Morris Marshall Reviews

Look at any photo of a Minor in a village or country-side setting and you cannot but think "England, 1950s".And so it is with Lance Blanch's 1957 Morris Minor utility. His beautifully restored car is a reminder of a quieter and gentler time, when a Sunday drive was a pleasure, not a fight along clogged roads.Lance's ute has been in his family since 1960. His parents bought it from a tradie who was upsizing to an Austin A40 ute. "We lived in a country town and they needed a ute to haul stuff around ", explains Lance.Lance learnt to drive in the car and his mother drove it all the time until just two weeks before her death in 1995. "After she died the Morris came to me and I kept it garaged for a few years. I then decided to give it a full restoration and it was back on the road in 2009", says Lance.The car has been regularly serviced all its life and when the restoration started the care taken of it over the years paid dividends. "It only had a little bit of surface rust and there was no rust in the frame at all" Lance says. Even so, Lance took the car back to bare metal and rebuilt it.Lance ensures he drives it at least once a week and it always attracts attention. "Lots of people come up to me and ask about the car. It seems everyone has either owned a Morrie or knew someone who did" he says.The car has its original number plates, original engine and steering wheel. The wood inlayed dashboard does make a concession to technology, with a CD player now in place of the old transistor car radio. Recognising the need for safety, Lance has installed seat belts ,high backed bucket seats and front disc brakes.Lance is a constant promoter of Morris Minors and is active in the Queensland Morris Minor Club. "We've been able to organise a display day at the RAAF's Amberley air base Heritage Centre on May 18th ", he says. "The RAAF has offered us the opportunity to have our cars displayed alongside all of their histrionic airplanes including  Sabre, Mirage and F111 fighter jets, Sioux and Iroquois helicopters".This rare opportunity has already enticed 50+ cars to enter the event. All of the Minor variants will be represented: two and four door sedans, convertible, Traveller station wagons and, of course, Lance's utility.David Burrell is the editor of www.retroautos.com.au 

If you've been wondering why you have been seeing Morris cars out and about these past couple of months it is because their owners are celebrating the 100 year anniversary of William Morris producing his first car in Oxford in April 2013. The Morris Oxford was quickly given the name the"Bullnose" because of its rounded radiator. From these small beginnings the business grew rapidly and became a global conglomerate within 20 years. Like so many of the early automobile makers, Morris was raised on a farm and moved off the land to find work. He started work in a bike shop, then established one of his own. In 1900 Morris decided to go into motorcycle manufacturing. By 1910 he'd established a taxis and hire car business. He called it Morris Garages. Like Henry Ford, William Morris had an ambition to produce a car priced so all could afford it. In 1912 with the financial backing of the Earl of Macclesfield, Morris formed a company to manufacture the Morris Oxford. Morris was also a student of Henry Ford's manufacturing techniques, and introduced the production line and quickly gained economies of scale. Morris also followed the Ford sales technique of continually reducing prices, which crippled his competitors and allowed Morris to win ever increasing sales. By 1925 he had 40% of the UK market. Morris constantly expanded his range of cars. The MG (Morris Garages) was initially a “high performance” Oxford. Increasing demand led to it being standalone design by 1930. He also bought the Riley and Wolseley brands. Morris the man was a strong, opinionated character. Once the money started rolling in he began to take long ocean voyages, but insisted on making all important business and product decisions in person. During his long periods of absence decision making tended to grind to a halt and many talented managers resigned in frustration. In 1948 saw the release of the Sir Alex Issigonis designed Morris Minor. The now aging Morris did not like the car, tried to block its production and refused to be seen with it. In 1952, financial issues caused Morris to merge with arch rival Austin, establishing the British Motor Corporation (BMC), the fourth largest car company in the world at that time. Despite its industry leading designs, such as the Mini and Morris 1100, BMC never really did recapture the sales success once enjoyed by Morris and Austin when they were standalone companies. By the late 1980s, Leyland, as it was then known, was underwater. Morris died in 1963. By our estimates there are about 80 Bullnose Morris cars running in Australia today. David Burrell is the editor of retroautos.com.au  

