Morris Major: the Australian Morris of 1958–1964

The Morris Major was a Morris built in Australia, not in Britain. BMC Australia introduced it in March 1958 alongside the Austin Lancer, based on the Wolseley 1500 and Riley One-Point-Five, and made it until 1964 in three series. Up to 98 per cent of its content was Australian.

Morris Major at a glance

History of the Morris Major

The Morris Major and Austin Lancer were introduced in March 1958 as project DO1101, developed from the Wolseley 1500 and Riley One-Point-Five then on sale in Britain. All three, and later the Riley, were built at BMC Australia’s Victoria Park plant at Zetland in Sydney and were unique to Australia, with up to 98 per cent local content. The core design had originally been drawn up at Longbridge as a possible replacement for the Morris Minor; that plan was dropped because of the Minor’s enduring appeal, and a Wolseley version was unveiled in 1957 instead.

DO1101 was a light, close-coupled saloon that took its front torsion bar and rear leaf spring suspension, floor pan and rack and pinion steering from the Morris Minor. All models used the 1489 cc B-Series engine with an MG Magnette type four-speed floor-change gearbox, and big Lockheed drum brakes; electric wipers were part of a 12-volt Lucas system. The Major and Lancer were less sporty than the Wolseley and Riley but shared their level of appointment with contemporary Morris and Austin models, and specially prepared cars were raced into the early 1960s.

Series II, 1959–1962

The Series II, DO1115, arrived in July 1959 with a body nine inches longer, a longer wheelbase, tailfins and new front sheet metal, styling that owed more to American ideas. The suspension was strengthened and the chassis reinforced for Australian conditions, and the interior gained a more supportive bench seat, a cranked gear lever, a dished twin-spoke wheel, a ventilation system and two round instrument clusters in a hooded nacelle. Early Series I rear axles had acquired a reputation for failure, so the axle and differential were modified for the Series II. The motoring press received the car well, praising its detail improvements, handling and price of £997 10s.

Major Elite, 1962–1964

The Morris Major Elite, YDO1, was introduced in March 1962 and replaced the Series II, taking over completely from the Austin Lancer because BMC Australia had reorganised its dealers into single BMC Centres and no longer needed two versions of the same car. The Elite used the enlarged 1622 cc engine with a Zenith VN carburettor, a dry element air filter and a Goss mechanical fuel pump, and added telescopic rear shock absorbers, stronger fine-spline axle shafts, seat belt mounting points and uprated front suspension rubbers. The facelift was done with minimal sheet metal changes: bright window surrounds, a full-width grille resembling that of the Morris Oxford Mk VI and a rocket-shaped colour flash on the tailfins, plus a fresh air heater and demister and duo-tone paint.

Design and features

• Australian-only Morris: built at Zetland, Sydney, and never sold in Britain.
• Minor underpinnings: torsion bar front suspension, rack and pinion steering and the Minor floor pan.
• B-Series power: 1489 cc in the Series I and II, 1622 cc in the Elite.
• Australian conditions: strengthened suspension and chassis from the Series II on.
• Racing potential: prepared Majors were raced into the early 1960s.

Morris Major versions

• Series I (1958–1959): DO1101, central instrument nacelle, 1489 cc engine.
• Series II (1959–1962): DO1115, longer body, tailfins, revised axle and interior.
• Major Elite (1962–1964): YDO1, 1622 cc engine, new grille and tailfin flash.
• Austin Lancer: the same car with Austin badges, built until the Elite replaced it.

The Major grew out of the Morris Minor, whose floor pan and steering it used, and its British cousin was the Morris Oxford. More cars are in the Morris collection.

Sources

• Morris Major, English Wikipedia: series, engineering, Australian production