New for 2023, Reduced Buyers Premium: 5% + VAT (subject to minimum of £250 + VAT)

Registration No: Unregistered (Formerly ‘FXN 859’)
Chassis No: SE/E36635
MOT: Exempt
Estimate: £1,000 - £2,000

Motor Car Location: North Northamptonshire

• Fitted with a replacement engine with a rare and valuable Alta cylinder head and overhead valve conversion
• Current ownership for some 57 years
• ‘Barn find’ which has been off the road since 1970
• Understood to be complete

Introduced for the 1939 model year, the Series E derivative of the Morris Eight was notably more refined than earlier incarnations. Although, based around a similar box-section chassis equipped with all-round semi-elliptic leaf-sprung suspension, Bishop cam steering and Lockheed hydraulic drum brakes, the newcomer could boast a four-speed manual gearbox for the first time (complete with synchromesh on 2nd, 3rd and 4th). Powered by a revised version of its predecessors' 918cc sidevalve four-cylinder engine featuring a better balanced, webbed crankshaft, new cylinder head and shell main / big-end bearings, the Series E was capable of some 60mph. Readily distinguished by a waterfall grille and headlamps recessed into its front wings, the Morris could be had in saloon (two- / four-door) or tourer guises. However, the latter was dropped when WW2 broke out, whereas the former remained in production until 1948. Superseded by Alec Issigonis' revolutionary Morris Minor, the Eight Series E is nevertheless reputed to have accounted for 67,534 post-WW2 sales.

Chassis number SE/E36635 was manufactured in 1939, being supplied to the United Kingdom, and registered new on the 11^th of July that year. Finished in two-tone paintwork of Maroon and Black, the accompanying interior upholstery is trimmed in Brown leather. Known to have been in the late vendor's ownership by 1966 (from the accompanying log book for journeys) and used for commuting to college, with interesting comments in the notes section such as; “note low mileage for last gallon, suggests someone syphoned it in car park”. The journey log book notes ‘Rebuild Started’ on the 18^th of October 1970, with progress seemingly only getting partially through the stripping down stages.

Subsequently residing in dry storage for the following fifty-three years, the Eight was recently unearthed in ‘barn find’ condition. Found to have had a replacement engine at some stage, the engine fitted has a rare and valuable Alta cylinder head and overhead valve conversion, whose heads produced an increased power output and smoother running. The engine fitted is free, and the original engine block is also accompanying, with the Eight believed to be complete. Offered now following the passing of the vendor, the Morris is offered with an MOT certificate from 1969.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Cheetham
paul.cheetham@handh.co.uk
07538 667452