And so it goes with the Morris 1100. Released 50 years ago at the 1962 Earls Court Motor Show in London, the 1100 (it had a 1098 cc engine) it was British Motor Corporation's (BMC) second car to feature front wheel drive and wheel-at-each-corner styling. The other was the Mini.The 1100 boasted "float on fluid" hydrolastic suspension, which was BMC's way of ensuring we knew that they were very smart and technologically up there with the Gemini space program.It worked by means of interconnected rubber balloons filled with a concoction of alcohol, water, an anti corrosive solution and green dye. Owners report it retains its "spring" for many years, though they say it can suffer a sudden and catastrophic bursting of a rubber diaphragm in one of the displacer units. This is a problem faced by many things over 50. The car went on sale in Australia early 1964 after considerable stress testing in the outback. It was an immediate success, outselling everything in its class and winning a Car of the Year award. During the next four years BMC Australia increased the engine size and power and added an automatic to the range. The hatchback Nomad came out in 1969 and was unique to Australia. To publicise the Nomad, BMC asked then TV personality Maggie Tabberer to develop a version for women. One prototype was made. It was painted a bright lime green. The interior was totally white, including the shag pile carpets. Maybe it still exists? Anyone up for a tribute car?BMC in the UK was not one to flinch from badge-engineering, and the 1100 morphed into Austins, MGs, Rileys, Wolseley and, of all things, a Vanden Plas Princess, for those who demanded "luxury". There was also a station wagon derivative, called the Austin Countryman and Morris Traveller.A red Countryman featured in the very funny "Gourmet Night" episode of the TV show, Fawlty Towers, in which an angry Basil Fawlty (John Cleese) shouted at it "you vicious bastard" and gave it a "damn good thrashing" after it stalled on him and refused to re-start. You can see it on You Tube.By 1971 the design was showing its 1950s origins and confronting fierce competition from Japanese imports and, in Australia, the Torana and Cortina. It was replaced by the Morris Marina. Morris 1100s in good condition sell for between $7000 and $8000 these days.David Burrell is the editor of www.retroautos.com.au 

No one knows how many were made, originals are hard to tell from fakes, only seven are known to remain and it also created the first allegations of cheating in the Bathurst-Phillip Island 500 car race. The Morris Sports 850 is an enigma today for car fans.It appears that it was not an official BMC car, rather it was a go-fast kit that could be added by a few dealers or bought over the counter for the home mechanic to spec up his standard 850. But the kit came with BMC's blessing.Apart from badging, special triangular bonnet and boot stickers and a chrome grille and exhaust tip the real improvements were under the bonnet. The big trick was twin carburettors that combined with a changed manifold, free-flow exhaust and a new muffler to enable the engine to breathe better than the standard model.So much better that a magazine road test in 1962 showed the car achieved a 0-100mph time an incredible nine seconds better than a standard car and the maximum speed went up seven miles per hour (11km/h).There were no changes to the suspension or braking, it was all about increasing engine performance and looking sporty. Top speed from the little 848cc engine was just under 80mph (128km/h), a frightening thought today considering the small brakes, lack of any of today's safety features and the condition of the roads back then.The AMSA magazine report concludes: "This is the first time that any Australian company has produced a low priced modified car for the enthusiast whose family responsibilities prevent him from buying a sports car. We feel he will be duly grateful and, with that 790 pricetag in mind, definitely interested."One man who is definitely interested today is Sydney mini fan Robert Diamante