United Kingdom has produced many car companies in the last century. There are old British car brands that still exist today, while others simply stopped production and failed. A significant number has been acquired, merged or simply absorbed by other global makers. Morris cars are among those that lived until the 1980s. There are no more new Morris cars that are produced and distributed today. However, the brand will surely live in the consciousness of car aficionados and fanatics.
Morris Motor Company was responsible for bringing up the popular car brand. Like many of its peers in the British car industry, the company was not originally established to become a car manufacturer. As a matter of fact, Morris Motor was only incorporated as a car maker in 1910, many years after the founder, William Morris, designed, produced and sold many types and models of bicycles.
It was not easy for Mr. Morris to shift focus from a bicycle maker into an auto manufacturer. There were so many challenges to be met during those times, including the dwindling capital resources and the lack of adequate car parts supplies. Like many of its contemporaries, the company outsourced its car parts from other global firms that specialise in distributing such goods.
The first car making plant of Morris was constructed in Cowley in Oxford. The original and first car model was named the Morris Oxford Bullnose that was produced in 1913 until 1926. Almost all the significant parts of the model was imported and outsourced from different global suppliers. Luckily for the company, the production and marketing of the car was not affected despite the onset of World War I.
Morris Oxford was a two-seat car. The size remained lean because the car parts were not able to carry out an assembly that would support a four-seat vehicle. When the company entered into an engine supply deal with France's Hotchkiss, Morris was able to design and develop a two-seat and four-seat car model. The launch of Morris Cowley was the company's second and the first foray into the then popularising four-seat capacity.
In its entire existence, Morris Motor was able to design, develop and launch 25 car models that have been looked up to in the global auto industry. The Morris brand was heralded in the names of all 25 models. From the Morris Oxford Bullnose in 1913 down to Morris Ital in 1980, the company was very much active in designing and production of cars.
The Morris Ital was the successor of the Morris Marina, which was among the last car models associated and identified with the company. Unlike other British car makers, Morris was able to withstand the challenges and difficulties of contemporary car brands. It was not acquired by foreign firms. It was also independent and was able to resist the trend of collaboration with larger and more powerful car brands in the world.
Now, almost all the Morris car models are exhibited in the Morris Motors Museum that can be found within the Oxford Bus Museum. If you aim to see for yourself how Morris cars looked like, you can easily see the existing units displayed in the museum. They are truly collectors' items.
Original Authors: Manny
Edit Update Authors: M.A.Harris
Updated On: 10/06/2008
