READER’S STORY
As soon as Jack St John Wallis turned 16, a restoration project was inevitable
INTERVIEW CRAIG CHEETHAM PICTURES JAMES WALSHE
I’ve been into our transport heritage from a very early age, initially with steam trains and also with my home model railway layout. I’m 20 years-old now, but cars have always been a major part of my life, while my dad, Roger, always had something interesting to keep himself entertained – with numerous cars ranging from a Jaguar E-type to a BMW 7-Series. But I wasn’t like the other kids. While they were playing with train sets, I was taking the locomotives apart and putting them back together again because I wanted to know how the engines worked. I’ve always been fascinated by stuff lsike that.
I knew from an early age that I wanted to have a classic as my first car, so when I was told about a Morris Minor convertible for sale locally via a friend, dad and I immediately went to have a look at it. The owner was sadly very ill and would never get to complete his project, which at that point was stored in a garage underneath a pile of sheets and mattresses.
We had a good look at it and we could both see the potential there – it was a solid enough car but it needed some localised body repairs and a new roof, and the engine was also very smoky, but I hadn’t even started to learn to drive yet, so I had plenty of time in order to get it back on the road. It was offered to me for a very good price because the owner could see how enthusiastic I was, but on the promise that I’d restore it and get it back on the road. It looked like I’d found my first car! We took it home, having assured the owner that I’d return it to its former glory – and that’s what I spent the next two years doing.
AS FOUND Minor was an unfinished project, which Jack went to view with his dad. Despite being found under a pile of mattresses, they saw the potential. While Jack hadn’t yet hit driving age, at the age of 16 his restoration journey had truly begun… in style!
First steps
As is the way with all project cars, when we started to strip the Morris, it became apparent that it needed a bit more work than expected. The outriggers and sills were rusted all round, so at the age of 16 I taught myself to weld, with dad watching over me to make sure I didn’t set fire to the garage.
I carried out repairs to the underneath that were strong and solid, though now I have a fair bit more experience, I may get under there and do it again – the car is absolutely fine structurally, but I know that I can weld a lot more neatly now than I could back then!
With the welding complete, I set to work on the body, taking it back to bare metal and repairing and preparing all the panels for paint, which I entrusted to a family friend. While the car was with the painter, I set about sourcing replacement seat covers and new roof fabric, and when it came back, I had a lot of fun building it back up. The refreshed interior really transformed it, from a tired-looking Minor to one that really looked the part.
That left a mechanical overhaul before I could start using it, so I rebuilt the engine in our garage – it fired up straight away and ran well, just in time for me to start driving. I wanted to learn to drive in it, but unfortunately the Minor wasn’t acceptable for me to take my test in as it doesn’t have a lot of the modern features required by driving examiners, so I ended up passing my test in a Peugeot 107 – but the Minor was pressed into daily service shortly before my 18th birthday and it has been my daily driver ever since.
The Minor’s not my only classic, though. While I was restoring it, I was offered a 1957 Series 1 Land Rover, so I bought that and worked on it at the same time. I also now have a pre-war Austin 10 and a Thirties Riley, so the Minor can soon come off the road for some minor fettling – I’m 20 now, and two years of being used all-year round mean there are a few minor cosmetic bits to sort out and I want to make it perfect.
I have the facilities to do so, too, as my passion for old cars led me to set up my own business, Jack’s Garage, just outside Newquay, where dad and I work on all manner of classic cars. It started with my Minor and has snowballed from there.
BODYWORK
Once the car had been completely stripped down, Jack set to work on the bodywork, taking it back to bare metal. Still aged just 16 at the time, Jack spent hour after hour teaching himself to weld, with his dad checking in on him every now and then.
CABIN
With the once shabby bodywork seen to and sent off for a fresh coat of paint courtesy of a good friend, Jack tidied up the extremely tired interior, sourcing replacement seat covers, trim and convertible roof.
THE TEST
The Minor wasn’t deemed acceptable for a driving test, due to lack of safety features required by the driving examiner. But, while Jack passed his test in a Peugeot 107, the Minor has been his daily driver ever since.
ADVENTURES!
Having bought and restored the Minor convertible at the tender age of just 16, Jack has since bought himself an Austin 10, Series II Land Rover and a Riley Continental Tourer, but he says the Minor serves as both daily transport and show car!
TIME TAKEN 2 (YRS)
EST. COST (£)1500
**BEST HELP ‘**I spent a long time getting things wrong and trying again – but never giving up, knowing the reward would be worth it.’
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