Lot 380
1913 Morris Oxford 8.9hp 'Bullnose' Two-seat Tourer
Registration no. LT 7113 Chassis no. 343 Engine no. 6268
Amended
10 December 2015, 14:00 GMT
Hendon, RAF MuseumSold for £33,350 inc. premium
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1913 Morris Oxford 8.9hp 'Bullnose' Two-seat Tourer
Registration no. LT 7113
Chassis no. 343
Engine no. 6268
Registration no. LT 7113
Chassis no. 343
Engine no. 6268
*One of the earliest cars built by Morris
*Dated 1913 by the VCC in 1959
*Period acetylene and oil lighting sets
*Older restoration
Footnotes
One of the best known and most readily recognised Vintage cars, the 'Bullnose' Oxford had its roots in the Edwardian era. The first examples, fitted with 1,018cc 8.9hp White & Poppe engines, were manufactured in 1913, embodying William Morris' successful formula of offering technically unexciting but well built and well equipped cars at a bargain price. The specification included a three-speed gearbox, multi-plate clutch, worm drive rear axle and steel artillery wheels. Production at Morris' Cowley factory began in March 1913 and by the end of the year 393 cars had been sold, including the example offered here. Today, only some 17 of these early cars are known to the Bullnose Morris Club.
'LT 7113' was dated as of September 1913 manufacture by the Veteran Car Club Dating Committee in 1959. Prior to its purchase by the vendor in 1992, the Bullnose had been the subject of a sympathetic restoration and had been painted in its current maroon and red livery, with black leather upholstery. Originally the car had a dickey seat but this was never a very practical feature and currently this space forms a boot for tools or luggage, having a lockable lid. Believed to be those shown in a 1960 photograph of the car, the headlamps are acetylene and the side and rear lamps are oil. The Ducellier acetylene generator fitted to the running board is thought to be complete, although the acetylene system has not been tested or connected by the vendor, while the three oil lamps are complete. The 8.9hp White & Poppe four-cylinder sidevalve engine has the correct Bosch magneto ignition system, but the original White & Poppe carburettor has been replaced, probably early in the car's life, with the present vintage SU carburettor to provide better performance.
In the vendor's 23-year ownership the car has only covered a few miles and has been stored in a dehumidified garage. 'LT 7113' is described as having excellent bodywork, with the interior and mechanical parts in good condition. A new fuel tank was installed this year and the engine starts easily and runs well. The hood is in fair condition. The car is offered with a V5 registration document; VCC Dating Committee file from 1959; spare wheel, tyre and inner tubes; vintage speedometer (not fitted); and a collection of Bullnose Morris Club magazines and other relevant literature.
Saleroom notices
Also included in the sale are the original VCC Dating Certificate, the 1921 buff Registration Book and a 1977 Bibliographical Memoir of Lord Nuffield that includes a photograph of the car dating from the mid 1970s and shows its present livery, dating the restoration work to between 40 and 50 years ago. The car was on display at the Lord Nuffield Centenary Dinner held in 1977 where it was described as "undoubtedly the star of the evening".