Lot Ended
Description
Restored in the late-1980s and carefully used since; current owner
since 2018; well-maintained with various upgrades and many new parts fitted;
ready to enjoy
One of the great
automotive success stories of the Thirties and one of the best-loved pre-war
cars, it is no exaggeration to say that the 8 was the car that saved Morris.
Small and affordable but with room for all the family, it was far more suited to
Britain's increasingly crowded roads than the larger models that had formerly
underpinned the Morris range.
Available as a two-
or four-seat tourer and a two- or four-door saloon, the 8 was capable of 60mph
and 40mpg from its 24bhp 918cc side-valve engine, driving through a three-speed
box with synchromesh on the top two gears. It also benefited from hydraulic
brakes and a good level of equipment.
Introduced
in 1934, it proved so successful that over 164,000 had been sold by the time it
was replaced by the Series II in 1937, around 20,000 of them in open Tourer
form.
First registered in Oxford in September
1935, this Four-Seat Tourer comes with no early history but it has clearly been
restored to a high standard at some point in the not-too-distant past. HPI
records a colour change from green to red in 1989 so that is most likely when
the work was carried out. The MOT history online implies that it was in regular
use from at least 2006 – 2011, covering some 1,500 miles during this
period.
Our vendor acquired the car in 2018 at
which point it had been in storage for half-a-dozen years. A competent mechanic
who enjoys tinkering with old cars, he recommissioned the Morris, got it running
nicely and submitted it for a voluntary MOT in April 2019 which it failed due to
perished tyres and sub-standard brakes, issues which were quickly sorted and
resulted in a pass with just one advisory for a minor oil leak, the mileage at
this point being 22,587.
It was then in light
regular use for a year or two before being laid up again for another three
years. In September 2024 it had another very thorough recommissioning and a full
service and tune-up, as detailed in copious notes on file. This included
removing the cylinder head to adjust the tappets and decoke the piston/valve
surfaces.
The engine, gearbox and diff oils were
renewed; the original 1” SU carb was replaced by a larger SU carb from a 1960s
Morris Minor; the electrics were uprated to 12v with alternator charging; an
electric fuel pump was fitted; the coolant hoses were replaced and a temperature
gauge fitted below the dash; the brakes were also overhauled and uprated with
Wolseley slave cylinders, new linings and servo assistance.
In April 2025 the engine was partially stripped down to clean out the
sump, inspect the timing chain, replace various gaskets and fit new front and
rear crank oil seals.
Since all this work was
carried out the car has been in regular light use (it now shows 23,292 miles)
and we are told that it drives as well as it looks. It has certainly been
starting promptly and running nicely as we have moved it around on site, with
healthy 40psi oil pressure.
As you can see in
the photos, this freshly rejuvenated and sensibly uprated Morris looks very
pretty indeed and is ready for a new owner to enjoy.
Consigned by
James Dennison – 07970 309907 – [email protected]