Lot Ended
Description
From a carefully curated private collection; pleasingly correct and
original; runs very sweetly; few owners, the previous for 40 years; just how we
like them!
Bicycle
manufacturer William Morris introduced his first car, the immortal Oxford
'Bullnose’, in 1913, starting a tradition of Morris Oxfords that was to continue
right up until 1971. A cheaper Cowley version was made available in 1915 and the
robust Bullnose quickly gained such an enviable reputation for reliability that,
by the end of the 1920s, Morris had become Britain's largest car manufacturer,
outselling the might of Ford and holding a 51% share of the
market.
The first Oxford models had 8.9hp White
& Poppe engines, but by 1919 these had been replaced by Coventry-made 11.9hp
Hotchkiss engines which gave easy 50mph performance. Drive was through a
three-speed gearbox with a wet-plate clutch while suspension used semi-elliptic
leaf springs at the front and three-quarter elliptics at the rear.
The distinctive ‘Bullnose’ radiator of the early
cars was replaced by a less attractive ‘flat rad’ in late 1926 by which time the
car had also gained four-wheel brakes. Easy to drive and
maintain, the sturdy and spacious Oxford became Britain’s most popular car until
sales were finally overtaken by the diminutive Austin Seven.
First
registered in Devon in March 1922, this delightful Oxford Bullnose Tourer has
the 11.9hp Hotchkiss engine and four-wheel brakes. Various old logbooks
record four owners between 1957 and 2022 when our vendor acquired the car from a
Mr RW Rabone of Kenilworth who had owned TA 3209 for almost 40 years.
Various old MOTs show that the car has been in
regular use over the past 35 years or more so although there is no real service
history it must have been kept well-maintained.
Our vendor owns a carefully curated collection of highly original
Vintage machines and he has used the car lightly for local runs and VSCC events.
He states that: “The engine is original to the car and runs sweetly. It starts
on the button and drives very well with smooth gears, excellent transmission and
a trouble-free clutch. I had the magneto and strapping overhauled by a Vintage
car specialist in Herefordshire who also checked the car over and declared it to
be a really solid example.”
Well-known to the
Bullnose Morris Club, TA 3209 is also listed in The Bullnose
Morris by Jarman & Barraclough, generally regarded as ‘the Bible’ of
the model. It comes with a set of weather gear (hood and sidescreens) all in
good condition, plus a useful quantity of spares including the original Smiths
five-jet carb (plus two spare ones) which was long since replaced by the SU
sloper carb currently fitted for smoother running and ease of maintenance (see
photos). An original owner's manual and later workshop manual are also present.
The vendor also has a Lucas coil/magneto conversion kit which will be made
available to the winning bidder by separate negotiation if desired.
As you can see in the photos, this Bullnose
Tourer is in fine condition for a 103-year-old with excellent bodywork, lovely
original nickel plated fittings and a nicely mellowed grey leather interior with
room for all the family. The eagle-eyed will note that the brass
advance/retard controls on the steering column are from a slightly later Oxford
and are required to operate the later SU carb - very pretty they look too. It
has been starting easily and running nicely as we have moved it around on
site, zipping around the yard with some gusto, as you can see in the
video.
Retaining its original (transferable)
Devon-issue number plate, all this Bullnose needs now is an enthusiastic new
custodian who can continue to preserve it for future generations to
enjoy.
Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907 – james.dennison@brightwells.com