Performance And Comfort Packed Into New Morris

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 65, 16 March 1949, Page 5

Performance And Comfort Packed Into New Morris

With sleek, comfortable lines and dazzling reports as to performance, the two new Morris “Minor” and “Oxford,” cars shown by C.L.C. are also revolutionary departures from tradition in some ways, notably front-wheel suspension; Amazingly improved stability and steering accuracy have been achieved with independent toi’sion bar suspension, and the hypoid rear axle gives remarkably sweet transmission.

“Tbe new Morris Minor is quite one off the outstanding exhibits of the whole show,” says the English “Motor” magazine in a summary of the Earl’s Court Motor Exhibition in London last year. The Minor, an eight horse-power model, is fitted with the well tried, four-cylinder side-valve motor but is in all other respects an entirely new design, while the Oxford, a 13.4 horse-power car, also is fitted with a side-valve motor.

“Motor” gives performance figures that certainly indicate that these new cars have mpch more to commend them than their invitingly comfortable and finely-styled appearance. In the “Motor” road test, the Oxford gave 30 m.p.g. at a constant 50 m.p.h., 33.5 at a constant 40 m.p.h., and 35.5 at a constant 30 m.p.h. Her recommended cruising speed is a shade better than 50 m.p.h., and she has flashing performance under traffic conditions. Under a similar test, the Minor ; gave 47 m.p.g. at between 30 and j 40 m.p.h., and its cruising speed is [ close to 50 under ordinary road con- ; ditions.

Other new models being brought out by Morris include the Morris

six and a five-ton diesel truck. There are at present a number in New Zealand. Tests in England have proved them to be extremely economical averaging about 20 miles per gallon of dieseline. Following a road test covering 180,000 miles, one of the prototype diesel trucks was stripped but no sign of wear was evident in any part. The 28.8 horse-power engine Develops a maximum of 75 brake horse-power at 2,400 R.P.M.