Lot Ended
Description
From a deceased estate; supplied new to New Zealand and re-registered
in the UK in 2005; older restoration in wonderful condition
throughout
Starting out by
making bicycles, William Morris introduced his first car, the immortal Oxford
'Bullnose’, in 1913, starting a tradition of Morris Oxfords that was to continue
right up until 1971.
A cheaper Cowley version was made available in 1915
and the Bullnose quickly gained such an enviable reputation for reliability and
build quality that, by the end of the 1920's, Morris had become Britain's
largest car manufacturer, outselling the might of Ford and holding a 51% share
of the market.
Indeed, so successful was it that
Morris was obliged to institute three-shift working and acquire the Hotchkiss
factory in Coventry in order to satisfy demand.
At first the engines were supplied by White and Poppe and the
American firm Continental, but after the war an 11.9hp 1,548cc Hotchkiss engine
was adopted, made at the factory in Coventry, which gave easy 50mph performance.
Drive was through a three-speed gearbox with a
wet-plate clutch while suspension used semi-elliptic leaf springs at the front
and three-quarter elliptics at the rear. The distinctive ‘bullnose’ radiator of
the early cars was replaced by a less attractive ‘flat rad’ in late
1926.
Built in March 1922, this delightful Oxford
Bullnose has the Hotchkiss engine and was made for the export market, a
plaque on the dash suggesting that it was supplied new via Turner & Butler
of Waipukurau on the North Island of New Zealand. It was to remain in that balmy
climate for many years, the V5C indicating that it returned to these shores in
April 2005 when it was registered as BS 9480.
On offer here from a
deceased estate, it sadly comes with precious little history but we are told
that the car has been well-known to the Bullnose Morris Club for the last 40
years or so and they should be able to provide some more background information
to the next owner if requested.
From what we understand, it was for many
years the property of the late Mr Len Crane who lived in the Rangitaiki area on
the North Island of New Zealand. He had the car restored at some point and
brought it back to the UK when he moved to Sherborne in Dorset, keeping it until
he passed away in c.2016.
It then had one further owner until October
2018 and then another until August 2019 which is when it was acquired by the
current owner.
A cutting from The Automobile magazine shows that it was
advertised for sale by a Mr R Batchelor of Thame for £16,000, the ad stating:
“Little use since total rebuild. Full weather equipment. Starts on dynastart”.
The ad isn’t dated but we believe that it was the current owner who bought the
car. There is also an invoice for a service in October 2019 (see last photo).
A check of the MOT history online shows that it
was tested every year from 2006 – 2018 but the mileage stays stubbornly on 138
for most of that time so presumably the odometer wasn’t working – it currently
shows 149 miles.
As you
can see in the photos, this Bullnose is in really super condition throughout and
has been starting promptly and running well as we have moved it around on site.
Easy to drive and maintain, the spacious and
sturdy Bullnose models have long been the mainstay of the thriving Vintage car
scene in the UK. On offer here at a modest guide price, this 103-year-old Oxford
now only needs an enthusiastic new custodian who can continue to preserve it for
future generations to enjoy.
Consigned by
James Dennison – 07970 309907 – james.dennison@brightwells.com