1939-48 MORRIS 8 SERIES E

A complete charmer, with its art-deco-style, sloping front end and Bakelite-laden interior. In my opinion, a Series E is today’s most practical buy if you’re looking for a small car from this era. More than 120,000 were built – two- and four-door saloons, plus a tourer and the closely related Morris Z commercial. The 8 can boast goodies such as a four-speed gearbox and hydraulic brakes, while you get to sit on leather seats and gaze at delightful period brown and cream instruments. The 918cc side-valve engine is a solid lump that would go virtually unaltered into the Morris Minor. Though no road burner, it would (still will…) pick off Austin Sevens like a thing possessed.

BUYING TIPS

RUST Check the chassis (particularly at the rear), door bottoms, under the radiator and boot floor, and around the wing seams. ELECTRICS Make sure modifications have been carried out properly. Many cars have been converted from six to 12 volts, and the sloping headlights changed to upright units. MECHANICALS Engines slog on, bless ’em – but make the normal wear checks. Steering boxes wear, though there’s some room for adjustment. And on the test-drive, check the car doesn’t jump of gear.

MORRIS 8 ENGINE 918cc/4-cyl/SV POWER 29.5bhp@4400rpm TORQUE Unknown MAXIMUM SPEED 64mph 0-50mPh 32sec FUEL CONSUMPTION 30-34mpg TRANSMISSION RWD, four-speed man