who owns one of the rare Sports 850s. He says he first saw one at a car show 17 years ago and had been interested in buying one since.All that changed three years ago when he heard about a car for sale on a farm at Forbes. "We found the car sitting under a tree. It hadn't been registered since 1981.""When I saw the badge I said this has to be mine. I paid $300 for it. It needed a bit of work. It was banged in the back. Their sons had been using it as a paddock basher."Diamante says he stripped the car down and spent about 12 months carefully rebuilding the rare little machine. He says the farmer from Forbes, who died several years ago, was the original owner of the car. He had worked for the Sydney BMC dealer P and R Williams who sold and fitted the kits and bought the car from them.In fact he bought two. Diamante says the first one purchased in 1962 was later stolen and he replaced it with the identical late-1963 model car that Diamante now owns.This car has twin exhaust pipes which he says is unusual. That also indicates that the 850 Sports kits were not totally standard. Options and features put on the cars since the kit's inception in 1962 (or 1961 depending on who you talk to), have varied.The car's racing history is just as interesting. Neil Johannnesen is a name forgotten in the annals of Bathurst-Phillip Island 500 history yet he was the first to race a Mini in the event.He brought an 850 with twin carburettors to the 1961 event. But when the officials accused him of cheating he produced a telegram from BMC claiming the modification was legal.The car was ordered off the grid and his team had to replace them with a standard carburettor from a spectator's Mini. When a rock later smashed his windscreen he took a replacement off the same Mini and continued.The officials protested that move as well and he was disqualified, only to be reinstated in last place. But the speed Johannesen's 850 Sports had shown did not go unnoticed. People began to consider the little Mini as a force in racing.Five 850 Sports models competed the following year and just five years after Johannesen's controversial debut Minis swept to the first nine positions outright at Bathurst in 1966.The little bricks have become legendary and Diamante loves driving his, with just 42,000 miles (67,500km) on the clock. He says: "It drives so smoothly. It's no rocket ship but it goes alright."

JIMMY Barnes is said to have the hardest-working set of vocal cords in Australian rock. And he once lived an even harder lifestyle.  The former Cold Chisel lead singer and 51-year-old father of five had a brush with death earlier this year when he had surgery to correct the bicuspid aortic valve in his heart.While recovering, Barnes wrote Out in the Blue, his 13th studio album, on sale tomorrow.What was your first car?A Morris Oxford. I paid $25 for it and it had six months' rego and a full tank of petrol. I was 16 and living in Adelaide.What do you drive now?A Holden Commodore. I can take my dogs in it. I like Holdens, they're good cars. When I'm on the road, I hire them. I sang at Bathurst recently, which was great. I watched the race start from the pits. I had a bit of a word to Skaifey before he started. I've done Bathurst a few times. I've met Craig Lowndes and Mark Skaife a few times. They're pretty intense, serious guys. They're both incredible drivers. I think the whole V8 Supercars thing is great.Do you have a favourite drive and who would you take?I'd take my wife Jane anywhere, but we enjoy driving along the north coast of NSW.How far would you drive in an average year?Jesus! That's hard to say. I'm on the road all the time. I did 600km at the weekend.Your favourite motoring memory?We have a car in Thailand, a Chevy van that belonged to Jane's father. He gave it to us and it's like a boat. It has karaoke in it and big luxury seats. My friends call it the pimpmobile because it's done up with mirrors and light shows. We love getting all the family in there, driving along, watching movies, driving to the beach in Thailand.What would you buy if money were no object?I like my Holden, but if money were no object, I'd buy an electric car.What music is playing in your car?At the moment, The Hives' new album, The Black & White Album.How much is too much for a new car?More than you can afford!What should be done to make driving safer?I think we could bring down the speed limits . . . Trucks should have their own lanes and be made to stay in them.Are you sponsored by a car company?No!

