The unsung Morris Eight was one of the most popular cars sold in New Zealand during the second half of the decade before World War II. Although the classic Austin Seven predated the Morris by 12 years, the Morris Eight made a huge impression on an expanding small car market in the 1930s and was likely inspired by the popular Ford Model Y.
While the Austin came with a 747cc four-cylinder engine, the Morris boasted a 918cc power plant and a 2286mm wheelbase compared to the smaller Seven’s 1900mm. Not until 1939 did the arch British rival have a similar size economy model with the 2235mm wheelbase Austin Eight. In the meantime, Morris was racing away in the sales charts.
Our family grew up with the Morris brand. Father had a Minor 1000 vans for his electrical business and I learnt to drive in a 1950s Morris Minor, while the first family Mini Minor was a 1960 Newmarket, Auckland, assembled Morris. But Dad’s much earlier motoring experiences with three Morris Eights, long before I was born, were never discussed.
Father Bill introduced older brother Rodger and myself to motor sport. We attended the early Ardmore Grand Prix meetings each January when, frankly, I would rather have been at the beach. By the time the motor racing spark was ignited and we could not get enough of
