Morris Major (1931 to 1933)

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For the Morris Major automobile produced in Australia from 1958 to 1964, see Morris Major.
Morris Major
File:5696443611 010511 CPS.jpg
1931 Morris Major 6-light saloon
Overview
Manufacturer Morris Motors
Also called new
Production 1930 to 1933[1]
Assembly United Kingdom
Body and chassis
Body style 4 door saloon[2]
2 door coupe[2]
4 door tourer[2]
Layout FR layout[1]
Powertrain
Engine 63.5 x 102mm 14.9 hp
1938cc 6 cylinder[1]
reduced for 1932 to
61.25 x 102mm 13.9hp
1803cc 6 cylinder[3]
Chronology
Predecessor Morris Oxford Six
Successor Morris Cowley Six

The Morris Major was an automobile produced by Morris Motors in the United Kingdom from late 1930 to 1933.[2] It was described by commentators as a Morris Oxford Six with a coachbuilt saloon body.[2] 4,025 examples of the 1931 model were produced followed by 14,469 of the 1932-33 model.[1]

15 horsepower

Announced 30 August 1930 this new car was offered in two types of saloon and a coupé.[4]

Range:
  • Salonette, 4-passengers, black fabric £215
  • Coach-built saloon 5-passengers with folding head £225
  • Coach-built coupé with folding head £220

The engine was similar to that of the Morris Oxford Six as was the chassis. The nominally 14.9 hp 2-litre engine was said to give off 45 bhp at 3,200 rpm. The gearbox provided three forward speeds. The car was fitted with six brakes, the four-wheel ones adjustable by a single winged-nut.[2]

14 horsepower

The Morris Major programme reported for the October 1931 Motor Show was:

Range of five types:
  • Chassis £160
  • Tourer £210
  • Sports coupé £245
  • Saloon fixed or sliding head £199.10.0 or £215

The fiscal horsepower had been dropped to 13.9 from 14.9. To achieve this the engine capacity was trimmed by a reduction of 2.25mm in the bore so that bore and stroke became 61.25 x 102mm giving a cubic capacity of 1803cc. This reduced size six-cylinder engine had a four-bearing crankshaft an air-cleaner-heater and a fume-consumer head. Other standard features now included chrome finished automatic radiator shutters, a four-speed twin-top gearbox, Lockheed hydraulic brakes and a wide 52 inch track.[3]

Special coupé

The range was extended during 1932 with a Special coupé priced at £285.[5]

Anecdote

My father had a car like this in the 1950s. A very strange vehicle indeed. It had the accelerator pedal in the middle and the back doors opened out backwards. It had a running board, a luggage rack on the back and you signaled a turn with trafficators. There was a thermometer with a little red bull in it on the top of the radiator where you put the water in and the windscreen wipers had little handles on the inside so you could operate them manually. Like driving around in some sort of alternate reality.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Michael Sedgwick & Mark Gillies, A-Z of Cars of the 1930s, Haymarket Publishing Ltd, 1989, page 137
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Cars Of 1931. The Times, Saturday, Aug 30, 1930; pg. 12; Issue 45605
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cars Of 1932. The Times, Saturday, Aug 29, 1931; pg. 3; Issue 45914
  4. ↑ Display advertising Morris. The Times, Saturday, Aug 30, 1930; pg. 15; Issue 45605
  5. ↑ Display advertising Morris. The Times, Friday, Sep 02, 1932; pg. 17; Issue 46228.

External links

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