minor Traveller is, I’m told, going to be running in Classics World magazine – formerly known as Classics Monthly – starting early next year.
Work on both cars is now well advanced. The Minor is now, I’d estimate, roughly three-quarters finished. It wasn’t bad when bought; it was basically an older restoration from 15-20 years ago, and though still sound, it did need a bit of gentle bringing-back. For example, the varnished finish on the wood had started to break up and fall off, but the wood itself was still solid, and rather than fitting new wood, it was a case of rubbing down and applying fresh protection.
This time though we used Danish Oil. This soaks into the wood providing full long-term protection, whereas varnish sits on the top and while it’s good for as long as the skin is solid, eventually the normal flexing of the wood frame will cause it to crack. Then, exactly as once happened with old-school rubber undersealant, water gets trapped behind the varnish, and rather than preventing moisture from attacking the wood, the varnish helps it do so...
The other significant improvement needed concerned the front doors, both of which had the usual insideout rot along the bottom edges. Initial thoughts were to find a pair of good second-hand doors to use instead but – and I can hear all the Minor owners reading this sniggering already – good Minor doors are generally found only on good cars. It was therefore a case of repairing ours. Except that Ian the restorer reckoned that because the frames on our doors had also rotted it would be far more cost-effective to give him £30 apiece for two better doors from his stock and restore them. So that’s what we did, and even at his very, very reasonable labour rate it was a lot, lot cheaper that way.
As the car is now on the road and presentable, I’ve been using it a bit locally, and it really is enormous fun to drive. Not everyone realises just how advanced and innovative Morris/Nuffield was in the years leading up to its ‘merger’ with Austin to form BMC. The combination of torsion bar front suspension and rack and pinion steering is, from a driver’s point of view, fabulous.
Then there’s the reaction of other people. It’s pretty much impossible to park a Minor anywhere without someone looking and smiling. This is often accompanied by the wellworn phrase “they don’t make them like that anymore.”
