Morris 8 Series E Saloon

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The first small Morris arrived in 1928 in a bid to take a slice of the market for small cars which had exploded since the arrival of the Austin Seven.

The original, aptly named the Morris Minor used a Wolseley inspired ohc 847cc engine. This gave way to a larger, simpler side-valve affair in the early 1930s, which broadly coincided with the change of name to the Morris Eight, the car getting heavier and more sophisticated as the decade wore on.

By 1938, the Morris Eight Series III was re-launched as the Series E, now with radically altered front end styling more in tune with the glamorous Art Deco mood of the time. The car was longer, wider and heavier than its predecessor. However, gone was the rather staid and frumpy upright grille to be replaced by a swoopy chrome 'waterfall' instead, flanked by Lucas 'bug-eye' headlamps that gave the car a cheeky and appealing face. Gone too were the old-fashioned running boards and there was a proper opening boot to the rear. The car could be supplied with either a fixed roof or a sliding sun-roof for open-air motoring in fine weather.

The Series E still had the same separate chassis underneath, but the 918cc engine received a revised cylinder head that pushed power up to 29bhp and the crankshaft was counterbalanced and fitted with shell type bearings. The gearbox also gained another cog to allow a comfortable 50mph cruise in fourth, with synchromesh on second, third and top. Top speed was around 58mph.

Production continued throughout the war for military, essential civilian use and some export markets. Post-war, general production restarted in 1945 (these were just the saloon variants, there were no more tourers made in the UK) and didn't finally come to an end until 1948 when the all-new Issigonis-designed Minor made its debut. The Morris 8 Series E became one of the most successful and popular light cars spanning the difficult years between the late 1930s and late 1940s, during which time a total of 120,434 examples were produced.

First registered in Merionethshire in July 1939, this lovely Series E joined the Stondon Collection in 2001, being acquired from a Kenilworth gentleman who had owned it since 1994. Clearly well-restored at some point in the not-too-distant past, it shouldn’t take much to get it back on the road where it’s wonderful Art Deco looks will no doubt be admired by all your fellow motorists.

Catalogue amendment: Please note that the registration number is age related and not the original to the car.