1950 Morris Minor Low Light Business Coupe - Dashing

[devilishdesigner]

Sept 6, 2023 15:44:25 GMT ducklooker said:

Looking very good indeed.
Its actually quite subtle really and a lot of the uncultured will not be able to see just how different the shape actually is when all is finished.

Thanks. That's definitely the aim - heading towards a motor show prototype sort of vibe - something that could have been

[Jonny69]

As this has evolved over time, I was starting to struggle to see the difference. It’s only when you put a before and after next to each other you see how radically different it is!

[redratbike]

now i’m looking at the bottom photo and thinking an off-road look moggy jacked up would work with a set of knobbly tyres on it 🤣👍

back to the build it’s looking very “factory” as the lines etc are all there nothing always on the curves etc … well done


did you decide to stick with the later wings ?? i do like the lowlight and cheese grater grille look

[devilishdesigner]

Sept 11, 2023 6:19:06 GMT redratbike said:

now i’m looking at the bottom photo and thinking an off-road look moggy jacked up would work with a set of knobbly tyres on it 🤣👍

back to the build it’s looking very “factory” as the lines etc are all there nothing always on the curves etc … well done


did you decide to stick with the later wings ?? i do like the lowlight and cheese grater grille look

No decision on wings yet, I have a highlight guard on one side, a lowlight on the other. I like the lowlight one in the side profile above, but not on all angles. I am trying to source a set of Morris Oxford guards to cut the headlight section from as I quite like them as a middle ground - much smoother in how they integrate into the guard than the Minor ones.

Grille will almost certainly stay the Hillman Minx one in some form

[devilishdesigner]

As I mentioned in my last comment, I don’t like the crease in the original Minor guards. I had been looking for a set of Oxford guards to cut up for the headlight section, but with no luck, then I came across an Australian icon - the FJ Holden. One rusty guard. Just sitting it on I could see the potential









Next, a quick trim of the flanges so it sat a little closer








Then all in:













Finally, adding the XJ6 headlight back in:

[braaap]

Wait a minute. You took a fender of a completely different car, cut some bits off and it looks as if it was made for that minor? Are these cars related in any way? Or did someone try this before?

Or are You even more a genius than I thought You are and You can see when some curves in a piece of tin will match?

This fender, really?

[devilishdesigner]

Sept 13, 2023 5:58:06 GMT braaap said:

Wait a minute. You took a fender of a completely different car, cut some bits off and it looks as if it was made for that minor? Are these cars related in any way? Or did someone try this before?

Or are You even more a genius than I thought You are and You can see when some curves in a piece of tin will match?

This fender, really?

Yep, that fender. Mostly luck, and a bit of care in where to cut. I had a feel that the top curve would come close to working, the rest was suck it and see. The original fender is under the blue one but with the top cut off. Once I'd sat it in place and could see it was plausible I trimmed a few cm off the inner edge of the FJ one and reshaped around the headlight until it sat nicely against the old guard inner edge and front, then tacked, trimmed, tacked, ensuring that the outside of the fender also sat flush with the remains of the original. The curves had to be forced a little to comply, but overall they behaved nicely, the only area that needs notable massaging is the last 10cm of the top to get the curve to blend better into the door. Once I'm happy I'll trim the original metal away and let the new metal in to flush.

[braaap]

Like EMF once sung: You're unbelievable!

[devilishdesigner]

Sept 13, 2023 7:31:01 GMT braaap said:

Like EMF once sung: You're unbelievable!

I don't know how to shape metal with any skill, so I have to cut instead

[mrgreg]

Each to there own, it I think it looks better as a lowlight. The coupe parts great but I’d stick with the lowlight wings. 😎😎

[devilishdesigner]

My dashboard arrived today, attached to a whole, but sad looking approximately 1960 Vauxhall Victor.

[devilishdesigner]

Had a few minutes this evening, so started taking the dash out. Easier job than I had anticipated looking forward to having a crack at fitting it on Wednesday!

[horrido]

I think that's the most solid F Type Victor I, or anyone else in the UK has seen, since approximately mid 1961.

[devilishdesigner]

Dec 3, 2023 19:46:13 GMT horrido said:

I think that's the most solid F Type Victor I, or anyone else in the UK has seen, since approximately mid 1961.

They do have a reputation. This one's a weird combo, solid in spots, not in others. Floor and parcel shelf largely disintegrated, gutters and seams are pretty bad. Door bottoms are ok but skins are rubbish. There's odd holes like in the body line behind the back doors. Lots of saveable bits, but not a saveable shell. Some small chrome pretty good, but other bits disintegrating. Off to a guy who is restoring a couple once I'm done with it.

[horrido]

I don't suppose you've space to keep it and a deals a deal, but these F Types could look great with a two door and chop routine. The missing floor is just the excuse you need ot sit it on the ground.

[devilishdesigner]

Dec 3, 2023 20:34:12 GMT devilishdesigner said:

Dec 3, 2023 19:46:13 GMT horrido said:

I think that's the most solid F Type Victor I, or anyone else in the UK has seen, since approximately mid 1961.

They do have a reputation. This one's a weird combo, solid in spots, not in others. Floor and parcel shelf largely disintegrated, gutters and seams are pretty bad. Door bottoms are ok but skins are rubbish. There's odd holes like in the body line behind the back doors. Lots of saveable bits, but not a saveable shell. Some small chrome pretty good, but other bits disintegrating. Off to a guy who is restoring a couple once I'm done with it.

I have thought about a custom F type many times, but seeing one in the flesh again it would be hard to eliminate some of the awkwardness. In saying that, a stunning 1957 has just come up for sale near me that I'd have in a flash if I had the space and $$

[devilishdesigner]

The dash deed has been done, and I think it went rather well

Sides of the Victor dash cut off at the seam and rear seam removed:


First dry fit shows promise:


The really scary work begins - Morris dash cut:





Another dry fit and the first tacks, using the original Morris air vents in the Victor dash top:








Dash ends are very lightly trimmed and tacked back on then onto the door:


Dash ends re-cut to open with the door:


Ignition key module moved to the centre of the dash, bolt-ons reinstated. The fit is quite remarkable, I am able to reuse all of the Morris dash support panels underneath, the steering column will bolt up to the Vauxhall dash with minimal effort, and the Consul Corsair indicator assembly should work too with a little tweaking. Lots of work to do but very happy with the viability and where it will go. Just got to work out where to relocate the door handles to.

[mylittletony]

That's very very cool and worked out really nicely. Bet you're chuffed!

[generallee]

That's cool!

[devilishdesigner]

Will need to trim up the bases a bit, but finally found a set of Ford 40s taillight bases to match the lenses I bought at a swap 6 months ago. Need to trim the bases to reduce the size, but I think they will work.