Description

1937 Morris 14/6 Series II

From a deceased estate; five owners, the current for 13 years; last driven 5 years ago; transferable number; exceedingly rare chrome radiator side valve model in need of recommissioning

To the uninitiated this may look like any other old Morris but the more educated among you will already have spotted the chrome radiator cowl which marks it out as something rather special. One of Leonard Lord’s ‘Specialisation-Built’ models, the side valve 14/6 Series II was only in production for 13 months before it was replaced by the overhead valve Series III which, as any fule kno, had a painted radiator cowl. (Not to mention lids on the glove compartments to stop your wine gums flying out, but you already knew that.) This makes it a rare beast indeed and we are told that it is one of perhaps only half-a-dozen that are known to survive.
First registered in Wolverhampton in September 1937, BDA 275 comes with a buff logbook showing that it was in Shrewsbury by 1943 where it had three owners until 1982. The trail then goes cold until our vendor acquired the car in April 2007 to join his collection of vintage machines.
On offer here from a deceased estate, the car presents well although we did note some microblistering to the paintwork on the bonnet and the roof. The blue leather upholstery could well be original and is pleasingly patinated although the stitching on the front passenger seat squab has come adrift in a couple of places. The cloth headlining also appears original and has a bit of mildew here and there but this seems quite dry and brushes off easily. The sliding fabric panel on the roof is slightly damaged on one side and could do with some attention. The steel cover for the rear-mounted spare wheel is present but not currently attached.
Nine old MOTs show that the car covered some 2,700 miles between 1994 and 2012 and it has covered fewer than 100 miles since, the odometer currently showing 78,055 miles. We are told that it was last driven about 5 years ago when the oil was also changed, although it will doubtless benefit from some recommissioning before venturing forth once more.
Other documentation includes two 1936 newspaper ads for the new ‘Specialisation-Built’ range of Morris cars and a copy of an original workshop manual. The icing on the cake is the original BDA 275 number plate which is transferable but you wouldn’t, would you?
For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com