Previous Bathurst 1000 Winners 1963 Harry Firth/Bob Jane Ford Cortina GT 1964 Bob Jane/George Reynolds Ford Cortina GT 1965 Bo Seton/Midge Bosworth Ford Cortina GT500 1966 Rauno Aaltonen/Bob Holden Morris Mini Cooper S 1967 Harry Firth/Fred Gibson Ford Falcon XRGT 1968 Bruce McPhee/Barry Mulholland Holden Monaro GTS

 Organisers of the Super Cheap Auto Bathurst 1000 are predicting the massive crowd generated last year by the death of Peter Brock will be overtaken tomorrow week.More than 193,000 spectators, a rise of almost 30,000 on 2005, turned up over four days at Mt Panorama in 2006 as the tide of emotion following nine-time winner Brock's untimely death a month earlier descended on Australia's most hallowed motor-racing venue.“We are on track for the biggest Bathurst 1000 ever,” V8 Supercars Australia chairman Tony Cochrane said.“Many people thought with the death of Peter Brock last year those crowds would never be repeated.“More than 80,000 advance Bathurst ticket sales had been made before the Sandown 500 last month.“We are further ahead with grandstand sales than we were last year.”Special celebrations have been organised for the 45th running of Bathurst that will include a parade of some former champions and their cars.The legendary Harry Firth and tyre king Bob Jane wrote the first chapter in the Bathurst story when they shared a Ford Cortina GT and won what was called the Armstrong 500 Mile race in 1963.Firth and Jane's Cortina will be one of several former winning machines which will be honoured in a special parade of champions before the 161-lap marathon next Sunday.The traditional race start of 10am will be pushed back to 10.30am to make way for extended pre-race hoopla.Series broadcaster Channel 7 will showcase each of the 31 cars in the race, showing them on individual laps immediately before they grid-up and informing viewers of their progress since rolling out for the opening practice sessions on Thursday.The Bathurst bangers will go off on presentation laps at about 40-second intervals which will add about 20 minutes to the pre-race hype.Channel 7 has committed an unprecedented 21 hours of live coverage over three days from next Friday to Sunday.Even if bad weather and safety cars conspire to slow the race, Seven has given an assurance that it will bump its 6pm news back if necessary to show the race in its entirety.The later start gives organisers some breathing space to help spectators filter into Mt Panorama and there is now time for two support races prior to the Bathurst 1000 starting.“The later start helps from a point of view of filtering traffic into the circuit precinct, easing the pressure on day-trippers from Sydney and has made way for two support events (Carrera Cup and Touring Car Masters),” V8 Supercars general manager of special events, Shane Howard, said.There are modifications to the movement and consumption of alcohol in response to a tightening of NSW liquor laws at major events this year.An insignificant number of punters have requested refunds in light of the changes.“Let's deal with the truth . . . we are approaching over 80,000-odd advance ticket sales,” Cochrane said.“We've had 20 — two-zero — requests for refunds.”Alcohol can still be brought into and consumed in the camping areas but it is prohibited to take alcohol into or out of the licensed areas, defined this year at the bottom of the circuit.The bottom of the mountain from the Chase through to Pit Straight and Harris Park and up Mountain Straight will be fully licensed.“We don't have any choice in that these are the terms and conditions of operating a major event in NSW,” Howard said.“What we can do is negotiate with our caterer to ensure that alcohol prices in the venue are as low as the caterers can operate to.”More than $750,000 is being spent on beefed-up police and security.There will be 160 police at the circuit, double that of last year and there will be tougher searches at the entry points for fireworks and other contraband.Great Race highlights1963 Legendary Harry Firth and Bob Jane claim the first Bathurst enduro, the Armstrong 500, in a Ford Cortina GT.1966 It was the year the mighty Morris Mini Cooper S conquered Mt Panorama with Rauno Aaltonen and Bob Holden sharing the wheel.1967 Firth claims his second Bathurst win with Fred Gibson in a Ford Falcon XR GT.1972 A youthful Peter Brock won the first of his nine victories at the mountain with a brilliant solo drive in a Holden Torana LJ XU1.1981 A star was born when Dick Johnson and his co-driver, Brisbane car dealer John French, steered a Ford Falcon XD to victory a year after the well-chronicled “rock” incident.1995 After suffering a puncture on the opening lap, Larry Perkins and Russell Ingall came from a lap down to win.2002 The decorated Jim Richards claims a seventh title as co-driver to Mark Skaife in the lead Holden Racing Team Commodore.2006 Peter Brock's understudy Craig Lowndes takes an emotional win with Jamie Whincup a month after the legendary racer was killed in a tarmac rally in Perth.

