Morris 8 Series 2 Saloon

History

Morris's great Thirties success and one of Britain's best-loved pre-war cars, it is no exaggeration to say that the Eight was the car that saved the company. It aimed to be an affordable, family car more easily suited to the now busy English roads, than the larger, former models. So successful was it that within three years of its introduction in September 1934, over 160,000 had been sold.

Available as a two or four-seat tourer and a two or four-door saloon, the Eight was capable of 60mph and 40mpg from its 23.5bhp 918cc side-valve engine while benefiting from hydraulic brakes and a good level of equipment. And all this for the princely sum of just £120 brand new!

Manufactured on the newly designed production line at Cowley, this particular example is a two-door Series 2 which was introduced in 1937 and differed from its predecessor in minor detail form such as wearing an enamelled '8' on its radiator mascot and having Easiclean rather than wire spoked wheels.

Said to be a good sound car throughout, it is thought to have been restored in the mid-1980s and still looks very presentable today with a nice blue leather interior. In regular gentle use and said to start easily and drive very well, it should have a fresh MOT before the sale.