Morris Isis | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | Morris BMC |
Production | 1929–1931 1955–1958 |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Mid-size |
Layout | FR layout |
The Morris Isis name was first briefly used by Morris Motors Limited on a 6-cylinder car made from 1929 until 1931. It was resurrected on a new 6-cylinder midsize car from the British Motor Corporation in the 1950s to replace the Morris Six MS.
The name was discontinued in 1958.
Morris Isis and Twenty Five | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | Morris Motors Limited |
Production | 1929–1935 7406 made [1] |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 4-door saloon 4-door tourer coupé |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 2.5 L or 3.5 L Straight-6 |
Transmission | 3- or 4-speed manual |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 120 in (3,048 mm) [2] |
Length | 178 in (4,521 mm) [2] |
Width | 71 in (1,803 mm) [2] |
The Isis announced in July 1929 [3] was a revised version of the 1927 Morris Six JA series and used the same 2468 cc engine and 3-speed gearbox. It had an all-new chassis, and the steel body had an American look, not surprising, as the body pressing dies made by Budd for the Morris-Budd joint venture, Pressed Steel Company, were shared with some Dodge models. [4] William Morris had recognised the potential of pressed steel car bodies and introduced them to Europe in Pressed Steel Company, a joint venture with Budd, sited beside William Morris's Cowley plant.
It was the first Morris to have hydraulic brakes and chromium plating replaced the previous nickel finish on brightwork.
The car could exceed 65 mph (105 km/h) and return 28 miles per imperial gallon (10 L/100 km; 23 mpg‑US).
After 3,939 of the original Isis model had been made it received a facelift announced 1 September 1932. Following the court-forced separation of William Morris from his joint venture with Edward G Budd the all-steel body was replaced by a traditional wood-frame construction. Mechanically the car was similar but the gearbox received synchromesh and a fourth speed (Twin-Top), the chassis received additional cross bracing in 1934 and an automatic clutch and freewheel were fitted to some models. 3,467 of the new Isis were made (including Twenty-Five models). [1]
A de-luxe version, the Morris Twenty-Five was launched 12 October 1932 for the 1932 London Motor Show with larger 3485 cc engine. It was replaced in July 1935 by a new Twenty-Five, the flagship of the Morris Big Six series II range, and given an overhead valve engine (as the series III) in August 1938 with the rest of the Morris range.
Morris Isis Series I | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | BMC |
Production | 1955–1956 8541 made [5] |
Assembly | United Kingdom Victoria Park, Australia [6] |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 4-door saloon 2-door estate car |
Related | Morris Oxford series II |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 2.6 L C-Series Straight-6 |
Transmission | 4-speed manual optional overdrive |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Morris Six MS |
The Series I Isis was launched in 1955 as a replacement for the Morris Six MS. It featured a 6-cylinder engine, the 2.6 L (2639 cc/161 in³), 86 bhp (64 kW) C-Series unit from the Austin Westminster. Unlike the Westminster, the Isis had a single SU carburettor. The 4-speed gearbox had a column change and was available with an optional Borg-Warner overdrive unit.
The car was based on the 4-cylinder Morris Oxford series II, sharing its almost-unibody shell and torsion bar front suspension. The wheelbase and front end were lengthened to accept the larger straight-6 engine, and a "woody" 2-door estate version was also available. With the strong engine, the Isis could reach 90 mph (145 km/h).
Unlike its sister car, the Austin Westminster, which enjoyed moderate success against the volume-selling Ford and Vauxhall sixes of the time, sales were poor, with only 8,500 sold.
Morris Isis Series II | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | BMC |
Production | 1956–1958 3614 made [5] |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 4-door saloon 2-door estate car |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 2.6 L C-Series Straight-6 |
Transmission | 4-speed manual, Overdrive optional, Automatic available |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 107.5 in (2,730 mm) [7] |
Length | 178 in (4,521 mm) [7] |
Width | 65 in (1,651 mm) [7] |
Chronology | |
Successor | Line discontinued in favour of Wolseley 6/99 |
The Morris Isis Series II was based on the Morris Oxford Series III body but with longer wheelbase and front wings and bonnet to accommodate the 6-cylinder engine.
In line with changes to the corresponding Oxford line, BMC redesigned the Isis for 1956 with updated styling including a more elaborate mesh grille, chrome side strips and small fins. The engine power increased to 90 bhp (67 kW). An automatic transmission option was also added. The manual version had a four-speed box operated by a short gearstick on the right-hand side of the front bench seat. The handbrake lever was just behind the gearstick. Sales remained weak, and the line ended in 1958.
