Vintage Minor Register

Starting a thread for new member James Spiteri who has just acquired 1931 Semi-sports PL 6199 (M32961).

The car has obviously been used as a trials special in the past, but it is hoped that, in time, James will return it to original spec.

Over to you, James!

Thanks Ian,

Looking forward to finding out more about the semi sport and this era of car in general. Will be needing lots of help finding bits and advice going forward, when I have decided the way forward with this project.

Brilliant photos, James and welcome to the Register and the forum.

Having owned and restored several Semi-sports models, I can offer plenty of help, including full size ply patterns for the ash frame, should you decide to return it to original specification. Also in my basement I have an original pair of seat base and seat back spring units which would be good for patterns to have new ones made. I also have hundreds of restoration photos, taken at all stages.

You have a rare car here - congratulations on securing it. What can you tell us about the car's history?

Evening all, an update on this...

As you can tell the car is far from original in many many ways so the purists please look away now!

I've got the 1947 Hillman Minx engine running with minimal effort. Fuel pump cleaned and lines replaced, carb. lubed and freed. New plugs, rotor arm, clean of ignition system and the dynamo had new brushes. New fan belt, radiator flushed and pipes changed.

The brake system again non-original but I believe is a later Lockheed system that Morris did fit, has been fully rebuilt, all new wheel cylinder seals and both it's master cylinders rebuilt and trap valves added so it's less spongy. All lines checked and in good working condition. A knocking from the back springs was fixed with new rear suspension pins.

None of the gauges other than the ammeter worked and had never even been connected. I've kept the dash and what it had but fitted new (admittedly not the most sympathetic ones) in a new panel.

Although not road legal it now runs and stops. Over the weekend it drove the previous owner's great grandchildren round our paddock.

My plan going forward I think is to make it look more original from the outside. I'll have wire wheels remade and eventually would love to have the wooden frame and canvas body remade for it. In all honesty I will be keeping the engine and brakes as I feel this makes it a much more useable/driveable car for me.

Evening all, a few update photos of how I've been getting on. New Hartfords came back last week, springs also rebuilt by Jones Springs. The rear end was very badly worn and has had lots of work to tighten it all up.

All brake hoses have been changed, master and slave cylinders rebuilt and honed. Morris 8 wheels sprayed ready to be fitted.

Body covered with British racing green fabric, bonnet belt added and all 4 wings filled and sprayed black.

It's not a purest car by any means, I may well one day still remake the ash frame.

The Hillman Minx Side valve is running well but does cut out when warm, new distributor, leads and maybe a valve grind needed to get to the bottom of that one. Although I'm hoping that's not necessary after rebuilding the fuel tap and pipes... But untested due to the rubbish British summer!

Looking good. Have you had the original springs reconditioned or fully replaced with brand new sets?

Jones Springs changed the top leafs of the springs giving them new eyes/mounts, £90 +vat a go inc resetting them, not a bad price at all!

New tyres on order, have a set of Morris 8 spoked going on with Longstone 17" 400/425. Hopefully should help it look a little more original but being slightly wider handle the better brakes and mighty 30bhp from the Minx Engine.