Now owned by the Chinese company, Nanjing Automobile Corporation, MG (which stands for Morris Garage), was a private British company founded in 1924 by William Morris and Cecil Kimber.Morris Garage was the sales division of Morris cars and Kimber had the idea of producing sports cars based on Morris sedan platforms.While the company made a variety of cars it's best known for two-seater sports soft tops. The first MG was called the 14/18 and was simply a sporty body fitted on to a Morris Oxford.As World War II erupted in 1939 MG was introducing its new TB Midget roadster, derived from the earlier TA model, itself a replacement for the MG PB.Production went into limbo as the factory geared up for the war effort, but soon after hostilities ended in 1945 MG introduced the TC Midget - a slick little open two-seater.In reality it was a TB with some modifications. It still had a 1250cc four-cylinder engine, borrowed from the Morris 10, and now had a four-speed synchromesh gear shift.The TC is the car that entrenched the MG name in Australia. That it did well here, and elsewhere, should come as no surprise.In the aftermath of World War II cars were in general terms practical transport, not fun. Petrol was also scarce. And after years of war everyone was looking to enjoy the hard-earned peace. Cars like the TC put fun back into life.No doubt, going on the massive turnout of TCs, TDs and TFs at the MG National Concours at Easter, the T series cars continue to brings smiles to faces and joy to those who drive them.The TD and TF followed before radical styling changes introduced the MGA and later the MGB, cars more familiar to those born after the war.In recent years the company brought back the T series with the TF, built in 1995.About 10,000 MG TC cars were produced between 1945 and 1949, many of them exported. The TD resembled the TC, but in reality had a new chassis and was a more sturdy car. For the layman, trying to tell the difference between a TC and TD is easy. The one with the bumper bars is a TD.The TD ran from 1949-53 when the TF was introduced, complete with a new 1466cc engine. The TF lasted just two years when it was replaced with the more streamlined MGA, that inherited a legacy of a series of cars that were yes, selfish, but mechanically simple, reasonably reliable and fun to drive as are all open top cars.Throughout its history the MG road was rocky. In 1952 Austin Motor Corporation merged with Morris Motors to form British Motor Corporation Ltd.Then, in 1968, it was merged into British Leyland. Later it became MG Rover Group and part of BMW.BMW divested its interest and in 2005 MG Rover went into liquidation. A few months later the MG name was bought by Chinese interests.The significance of the Chinese purchase stems from a belief that the MG brand and name have some currency in a worldwide market. The vehicle that played a significant role in establishing that value is, without doubt, the MG TC. 

From the background to the limelight, cars have been a vital ingredient in Australian television – be it Ted Bullpitt's obsession with his Kingswood, to Kath's "beep beep Barina".The Wiggles would be lost without their Big Red Car - and how would Australia's best on-screen detectives have caught their criminals without their trusty Fords and Holdens in shows such as Division 4, Homicide, Matlock or Blue Heelers.Cars have also been involved in the invention of new technology, with Channel Seven pioneering the Racecam, a camera mounted inside race cars that lets viewers see their driving heroes in action.It ranged from the lively connection to the camera from Sydney car dealer and driver Peter Williamson and the whimsical Dick Johnson to others such as Bob Morris, who wasn't quite as excited over the technology.Four-wheel drives have allowed the Bush Tucker Man, Russell Coight and Malcolm Douglas to explore nature, bringing the outdoors to our living rooms.Outback automotive ingenuity starred in Bush Mechanics.And it was cars that came to the rescue when Seven experienced a power outage during filming for the first show, with car headlights used to light the set.Now take a walk down memory lane as CARSguide brings you the best, the worst, the coolest and the daggiest cars of Australian television.Kingswood Country"Not the Kingswood" were the words made famous by Ted Bullpitt as he spoke of his pride and joy, never allowing his son or son-in-law to drive his beloved Holden car.The Leyland BrothersIt was a Toyota