A de luxe saloon with overdrive tested by British magazine The Motor in 1956 had a top speed of 90 mph (140 km/h) and could accelerate from 0–60 mph (97 km/h) in 17.6 seconds. A fuel consumption of 26.2 miles per imperial gallon (10.8 L/100 km; 21.8 mpg‑US) was recorded. The test car cost £1025 including taxes. The overdrive unit had added £63 to the price. [7]
There was also a Traveller version with similar rear design to the Morris Oxford Estate car. The Isis Traveller accommodated the spare wheel either within the rear well or, when it was required to use this region for a passenger (the small floor area was hinged with a padded underside so that the passenger faced "backwards"), then the spare would be attached to the nearside, again to the rear of the vehicle. In this way it would be possible to accommodate two adult passengers on the front bench seat next to the driver, three in the middle rear bench seat and one in the very back.
The Ford Prefect is a line of British cars which was produced by Ford UK between 1938 and 1961 as an upmarket version of the Ford Popular and Ford Anglia small family cars. It was introduced in October 1938 and remained in production until 1941. Returning to the market in 1945, it was offered until 1961. The car progressed in 1953 from its original perpendicular or "sit-up-and-beg" style to a more modern three-box structure. Some versions were also built and sold by Ford Australia.
The Ford Zephyr is an executive car manufactured by Ford of Britain from 1950 until 1972. The Zephyr and its luxury variants, the Ford Zodiac and Ford Executive, were the largest passenger cars in the British Ford range from 1950 until their replacement by the Consul and Granada models in 1972.
The MGA is a sports car that was produced by MG from 1955 until 1962.
The Austin Cambridge is a medium-sized motor car range produced by the Austin Motor Company, in several generations, from September 1954 through to 1971 as cars and to 1973 as light commercials. It replaced the A40 Somerset and was entirely new, with modern unibody construction. The range had two basic body styles with the A40, A50, and early A55 using a traditional rounded shape and later A55 Mark IIs and A60s using Pininfarina styling.
The Austin Westminster series are large saloon and estate cars that were sold by the British manufacturer Austin from 1954, replacing the A70 Hereford. The Westminster line was produced as the A90, A95, A99, A105, and A110 until 1968 when the new Austin 3-Litre took its place. Essentially badge-engineered versions of the Farina Westminsters were also produced using the premium Wolseley and Vanden Plas marques. 101,634 Westminsters were built.
The Humber Super Snipe is a car which was produced from 1938 to 1967 by British-based Humber Limited.
The Vauxhall Cresta is a British automobile which was produced by Vauxhall from 1954 to 1972. The Cresta was introduced in 1954 as an upmarket version of the Vauxhall Velox, itself a six-cylinder version of the Vauxhall Wyvern. The Cresta models were the E (1954–1957), PA (1957–1962), PB (1962–1965) and PC (1965–1972). The Viscount (1966–1972) was an upmarket Cresta PC.
Morris Oxford is a series of motor car models produced by Morris of the United Kingdom, from the 1913 bullnose Oxford to the Farina Oxfords V and VI.
The Rover P4 series is a group of mid-size luxury saloon cars produced by the Rover Company from 1949 until 1964. They were designed by Gordon Bashford.
Lloyd Cars Ltd was a British motor manufacturer, founded by Roland Lloyd (1904–1965), son of a garage owner, and based in Patrick Street, Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England between 1936 and 1951. Two models were made, separated by World War II; the company was unusual for a small manufacturer in making nearly all components in-house. After car production ceased the company continued in general engineering until 1983. During World War II the company made components for Rolls-Royce Merlin aircraft engines.
The Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire is a large automobile which was produced by the British company, Armstrong Siddeley Motors Limited, from 1952 to 1960.
Morris Cowley was a name given to various cars produced by Morris from 1915 to 1958.
The Triumph Super 7 is a car manufactured from 1927 until 1934 by the Triumph Motor Company. It was produced as a response to the success of the Austin 7 and was Triumph's first car to be made in large numbers. In 1933 the name was changed to the Triumph Super 8.
The Standard Vanguard is a car which was produced by the Standard Motor Company in Coventry, England, from 1947 until 1963.
The Humber Hawk is a four-cylinder automobile manufactured from 1945 to 1967 by British-based Humber Limited.
The Triumph Renown is strictly the name given to the Triumph's large saloon car made from 1949 to 1954 but it is, in reality, part of a three-car series of the 1800, 2000 and Renown models. Together with the Triumph Roadster, they were the first vehicles to carry the Triumph badge following the company's takeover by the Standard Motor Company.
Morris Oxford Series MO is an automobile produced by Morris Motors of the United Kingdom from 1948 to 1954. It was one of several models to carry the Morris Oxford name between 1913 and 1971.
The Morris Oxford Farina is a series of motor car models that were produced by Morris of the United Kingdom from 1959 to 1971.
Morris Oxford is a series of motor car models produced by Morris Motors of the United Kingdom, from the 1913 bullnose Oxford to the Farina Oxfords V and VI.
The Morris Oxford Six is a motor car produced by Morris of the United Kingdom from 1921 until 1926, and again from 1929 until 1935. Initially produced as a straight-six engined version of the Morris Oxford bullnose, the original Oxford Six was the first car produced by Morris with a six-cylinder engine, but proved to be unreliable. The versions produced from 1929 onwards were introduced as a replacement for the Morris Oxford 16/40.