Canberra Region Morris Minor Club Inc.

 PO Box 3202
Weston ACT 2611

events crmmc

Click on thumbnail for large photo

Owner Particulars

Cockington Green Gardens

Vehicle Particulars (from Body plate)

Model    MORRIS 1081 UTE

Type    YJB A U 3R

Car No. or Chassis No.    9/109424/2678

Engine No    9M/U/H/478285

Colour   ARALUEN BLUE/3

G.V.W.  2410 lbs

Year Built (from body number)   1960-62

Vehicle Particulars  now 

Body Changes   Heaps

Engine Changes   DATSUN 1200 (120Y)

Current Condition   Good - rebuild finished 2000, Regular use

Modifications Made   Heaps

Registration Number & Type   YAX 34B  - Full ACT rego.

Story of Vehicle  

It all started when I needed a chassis from a Ute or panel van to start what was then my next project a "Kustom Koop" 1955 2 door. Well the only chassis I could find was under a panel van that a fellow club member had. So I asked if the van was for sale and was told that it was, but it's previous owner had first option to buy it back. I thought no problem; he has got plenty of other Morries to keep him busy so he won't want it. Well the call I got back was that if I bought it then it must be rebuilt as a van.

Decision time.
After thinking that a quick rebuild could be done. I could then sell the van and that would give me some capital, and time to gather some of the parts for the Kustom. When I got it home I realised that there wasn't much to start with, only a body and chassis with a box of bits and pieces.

The Quick rebuild.

First I found a Leyland Marina at the tip (car 1) good for front and rear ends, radiator, 2 speed wipers and switches. So I set up the rear end, it was a bit wide, but I could live with standard Marina wheels. A few weeks later I get a call from a friend to tell me that there was a MM at a smash repairs that had been hit by a Bus and was I interested. Well the car was totalled, but I thought that I could use some of the parts (car 2) as it worked out this 1952 MM from Tasmania had HB Torana front disks, Major diff with a 3.7 ratio 13" X 6"rims with 1000 centres, 2 "as new" tyres. So out came the marina diff and in went the major diff. The HB disks solved the problem of fitting the marina front end. Time to think about a motor. I manage to find a Datsun 120 Y for sale (car 3) with a reconditioned motor and gear box. This quick rebuild had all ready taken 7 months and with the parts I had acquired I felt that I could make the van quite modern. The problem then was that, as an addicted Customiser what small changes could I do to make this van reflect my likes without making it as different as my yellow Morris Minor convertible and still be sellable when finished.

The changes,
Inside
· Mini clubman seats
· Upholstered in Vinyl and cloth
· 13" steering wheel using 1000 centre.
· Leyland Marina dash switches
· Sony CD stereo, behind glove box lid drivers side
· Speaker pods (fibreglass) in front kick panels with Philips 6 1/2 " splits
· 2 channel amp under drivers seat
· Small 2 Speed heater positioned under the dash behind the Speedo with demister
· Curtesy lights under dash
· Fire extinguisher under dash
· Fuse panel, 8 fuse with head light warning buzzer
· Green retractable seat belts

The changes, outside
· VW. Touring tube shocks (front)
· Shaved and filled front bumper bar, painted(sedan)
· Frenched aerial (recessed)
· Extra set of indicators in the side of the front guards
· Bonnet off a sedan (side mouldings)
· Motorcycle rear view mirrors
· Deeper rear tail section under rear doors
· Alloy drop tank 66 Lt.
· 46 Ford tail lights
· Hot rod Blinkers
· Quartz halogen bulbs in NOS Lucas head lights
· Cat's eyes head light covers

The changes, under the bonnet

· Filled fire wall
· Battery box reduced in size
· Bulk head reshaped to allow Datsun motor to fit
· Leyland Marina radiator
· 2 speed wipers (Mini)
· Hidden wires

So as you can see the car isn't restored but it still retains the feel of a Morris. The problem of getting a car or van in pieces is that there is always small parts missing. So towards the end of the rebuild I picked up a Morris 1000 (car 4) for all the bits that were missing. Even with this amount of work the van was finished in about 18 months.
The van was sold 3 Months after being finished to a tourist attraction in Canberra which has a large display of miniature English houses and manicured gardens, it is used as an every day vehicle for the business.

Bruce Perry