Driving Through Time: Morris Motors History

In the pantheon of British motoring history, few names resonate as profoundly as Morris Motors. The British car manufacturing juggernaut began its journey as a small yet ambitious bicycle manufacturer, and would soon move into the burgeoning automobile industry. This pivotal shift not only marked the beginning of the history of Morris cars but also laid the foundation for a significant chapter in the story of British motoring. From the company’s humble beginnings, Morris Motors cars would be produced in their millions, eventually overtaking even Ford as the UK’s biggest car maker.

Morris Motors, renowned for its innovative approach in the motoring industry, introduced models like the Morris Oxford ‘Bullnose’, the Morris Eight and the Morris Minor, which cemented the company’s reputation for producing sturdy, accessible vehicles that allowed the masses to become mobile. These early triumphs were not just commercial successes; they were instrumental in establishing Morris Motors as a household name and a stalwart of British engineering.

In many ways, the later Morris cars’ history echoes that of Singer and Riley. Amidst a rapidly changing motoring landscape – and increased competition both at home and from European, American and latterly Japanese manufacturers – the company’s unique character faded and the brand was eventually abandoned in 1987.

This is the history of Morris motors.

Born in Worcester in 1877, William Morris had a profound impact on the automotive world. He set off on his remarkable journey at the age of just fifteen, beginning as an apprentice in a local bicycle repair shop. This initial foray into the mechanics of transportation ignited a passion in Morris that would shape the course of his life. After a row over wages, he started repairing bicycles from his parent’s shed. This small venture laid the groundwork for his future endeavours.

By 1902, he had established his own bicycle manufacturing business, Morris Bicycles, demonstrating an early knack for identifying and capitalising on market opportunities.

In 1912, he founded WRM Motors Limited, venturing into the emerging world of car manufacturing. His vision was to produce cars that were affordable and reliable, making car ownership accessible to a broader segment of the population. Morris’s approach to manufacturing, heavily influenced by the assembly line techniques pioneered by Henry Ford, revolutionised the British car industry.

Under his leadership, Morris motor cars grew exponentially, introducing iconic models like the Morris Minor and the Morris Oxford. Under his stewardship, Morris, later Lord Nuffield, known as ‘the most famous industrialist of his age’, took Morris motors history into rarified air. It became the biggest carmaker in Britain and one of the most famous in the world.

The true history of Morris cars starts in 1912 when Morris set up WRM Motors Limited, later becoming Morris Motors Limited in 1919. His first car, of which virtually all the components were sourced elsewhere, was the Morris Oxford Bullnose which had a distinctive rounded radiator and was named after the city where it was made. The one-litre straight-four quickly gained popularity for its reliability and affordability.

Despite the outbreak of World War I, the Morris Cowley was introduced in 1915. With a larger 1.5-litre straight-four sourced from America, two and four-seat variations were also well-received, catering for an emerging market for bigger, more powerful cars.

Morris motor cars were renowned for their quality and affordability. By 1924, just twelve years after the business started, Morris overtook Ford as the largest carmaker in Britain with a 51% share of the domestic market.

A number of iterations of the Oxford and the Cowley were produced over several years, including the Morris Ten and the Morris Big Six range. However, the stand-out car – and one that went onto immortality, not just in the history of Morris motors but in the history of the British car industry – was the introduction of the Morris Minor in 1928.

The 850cc straight-four was a small, affordable car designed for the masses. It played a key role in popularising motor vehicle ownership in Britain. In the initial production run from 1928 until 1934, over 86,000 were made. But the interwar years in Morris Motors’ history was also about growth.

In 1921, a salesman by the name of Cecil Kimber joined the company. With a flair for design, he created sportier versions of the Morris Oxford and labelled them Morris Garages, shortened to MG. A brand was born.

Later that decade, the company embarked on a significant expansion through the acquisition of several famous British car brands. This period was marked by strategic moves to consolidate the British automotive industry and expand the company’s market presence. In 1926, Morris took a major step by acquiring Wolseley Motors, a well-respected manufacturer known for its luxury cars. This acquisition not only broadened Morris’s product range but also brought valuable technical expertise into the company.

Another notable acquisition was that of the Riley Motor Company in 1938. Riley was renowned for high-quality sports cars, and this move allowed Morris to tap into the higher end of the car market, diversifying its portfolio further. These acquisitions, along with others, not only bolstered Morris Motors’ manufacturing capabilities and market reach but also helped the company become a dominant force in the British automobile industry, offering a wide range of vehicles from affordable family cars to luxury and sports models.

Morris Motors, along with the newly-acquired companies, came under an umbrella known as the Nuffield Organisation.

Despite the successes of the 20s and 30s, Morris Motors’ history, like that of many of the great British marques that prospered in the early years of the car industry, was very much a mixed bag after World War II.

Production initially restarted with the pre-war Morris Eight and Morris Ten designs, but the Eight was replaced with the Alec Issigonis-designed Morris Minor in 1948. In its 23-year production run, which lasted until 1971, the Morris Minor was the first British car to sell over a million units (all told, around 1.6 million were sold in three distinct series, the Series MM, the Series II and the 1000). It was described by Autocar magazine as “a primary way Britain got back on the road after the Second World War”.

In 1952, the Nuffield Organisation merged with long-time rival the Austin Motor Company to form the British Motor Corporation, or BMC. This merger was a significant event in the British automotive industry, creating a powerhouse that combined the strengths of both companies. However, despite the company’s new clout, the history of Morris cars was teetering on the edge of oblivion. Notwithstanding the company being pulled from pillar to post during the merger, William Morris died in August 1963, aged 85.

From this point, the British motoring industry changed so swiftly as to be almost chaotic. BMC further expanded by merging with Jaguar Cars in 1966. This new entity was named British Motor Holdings (BMH), broadening the range of cars under its umbrella to include luxury vehicles.

BMH lasted just two years.

In yet another major consolidation of the British car industry, BMH merged with Leyland Motor Corporation (which included Rover and Standard-Triumph) in 1968 to form British Leyland Motor Corporation (BLMC). This merger brought together most of the British-owned car manufacturing companies.

Despite the corporate turmoil, it was during this topsy-turvy time in Morris Motors’ history that the iconic Mini was launched. Again designed by Alec Issogonis, the legendary small car has gone down as one of the great iconic automobiles in history, and was voted the second-most influential car of the twentieth century behind the Ford Model T and ahead of the VW Beetle and the Citroen DS.

The 1970s and 1980s weren’t kind to Morris. BLMC was nationalised in 1975 and became British Leyland, but it was beset with financial difficulties and industrial action, itself on the brink of collapse.

The last models adorned with the Morris badge were the Morris Marina, succeeded by the Morris Ital. Both proved to be rather nondescript cars, and a far cry from the remarkable successes of past years. By 1987, the history of Morris Motors was at an end.

British Leyland went back into private hands in 1986 with the formation of the Rover Group and, in 1994, the Rover Group was acquired by BMW. The Germans divested much of the Rover Group at this stage. Despite a later attempt to continue the legacy of British car manufacturing, the newly-formed MG Rover Group struggled and finally collapsed in 2005.

Its assets were subsequently acquired by various manufacturers, with many of the famous names that were once part of the history of Morris Motors and its successor companies disappearing or becoming part of other entities.

The history of Morris cars is a captivating tale of innovation, expansion, and transformation. From humble beginnings in a small Oxford workshop to its evolution into a formidable player in the British and global automotive scenes, Morris Motors’ history reflects the dynamic nature of the industry.

While there’s little evidence of its story on the roads today, the classic cars, and the pioneering vision of William Morris himself, left an indelible mark on British automotive history.