LandCruiser that allowed Mike and Mal to "travel all over the countryside, ask the Leyland brothers", as they brought the delights of Australia to television - a forerunner to today's travel shows such as Getaway and The Great Outdoors.Beyond TomorrowA show exploring new and upcoming technology, Beyond Tomorrow has shown off some of the fastest and most impressive cars, from the Lotus Exige to the Koenigsegg CCX and concept cars such as the Holden EFIJY.BathurstThe top race car drivers and the best cars are brought to the small screen in an annual ritual. Highlights have included the Australian innovation of Racecam, which put cameras inside speeding cars; Dick Johnson's famous tangle with a rock and the resulting crash in 1980 that led to an impromptu fund-raising telethon; Peter Brock's teammate Doug Chivas running out of petrol and pushing his car in 1973, and the 1977 Ford 1-2 finish captured by Channel Seven's chopper.SkippySonny and Skippy, his clever pet kangaroo, were the undoubted stars of the show, but who can forget Tony Bonner's knockabout ranger character and his tough-as-teak XR Ford station wagon kicking up clouds of dust as he made his daily runarounds?The SullivansSet during Word War II, this story followed the Sullivan family - and it was an old Ford that was their vehicle of choice.Comedy CompanyGlen Robbins' character Uncle Arthur, one of the stars of this Channel Ten sketch show, relied on an Austin A70 for transportation.The WigglesThose skivvy-wearing, finger-pointing Wiggles travel in class as they bundle into their Big Red Car.Kath & KimThe "beep beep Barina" took foxy Kath on all of her journeys, especially her shopping trips to the Fountain Gate shopping centre.The Aunty Jack ShowThe star of this comedy series, which aired in the early 1970s, was a motorcycle riding, transvestite boxer. And it wasn't just any old motorcycle but a Harley Davidson that everyone's favourite aunty rode.Mother And SonA divorced son, a peculiar mother and a Morris Minor. Mother and Son was a classic Australian comedy and the quaint and quirky British car matched the characters.The Bush Tucker ManIn his trusty, rugged Land Rover, Australian Army bush survival expert Les Hiddins went right off the beaten track to bring the Outback and its host of hidden, free culinary delights to city slickers' lounge rooms.TorquePeter Wherrett's pioneering ABC car show broke new ground by bringing car tests and new products to our screens in the '70s. No other Australian car shows have reached the same heights. However, Jeremy Clarkson and his BBC Top Gear show have followed the theme and taken car shows to a new level.Sylvania WatersIn what was essentially Australia's first reality television show, this documentary followed Noeline Baker and Laurie Donaher and their family. The Donahers were already a motor-racing family, with starts at Bathurst in a Holden Commodore and in historic touring car racing in a classic Ford Mustang.HomicideShot in Melbourne, Homicide used Falcon XPs and XRs as police cars. It ran for a decade from the mid-'60s to the mid-'70s and was one of the most popular and influential programs of the time, winning 11 Logies.Matlock PoliceNot so much a car as the star (Valiants filled the car role) - instead it was the police bike Paul Cronin's character rode that is synonymous with this '70s cop show.A Country PracticeFew star TV cars have ever lived beyond the small screen, but the red Falcon ute used in Wandin Valley has survived. Now restored, it is a regular at Sydney car shows.Peking To ParisThe car hit of 2006 saw five ancient machines recreate an historic car race. The three-wheeled Contal was the star.All-Aussie AdventuresAnother persona of comedian Glenn Robbins. In this hilarious show, inept would-be larrikin adventurer Russell Coight, the man who is a danger to anyone (or anything) he meets, gets around the outback, somehow, in a rugged-looking Toyota LandCruiser.Acropolis NowIt was hotted-up Valiants and Monaros, mag wheels and fluffy dice all round in this Greek Australian comedy set around a restaurant in Melbourne.Great commercialsAnd love them or hate them, there have also been some great car ads on Aussie TV. They include: the Yellow Pages Goggomobile ad (gee-oh, gee-gee-oh), Honda's award-winning Cog ad where an Accord performs piece by piece, GMH's "Football, Meat Pies, Kangaroos and Holden cars", Valiant's "Hey Charger" campaign, and the catchy "Go well, go Shell" jingle are among them.