Morris – The Cars and the Company by Jon Pressnell

Jon Pressnell, a well-known writer and researcher of the British motor industry has written a comprehensive book on the Morris automobile and the company that produced them. Morris – The Cars and the Company was published in 2013. This 286-page large format hardbound book is a definitive study on the Morris cars from the very beginning all the way to the last of the British Leyland days and the final Morris marque product, the Harris Mann designed wedge-shaped 1800 and the restyle of the Morris Marina into the Ital. Morris: The Cars and the Company by Jon PressnellThe Morris Marina was sold in the USA and Canada from about 1973 to 1976 as the Austin Marina.

This book is highly detailed with considerable research done on the early, mid and late years of Morris car production. There are voluminous photographs, both in color and black and white, to illustrate the scores of interesting and unique cars the company produced over the decades from the rounded nose “bull nose” Oxford of the teen and twenty years to the final products.

If one is an aspiring student of the history of the British car world, a knowledge of the Morris marque is essential as it was for many years one of the volume producers, at least by UK standards, of cars for the average citizen. It competed vigorously with Austin until Nuffield, the makers of Morris, MG, Riley and Wolseley, merged with long-standing rival, Austin, in 1953. This merger resulted in substantial changes to our beloved Minor in that the older Nuffield mechanicals gave way to newer Austin-derived componentry such as our well known “A” series engine of 803cc, 948cc and 1098cc sizes. As one who spent his career with British Leyland and its successor companies, this historical record of the lead up to the end is quite entertaining.

The book deals well with the commercial aspects of the business, the personalities of the key player such as William Morris, who later became Lord Nuffield, and the technical aspects of the many vehicles they made. The purchase of and integration of Wolseley by William Morris is covered as well as the later rationalization of car models. The continual goal of addressing the export market is covered well.

Morris the Cars and Company

One interesting production detail I found quite fascinating was the fact that Morris purchased body stamping dies from the Budd Company in Philadelphia in the early 1930s, with the goal of producing a relatively large car that would be marketable in worldwide regions. These dies were the same as was used on the US made Dodge Victory Six range of cars. So there are some early Morris cars that appear as virtual clones to a Dodge of the same era. Over the years, William made many trips to the USA to observe and study the American auto industry and its mass production capabilities. For most of us whose sole exposure to the Morris brand is the Minor from the early 1950s to the late 1960s there is much to learn about other company products that came before, during, and after this period.

If you are interested in learning more about the Morris marque than America’s experience with the Minor, this book is a fascinating read. A great winter enjoyment when for some of us our special cars are laid up due to inclement weather. Interestingly, the book is printed and bound in the USA by Odcome Press LP in La Vergne, Tennessee and marketed by Haynes North America Inc., 861 Lawrence Drive, Newbury Park, California 91320. New and used copies are available on Amazon.

Title: Morris: The Cars and the Company
Author: Jon Pressnell
Publisher: Odcome Press LP / Haynes Publishing
Date Published: 2013
Pages: 288
ISBN: 1859609961
Price£9.95 / $19.99

 

John F. Quilter
John F. Quilter is a long time British car fan and former employee of British Leyland in North America. He has a collection of over 2000 British car models, and that collection continues to grow. Originally from California, John now makes his own in Eugene, Oregon. Click here to see more about John and his cars.

6 Comments

  1. I checked with Amazon. In Canada that book costs $135.00 C delivered for a new copy and $69 C for a used copy. I don’t think so.

  2. I’m gonna get a copy for sure, but you got very lucky if you got one for twenty bucks. The least on Amazon is over $33 for used with 3 new for over $83 each.
    It’s nice to see such enthusiasm for the Morris!
    Merry Christmas!

  3. Excellent history. It is inevitable that some facts will be questionable after the passage of years. As an ex Ford Styling UK admin manager 1960/1969 some of the detail about Roy Haynes ex Ford stylist are what Roy would want you to believe. He was never the second in command at Ford etc. However he was regarded as extremely talented but very under used!

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