I'd like you to meet... Henry

So as I've been posting in the 'last photo' thread, with my train journey down to Cornwall yesterday, and then a few of my journey back today, it's probably a good time to introduce you all to Henry.
As @Zed pointed out

and he is definitely right!
But there is a bit of a back story.......

Many moons ago, when I was a mere 15 years old, my Dad bought an rather tired Morris Traveller from a lady that he worked with. Despite only being 17 years old (actually a lot younger than my current daily drive!), it needed a full restoration, and Dad planned to have it ready for me to learn to drive on when I turned 17.

But as with many great intentions, time past, a few panels were replaced, my 17th birthday came and went (as did a Mk2 Ford Escort), me and various boyfriends slapped some primer and paint on occasionally, but largely the sad traveller sat in the garage and got neglected.

Eventually, when it became apparent that we were never going to finish the job, and I left home for Art College, Dad gave the sad neglected Morris to an old family friend down in Cornwall... and the restoration was at last finished

And Henry has lived there ever since, pootling around Cornwall for 35 years, taking dogs for walks, and transporting Dennis to the monthly Speedway and Banger racing in St Austell. Apparently he even went almost to Lands End once!
But Dennis is now 90, no longer goes to speedway, and they haven't got a dog.

So last year I asked if perhaps, when the time was right, I could have first dibs to buy Henry back.
This weekend was 'the right time'.

The last time I saw Henry:


and 35+ years later, after a long, tiring, slightly nerve-wracking 200 mile drive home....


So there ya go!
Meet Henry

 

I so love travellers. I did once restore my very own moggy minor and won prizes at shows.I did if for Lou and she drove it daily for years to work in Malvern. I’ll see if I have a picture or two.

I also met an old chap on the Chunnel going to France a couple of years back. He had a traveller and a small trailer tent. He and his wife tour the alps in it for three months every year and said he does all his own repairs. He was 77 and she 78. I really admired their spirit!

 

Haha No!
The 200 miles from Truro today has nearly killed us both…. Henry had done 1300 miles in the previous 16 years looking at the MOT history website, and only literally to the test station and back for about the last five! I’m chuffed we didn’t have to call on the big yellow taxi service, but there is work to be done. We overheated once, but probably more because I hadn’t appreciated how much oil had been used since setting off, rather than actual water loss. We survived, but it’ll be short journeys for a while. Almost 9 hours it took!! Eeek.

I need to find a Morris specialist…. Time to join the Dorset Owners Club!

 

Cheeky!

 

Check out the front trunnions and consider upgrading to marina ones if you are going to use it as a daily as the moggy ones have a tendency to drop out, usually on a turn and always in somewhere most inconvenient!

Ask me how I know

 

The thread at the top wears and they just part. The marina ones fit and were much better quality.

 

Beautiful engine note, possibly the best ever m!