Modifying cars for the U.S. market.

"Svend" (svend) 05/08/2014 at 22:13 • Filed to: None

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I've just finished watching another episode of Car SOS where they restored and updated a Morris Minor 1000 Traveller.

What I didn't know is that the car we all know (or majority anyway) as the face of the Morris Minor is not the original one. The original one, known now as the 'Low Light', had headlights that were lower down and either side of the grille. U.S. regulations said these were too low and would not be allowed and Morris went back to the drawing board and made an alteration to become what we know of today.

My grand dad had a green traveller and that is what I grew up to know as being the Morris Minor face.

I knew of the other regulations that stopped the Land Rover Defender being sold in the U.S. (lack of airbags) (this after Land Rover moved the headlights from the inboard position on the Series I to the outboard position on the late Series II and Series III) and how the U.S. regulations made a lot of British cars take on an uglier look such as the fitting of rubber bumpers to once beautiful chrome bumpered cars.

From this

to this

Such a shame, that some great beauties have been either lost or not available in the U.S. because of safety regulations when cars that are available are allowed to be driven on U.S. roads in all states of disrepair after sale.

Though I do sort of prefer the Morris Minor with the higher head lights so its not all bad.

daender > Svend 05/08/2014 at 22:28

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The cool part is that after so many years, most DMV people don't give a shit which is why a lot of owners will convert their old cars back to EU or JP spec. FD3S RX-7 owners will convert to the later-series tail and headlights, MG owners going back to chrome, and shitty USDM power figures are reset to their proper higher-performance European levels by removing smog and shrunken carburetors.

Hell, I'm hunting down EU/JP Miata intake manifolds because they gain at least 5 hp right out of the box without tuning!

Svend > Svend 05/08/2014 at 22:29

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I'm digging these Low Lights though.

Svend > daender 05/08/2014 at 22:38

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Its nice to see the 'rubber bumpers' being converted back to original chrome ones and thankfully its not that much work to do, or no bumper or bumperette style.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Svend 05/09/2014 at 05:28

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That's my plan for a future MGB GT V8 build. It's a lot easier to convert a rubber bumper MGB to V8 spec as the engine bays are the same as the factory MGB GT V8s. Add onto that Sebring arches and a cleaner front and you're laughing :)

Personally, I prefer the later chrome bumper cars like this:

Love the colour too :)

Svend > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 05/09/2014 at 05:54

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The bumpers look nice on this but I'm not taken with the grille.

I'd like to either go semi-model in looks with the forward leaning lower valence with chrome/mesh grille (in red).

or full retro style with chrome bumper, grille and wire wheels. Not a big fan of the chrome spate though, I thing it breaks up the the curves of the body as it travels rearwards from the head light.

I also like where the 'MG' logo at the top of the grille carries on onto the bonnet with the raised cleft on the leading edge of the bonnet.

Just came across this 1966 MGB with Lenham Hardtop.

For sale in Cornwall, England for £6,000. Mind blown, never knew of such a thing. I'm stuck for emotion right now as I don't know if I like it or hate it. Oh god I'm having a crisis right now.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Svend 05/09/2014 at 10:33

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Sorry, it was the grille that I liked. The bumpers would probably be removed. You're right about the logo continuing up onto the bonnet on the chrome grille ones.

Dude, that hard-top looks weird. I get what you mean you're not sure whether it's good or not. Is it bonded on or is it removable?

Svend > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 05/09/2014 at 10:58

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Its a two piece bonded roof and tailgate. The bootlid is removed and this is then screwed and bonded on. There did it for other cars also, the Spitfire and MGA being two of them.

Its got me curious as to just how many others are out there.

The grille would probably grow on me without bumpers, bumperettes or nudge points.

The blue car incidentally is a 1972 fully rebuilt in 2006 and is going for £21,500. Just wish I had that money to go get her.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Svend 05/10/2014 at 12:24

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£21500? That seems a bit steep, although the proof would be in the quality f the rebuild.

I've seen Lenham hardtops on TR4s and things like that, it never occurred to me that they made them for other Brit sports cars.

Svend > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 05/10/2014 at 15:46

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I believe it says something about a company called 'Colcleeve' or similar that did the work. The way it was put was as if boasting about the name.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Svend 05/10/2014 at 16:07

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Interesting. I'd like to see how it affects aerodynamics and top speed compared to the hardtop MGB GT. I'd be willing to bet it's quicker.

Svend > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 05/11/2014 at 02:07

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I'd also love to see how the aerodynamics worked out for it as it was an age of design 'fluidity' and aesthetics rather than what we'd call true aerodynamics today, cutting through the air and drag coefficients.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Svend 05/11/2014 at 05:37

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I've got high hopes for it though, as one of the most aerodynamic shapes around is a kamm-tail (a shallow sloping rear that's abruptly cut off at the end), like this TZ1:

Not sure how that little spoiler on the end would do, or whether the gradient of the slope is right to keep the airflow attached, but it looks promising :)