Morris 1913-1983 - an original British success story
Summary
There have been around 10,000 car brands and designers - most of which have disappeared. One of these vanished brands is Morris, founded in 1913 by William Morris. Morris was an original British success story and, after many years, became part of BMC via the Nuffield Group, where the last model, the Morris Marina, was launched in 1971. The Morris Minor in particular, but also the Cowley, Major and Oxford models, are remembered fondly. The brand was discontinued in 1983.
Estimated reading time: 3min
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Today, England's passenger car production is dominated by foreign companies, above all Nissan. But until the 1980s, the country was teeming with quintessentially British brands, above all Austin and Morris. William Morris had opened a bicycle repair shop in Oxford in 1893 at the age of 16, raced bicycles, assembled bicycles himself, created his first motorcycle in 1900 and founded a garage in 1904. He created his first small car (with an external engine) in 1912. 13 years later, the first MG sports car was built (by Morris Garages), Morris Motors was founded and the Léon Bollée passenger car factory in Le Mans was taken over. In Cowley near Oxford, 4000 workers were now producing 1000 vehicles a week. The Wolseley brand was added in 1927. The Morris model range gradually extended from the Minor and Family Eight with 850 cc four-cylinder engines through the Cowley, Major and Oxford models to the Isis with a 2470 cc six-cylinder engine. After the generous philanthropist Morris had already been ennobled to Baron in 1929, he was promoted to Viscount (Viscountess) Nuffield in 1938.
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