Automotive/ICE brands • Curated by Admin Timeline.sg
Morris history under Defunct Independent Brands. Origin: UK. Status: Defunct. Morris was a major British automotive manufacturer founded by William Morris in 1910, which rose to become the UK's largest car producer in the 1920s before merging into the Nuffield Organisation and eventually British Leyland, with the brand retired by 1984.
Chronological Storyline (20 Milestones)
Oct 1, 1910 CE
William Morris begins car production
William Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield, began manufacturing automobiles at his garage in Oxford, initially assembling cars using engines and components from various suppliers. #UK #Independent #Unibody Source — Wikipedia: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example1
William Morris, Lord Nuffield (c-1920) By Unknown author - http://www.chilternsaonb.org/ccbmaps/1342/137/william-morris.html, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=53633645
1913 CE
Morris Oxford launched
The first Morris car, the Morris Oxford, was introduced featuring a 1018cc engine and became the foundation of the company's early success. #UK #Independent #Unibody Source — Wikipedia: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example2
1913 Morris Oxford 10HP 'Bullnose' Front Taken at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon By Vauxford - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=68628903
1915 CE
Morris Cowley introduced
The Morris Cowley was launched as a cheaper, more basic version of the Oxford, utilizing American Continental engines to reduce costs. #UK #Independent #Unibody Source — Wikipedia: ) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example3
1924 CE
Morris becomes UK's largest carmaker
By 1924, Morris Motors Limited was producing over 50% of all cars manufactured in Britain, dominating the market with affordable models. #UK #Independent #Unibody Source — Wikipedia: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example4
A 1959 Morris Mini-Minor. This car, with registration number 621 AOK, was the first Mini off the production line to be badged Morris. It was never sold, and is now kept at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon, UK. Photographed at the Gaydon Mini Festival 2007. By DeFacto - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3609044
1926 CE
Morris Commercial Cars established
Morris expanded into commercial vehicles with the establishment of Morris Commercial Cars Limited, producing trucks and vans. #UK #Independent #Unibody Source — Wikipedia: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example5
Morris Commercial 1939 Truck By Martin Pettitt from Bury St Edmunds, UK - Rougham Airfield, Wings, Wheels and Steam Country Fair. Uploaded by oxyman, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10951726
1928 CE
Morris Minor first generation
The original Morris Minor was launched as a small, affordable car to compete with the Austin Seven, featuring a 847cc engine. #UK #Independent #Unibody Source — Wikipedia: ) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example6
1928 Morris Minor Saloon photographed by Malcolm Asquith and released into the public domain. By User Malcolma on en.wikipedia - Originally from en.wikipedia; description page is (was) here * 21:16, 21 July 2005 [[:en:User:Malcolma|Malcolma]] 441×279 (24,636 bytes) <span class="comment">(1928 Morris Minor Saloon photographed by Malcolm Asquith and released into the public domain.)</span>, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1171715
1929 CE
MG brand acquired by Morris
Morris acquired MG (Morris Garages), the sports car brand founded by Cecil Kimber, integrating it into the Morris organization. #UK #Independent #Unibody Source — Wikipedia: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example7
MG logo used from 1990 to 2010 By MG Cars - Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, PD, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1289930
1930 CE
Morris Major and Isis introduced
Morris expanded its range with the Major and Isis models, offering six-cylinder engines and more upscale features. #UK #Independent #V8Engine Source — Wikipedia: ) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example8
1934 CE
Morris Eight launched
The Morris Eight was introduced as a direct competitor to the Ford Model Y, becoming a huge success with its 918cc engine and unitary construction. #UK #Independent #Unibody Source — Wikipedia: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example9
Morris Eight 2-Door Saloon 1936 By Lars-Göran Lindgren Sweden - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1581743
Jul 1, 1938 CE
Nuffield Organisation formed
William Morris merged Morris Motors with MG, Wolseley, and Riley to form the Nuffield Organisation, creating a large automotive conglomerate. #UK #Independent #Unibody Source — Wikipedia: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example10
