Murwillumbah Sporting Car Club (MSCC) member Dave Donnelly has completed an impressive restoration of a classic Morris Minor utility, transforming a tired auction find into a beautifully presented turquoise classic after approximately 800 hours of work over 12 months. With assistance from fellow club member Gary Mudge, Dave undertook the extensive rebuild, which involved stripping the vehicle back, repairing and preparing the bodywork, refreshing mechanical components and carefully reassembling the little Morris before returning it to the road.
The project began in August 2025, when Dave came across the Morris Minor utility through a City Motor Auction Group listing. Although the vehicle had clearly seen better days, with worn paintwork, rust and ageing bodywork, Dave recognised its potential and set about bringing the classic back to life. Work began with the removal of the rear tray, doors, body panels and interior, allowing a closer inspection of the chassis, cab and areas requiring repair. By September, the Morris had been stripped further, exposing the engine bay and mechanical components in preparation for the restoration.
The project reached an important milestone in October 2025 when the first coats of bright turquoise paint began appearing on the body shell and engine bay. The distinctive colour would become a defining feature of the finished vehicle, giving the ageing Morris a completely new appearance. As the bodywork progressed, attention turned to the mechanical components. By November, the refreshed engine had been returned to the freshly painted engine bay, marking another significant step towards getting the utility running again.
Work continued throughout the following months, with the rear tray, guards, body panels and protective finishes receiving attention. By early 2026, the Morris was steadily taking shape as the front panels, grille and trim were progressively refitted. The finishing stages included completing the interior, with the dashboard, gauges, steering wheel and trim brought together to complement the restored exterior.
After months of painstaking work, the project reached its most rewarding milestone in June 2026 when the Morris completed its first road trip. The transformation was remarkable. What had started as a weathered auction find had become a striking classic utility, complete with gleaming turquoise paintwork, a restored rear tray and carefully reassembled mechanical components.
The restoration represents a considerable investment of time, patience and practical skills, with approximately 800 hours devoted to returning the Morris to the road.
While MSCC is best known for its grassroots motorsport activities, the club also brings together members with a shared enthusiasm for cars, mechanical knowledge and motoring history. Dave's achievement, with the assistance of Gary, is a great example of that passion extending beyond the competition circuit and into the preservation of classic vehicles.
Murwillumbah Sporting Car Club congratulates Dave Donnelly on an outstanding restoration and acknowledges Gary Mudge for his contribution to bringing another piece of motoring history back to life.
Follow the full Morris rebuild journey
From the original auction find through to the finished turquoise Morris, explore the restoration timeline and photo gallery on Dave Donnelly's Morris Rebuild website.
0 Comments
Comments are moderated before appearing publicly.
Be the first reader to join the discussion.