CLASSIC, VINTAGE AND VETERAN MOTORING FOR 77 YEARS
No. 383 August/September 2023
New Zealand’s Foremost Historical Motoring Magazine $8.95
THE LUCK OF THE IRISH ON THE ROAD IN WAIKATO AND THE WAITAKI
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MARKETPLACE
VEHICLES FOR SALE AND WANTED
GORGEOUS
1936 SERIES 1 MORRIS EIGHT SPORTS
YAMAHA 1968 DT1
DRIVING OUR HISTORY
HIN BE
D THE WHE EL
DROP DEAD GORGEOUS!
Terry and Barbara Richards’ 1936 Series I Morris Eight Sports
Words and Photos by Greg Price. Restoration photos by Terry Richards
If you’ve never been lucky enough to have owned a Morris 8 Sports, or at the very least been up close and personal to one of these little gems, then you simply haven’t lived!
Well, that’s what I think anyway, and hopefully, after reading this, you’ll be scouring the internet for one to have for your very own! Okay, so I’m a wee bit prejudiced in that my second car ever was a Morris 8, (albeit a two door sedan) but that simply was a stepping stone to subsequently owning three Morris 8 Sports in the 1960s and early 1970s, so you can imagine how keen I was to get behind the wheel of Terry and Barbara’s beautifully restored 1936 Series 1 Morris 8 Sports, and to re-enjoy all the nostalgia that comes with the experience. I’m sure that was what Terry was thinking back in 2018, when he was suffering withdrawal symptoms, having owned a Morris 8 Series 1 van as his first car, and then some three other Morris 8s, so he’d been asking around about Morris 8s for sale. As luck would have it, another well-known classic car owner and restorer here in Christchurch, one Russell Woods no less, had this one for sale, albeit as a project. But it did come with four brand new 5.25 x 16 cross ply tyres! Before we delve into the story of this delightful little 87-year-old classic, which looks even better now than the day it rolled off the assembly line at Morris Motors in the United Kingdom, let’s take a minute to check out the history of this marque.
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MORRIS PROVENANCE According to internet sources, The Morris Eight is a small family car that was produced by Morris Motors from 1935 to 1948. It was inspired by the sales popularity of the Ford Model Y, the styling of which the Eight closely followed. The success of the car enabled Morris to regain its position as Britain’s largest motor manufacturer. The car was powered by a Morris UB series 918 cc four-cylinder side-valve engine with three-bearing crankshaft and single SU carburettor with maximum power of 23.5 bhp (17.5 kW). The gearbox was a three-speed unit with synchromesh on the top two speeds and Lockheed hydraulic brakes were fitted. Coil ignition was used in a Lucas electrical system powered by a 6-volt battery and third brush dynamo. The body, which was either a saloon or open tourer, was mounted on a separate channel section chassis with a 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 m) wheelbase. The tourer could reach 58 mph and return 45 miles per imperial gallon. The saloons were a little slower. The chrome-plated radiator shell and honeycomb grille were dummies disguising the real one hidden behind. In September 1934 a bare chassis was offered for £95. For buyers of complete cars prices ranged from £118 for the basic two-seater to £142 for the four door saloon with
“sunshine” roof and leather seats. Bumpers and trafficators were £2 10 shillings extra. Compared with the similarly priced, but much lighter and longer established Austin 7, the 1934/35 Morris Eight was well equipped. The driver was provided with a full set of instruments including a speedometer with a built in odometer, oil pressure and fuel level gauges and an ammeter. The more modern design of the Morris was reflected in the superior performance of its hydraulically operated 8-inch drum brakes. The Morris also scored over its Ford rival by incorporating an electric windscreen wiper rather than the more old-fashioned vacuum powered equivalent, while its relatively wide 45 inch track aided directional stability on corners. The Series I designation was used from June 1935 in line with other Morris models. Cars made before this are known as pre-series although the official Morris Motors designation was by the model year (35) even though they were introduced in October 1934. Of the 164,102 cars produced approximately 24,000 were tourers. Back in the 1960s, many a young lad lusted after a vehicle of one kind or another, and some of those from the ‘less well to do’ families, had to make do with mainly Austin 7s, Morris 8s or Ford 8s or 10s, primarily because of not just their availability, but
their low cost of purchase, with prices averaging around £25. In those days, none of my Morris 8s ever cost more than £60, and post 1967, $150. Another influence, especially in my case were the old Air Ace Picture Library comics which often showed the likes of Battler Briton et al hooning around the wartime air bases in a Morris 8 Sports, and always with the top down, with scarf flying backwards in the wind. Which was not in fact correct, as anyone with a convertible will appreciate, that when driving at speed with the top down, the wind comes at you from the back, so the scarf would generally be blowing forwards obscuring your view, and flapping in your face! But, who cares about a bit of editorial license in comics, right?
HISTORY OF THIS CAR Despite being 87 years old, the farthest back Terry has been able to trace the history was to around 30 years ago – thanks to another mate having previous knowledge of this particular car. At that stage it was painted black and belonged to another chap who added a 12 foot aerial and some rear wheel spats, along with some red pin striping! The most recent registration was likely to
Beaded Wheels 11
A WOMAN’S LEGACY Words Simon Williams, photos John McDonald
If Evelyn Graham knew that a story about her and her car was appearing in Beaded Wheels in 2023, she would be amazed and probably bewildered, as to why. It is fair to say that she would have no idea about the legacy she has left.