Nuffield Organization 1951 Advertisement By Terry Whalebone - Flickr: Nuffield Organization, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26553443
1948 CE
Morris Minor MM launched
The iconic post-war Morris Minor was introduced, designed by Alec Issigonis, featuring a 918cc engine and becoming a British motoring icon. #UK #Independent #Unibody Source — Wikipedia: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example11
Morris Minor 1000 (1963) in New Square, Cambridge (2018) By Charles01 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=71920869
Apr 9, 1952 CE
Merger with Austin forms BMC
The Nuffield Organisation merged with the Austin Motor Company to form the British Motor Corporation, creating the UK's largest car manufacturer. #UK #BritishMotorCorporation #Unibody Source — Wikipedia: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example12
1953 CE
Morris Oxford MO introduced
The Morris Oxford MO was launched as part of BMC's post-war range, featuring the new BMC B-series engine and modern styling. #UK #BritishMotorCorporation #Unibody Source — Wikipedia: ) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example13
Morris Oxford MO (ca 1950) By Charles01 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34833911
1956 CE
Morris Isis (1956) launched
The Morris Isis was reintroduced as a six-cylinder sedan, sharing its platform with the Austin Westminster. #UK #BritishMotorCorporation #Unibody Source — Wikipedia: ) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example14
Aug 26, 1959 CE
Morris Mini-Minor debuts
The Morris Mini-Minor, designed by Alec Issigonis, was launched alongside the Austin Seven, featuring a transverse engine and front-wheel drive. #UK #BritishMotorCorporation #Unibody Source — Wikipedia: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example15
A 1959 Morris Mini-Minor. This car, with registration number 621 AOK, was the first Mini off the production line to be badged Morris. It was never sold, and is now kept at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon, UK. Photographed at the Gaydon Mini Festival 2007. By DeFacto - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3609044
1962 CE
Morris 1100 introduced
The Morris 1100, based on the ADO16 design, was launched featuring front-wheel drive and Hydrolastic suspension, becoming Britain's best-selling car. #UK #BritishMotorCorporation #Unibody Source — Wikipedia: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example16
1970 Morris 1100 Mk 2 Taken at the British Motor Museum BMC & Leyland Show 2018, Gaydon By Vauxford - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=70561347
Jan 1, 1968 CE
British Leyland Motor Corporation formed
BMC merged with Leyland Motors to form British Leyland, and the Morris brand continued as a division within the new conglomerate. #UK #BritishLeyland #Unibody Source — Wikipedia: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example17
Leyland Motors logo By 忍者猫 - Vectorized version of Leyland-Logo.jpg, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=105488969
1971 CE
Morris Marina launched
The Morris Marina was introduced as a rear-wheel-drive family car to replace the Morris Minor, featuring a 1.3 or 1.8 liter engine. #UK #BritishLeyland #Unibody Source — Wikipedia: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example18
1974 Morris Marina DL 1.8 Front Taken at the British Motor Museum BMC & Leyland Show 2018, Gaydon By Vauxford - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=70561365
1980 CE
Morris Ital introduced
The Morris Ital, a facelifted version of the Marina, was the last new Morris model, named after the Italian design house Italdesign. #UK #BritishLeyland #Unibody Source — Wikipedia: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example19
The 2022 Festival of the Unexceptional held at Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire attracted 1200 family cars from the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s - largely unexceptional marques that have long since disappeared from Britain's roads. The top 50 chosen by the judges were entered into the concours de l'Ordinaire and that included my 1987 Austin Maestro mail van. The winner this year was a 3-door Astra Merit - driven down from Edinburgh - and the runner-up was an immaculate Skoda Estelle - the original "Skoda Skip"! By kitmasterbloke - https://www.flickr.com/photos/58415659@N00/52255535718/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=121315752
1984 CE
Morris brand discontinued
The Morris marque was retired by Austin Rover Group, ending over 70 years of Morris car production as the brand was phased out. #UK #BritishLeyland #Unibody Source — Wikipedia: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example20
Logo of the cigarette brand. By Unknown author - PMI website, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=94115669
