Loving restoration of a Morris Minor
Jeremy, the name attached to a very dilapidated Morris Minor convertible, has now been stripped down to the bare bodywork. Only four tiny bolts now remain unfastened.
The rust mountain has been removed and now a grand old veteran of the road is getting back to its old self. Scroll through our gallery below to find out how Mike Sargeant's Morris Minor restoration is going...
Mike Sargeant, from Wem, has now completed most of the welding on Jeremy, a very dilapidated Morris Minor convertible. The doors, wings, boot lid and floor pans have all been repaired, as well as major work carried on the rear spring fixing points and the bodywork along the lower door openings.nextpage
In his typical, fastidious manner Mike has calculated that he has swept up 60lb of rust, powdery rust. This does not include actual metal, only what is left behind when the metal has corroded away. The old adage of the car being held together by rust is nearly applicable in this case. nextpage
Gradually the sad, neglected appearance of the 55-year-old Morris is being transformed with great satisfaction now being derived as welded joints are smoothed and painted. A clapped-out old wreck is slowly coming back to life. nextpage
To do the job properly Mike has built what he called a "rotisserie" on which the carcass is now suspended. He carefully calculated the centre of gravity then attached the spindle fore and aft around which the car could easily be rotated -- only it didn't quite achieve equal balance. nextpage
It took Mike, his partner Jan, and a broom handle to get Jeremy on its side. Replacement front floor pans have been fitted although Mike had to fabricate his own for the rear. The underside is now well on its way to full refurbishment and soon the heart-lifting task of bolting bits back on will begin. nextpage
"I wouldn't like to say I am halfway there yet," confessed Mike, "but it is getting on that way. "I am confident of getting it getting it finished an on display at Malpas Show at the beginning of September."
He has just about all the major parts he needs and although the seats are sound they obviously need completely re-upholstering.
Keep checking back for more updates on Mike's restoration!