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Evelyn … liked a “spot” in the evening, usually two, “A bird can’t fly on one wing.” Evelyn was brought up in Christchurch where her father, who owned a bike shop, refused to let her go to high school in those far off days of WWI. This was in spite of her passing her proficiency exams, and the headmaster of Sydenham School begging for Evelyn to be allowed to go. But as she grew up this rejection never ate away at her and life moved on. Evelyn had her own opinions, she mixed well with others, she was honest, upright, was independent, liked a “spot” in the evening, usually two, “A bird can’t fly on one wing.” Evelyn Graham, generally known as “Ev”, became the wool and haberdashery buyer for the DIC department store. Cars must have been close to her heart, with her brother Len working at Tench Brothers, the Singer agents. She would have sought his advice when she decided to buy a car in 1935. The latest nine horsepower car, known as the IS9, was chosen from the more than 20 models in the company’s range. Like all Singer 9s, the car had the famous overhead camshaft 972 cc engine. It had a four speed constant, or perm mesh, gear box, and free wheel. For an extra £10 an owner could order “Fluidrive”. The IS9’s unique independent front suspension was offered on certain models for about two years, before being dropped, probably because of cost. Like so many other makes, Singers were coach built, with a timber frame, under steel and aluminium bodywork. The 38 year old Evelyn wasn’t to buy her car in Christchurch. She and her mother were planning a trip to Britain, which is where she would take delivery of her new car. They left for Australia on the Union Line ship Monowai, before they headed to England, arriving at Southampton on 29 May. On 13 June 1935 the Singer agents in London told Evelyn that they had arranged a visit to the Singer works in Birmingham to see cars being built. They were able to see, as Evelyn said, “from the wood turning shop, to the finished car. The engines themselves are the only things made in the Coventry works, before being taken to Birmingham”. The new car in sparkling black and cream, was picked up at the works on Tuesday 2 July 1935 and cost one hundred eighty six pounds 10 shillings, with registration (£4/2s/9d), number plates (8s/6d), British driving licence (5s), and insurance for a year (£12/2s/6d). A grand total of £203/8s/9d. Evelyn was issued with an English AA badge in chromed metal, to be mounted on the car. To keep these costs real, in 1935 a terrace house could be bought for less than £400, and the average salary was around £165. The Singer company’s delivery note assures the new owner that the car had bumpers front and rear, leather upholstery, and “chemically treated woodwork and strengthened bodywork.”
The two adventurous women headed off for three months of travel, according to the family, “from Lands End to John O’Groats.” This was not only a very different land from New Zealand, but a Britain we’d hardly recognise today. King George the Fifth’s Silver Jubilee had just been celebrated, Stanley Baldwin was Prime Minister, fashion was influenced by the new talkie movies with elegant bias cut gowns for the stars. It was the era of swing jazz, and big bands, while on the Clyde the Queen Mary had been launched. Imperial Airways was flying to the Empire and the Hawker Hurricane made its first flight. Evelyn would have noted that the 30 mph speed limit had just been introduced in towns, and the driving test became compulsory. Malcolm Campbell created a new land speed record of just over 300 mph, but car ownership was not yet normal, although there were nearly 2.5 million motor vehicles of all types on the roads, compared with 39 million today. There were no motorways, but some dual carriageways were being built. Generally though, roads were slow, often deserted, mainly narrow and winding, keeping top speeds to around 30 – 40 mph. The Singer was very suited to the country lanes, the villages, and the countryside. It is assumed that Evelyn would have visited her business contacts during their journeying, but we do know that they went to Gretna Green in Scotland. What a pity that we don’t have trip photos or diaries. At the end of the trip in September, the Singer was loaded on to the ship Akaroa bound for Lyttelton. On its arrival, Tench Brothers checked it over. Evelyn paid duty, sales tax, insurance
Beaded Wheels 27
IRISHMAN
It was a another large entry of 196 vehicles that took to the hills around Fairlie for this year’s Kings Birthday event. As one of this year’s joint organisers, John McDonald still managed to record these images for Beaded Wheels. Phillip Boult’s Studebaker heads the Sunday morning section.
Reg Horner entered a 1930 Marmon Special.
Water splash, Bernie Horn, Austin 12/4.
All smiles from Craig Blackwell and crew (Graham Paige).
1928 Reo Wolverine (Mike Crehan) approaching Fairlie.
Rudimentary seating but beats walking.
Sights and smells from the dickey seat of Jason Burke’s Model A coupe.
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Daffodil Rally for Cancer t way homewards. Weary
SUNDAY 20 AUGUST 2023
FAR NORTH NORTHLAND
Join Us for the day
WARKWORTH/WELLSFORD NORTH SHORE WAITEMATA EASTERN BAY OF BAY OF PLENTY WAIKATO PLENTY GISBORNE SOUTH WAIKATO ROTORUA TAUPO KING COUNTRY AUCKLAND
All drivers and any vehicle welcome
TARANAKI WANGANUI MANAWATU
It’s the Vintage Car Club’s National Day and throughout New Zealand, hundreds of vehicles will be on the road or on display to raise money for your local Cancer Society. To find out more about your local Daffodil Rally for Cancer, and the details of the local coordinator, please visit...
www.vcc.org.nz
CENTRAL OTAGO
CENTRAL HAWKE’S BAY
HOROWHENUA NELSON
WAIRARAPA WELLINGTON
MARLBOROUGH WEST COAST
CANTERBURY
NORTH OTAGO
HAWKE’S BAY
BANKS PENINSULA
ASHBURTON WAIMATE
SOUTH CANTERBURY
OTAGO
GORE SOUTHLAND SOUTH OTAGO
We invite everyone to join this event – no club membership needed.