The Big End - Stocktake 2000

As we near the New Age let us take stock of our position with the Morris and discover how well we will be able to use this excellent vehicle in the future.

A lot of water has gone under the bridge since the car first evolved back in the nineteen forties. During this time many later designed vehicles have come and gone and have faded into history. The Morris however has gone onward as a true classic of our time. This of course also reflects on the past glories of our British car industry and the short-sightedness of its past leaders.

As we enter the 20th century, we in the classic car movement are hopefully strong enough to ward off any political moves to change the way we use the Morris. More and more, the heads controlling our roads and transport rant and rave about our overcrowded roads and getting more vehicles off the road-this together with our appalling public transport system. What a dilemma we all are in.

We see time and time again the ugliness of pathetic moves to address the problems without getting a sound plan on the table. What we must guard against, is any of these moves which attack the use of our Morris's and other Classics. Limited use is a possible ploy they may try and take up, and I am sure we can counter that one by pointing out the economy of the Morris, and that it is perhaps more green in use than many modern counterparts. Recycling is where we score well and that is without doubt a plus in our favour.

For us in the commercial side of the movement we represent what is left of our car industry, and through this many people are in employment, in fact the industry is one of the largest in the country.How well does the Morris really fit in is quite a question. Numbers are dwindling and the car attracts less and less younger enthusiasts. I fear this is because of how it has been promoted over the last few years as a survival vehicle, cheap and cheerful. This has been more damaging than you may ever know. The cost of restoring and maintaining this vehicle is no different than many of the more exotic counterparts. The cost of producing replacement parts has been borne mainly by the commercial sector alone. But at the same time a movement within has kept the resale value of this vehicle down to an unrealistic value.

The problem here is that as the vehicle ages and bad examples fail the MOT, they, when viewed for restoration, become uneconomical to repair, This is when you compare the overwhelming costs of repair and the vehicles worth afterwards. It takes great courage to invest in a recovery project at the best of times, but when there is a deficit in the end result, this will in most cases dictate the decision not to go ahead. We then lose another unit and so on.

What we must do is stand back and take stock of the situation, formulate a plan of action and implement it on a sound footing with the knowledge that it has the full backing from all concerned.

The way forward surely is to:

(1) Realistically formulate a true cost and value of this vehicle.
(2) Promote it in a better light as an alternative mode of transport.
(3) Promote the benefit of the modified and upgraded vehicles for modern motoring use.
(4) The Clubs and commercial entities get together and work for the long term cause.
(5) Better promotion of the vehicle on and off road, at major action sporting events, which will enthuse the media and younger potential owners.

A stand must be made to address the items on the list as they are positive and will help the cause in the most practical way possible.

To do nothing will allow the demise to flourish. We will lose in an accelerating manner until it becomes to late.
Happy Millennium

© Chris Street, November 1999