Final Up to date on July 18, 2019
Petrol head Jim Hiscock is celebrating an enormous birthday in his family this 12 months. “Morris” his magnificent Morris Six MS reaches the ripe previous age of 70.
The retired London Hearth Brigade officer has all the time had a delicate spot for highly effective automobiles – he owned a Corvette when he was simply 20 – however proper now he loves none greater than Morris.
The Six MS was Morris’s first publish warfare six-cylinder automotive manufactured from 1948 to 1953. It value simply £607 together with tax.
It was love at first sight
Jim needed to shell out significantly extra for his Morris Six when he fell in love with it at Brightwells basic automotive public sale on March four, 2015. Actually, he paid round 20 occasions greater than the unique value value.
He defined: “I all the time personal a number of automobiles and I alter them recurrently. I get a little bit of a buzz from going to basic automotive auctions and I attend them recurrently.
“It was love at first sight after I noticed Morris. Once we began her up within the public sale corridor, properly that was that. The bottom shook and he or she set off the alarms on all the opposite automobiles.”
The chap who constructed and modified Morris was a really expert engineer who sadly died quickly after completion of his undertaking. Jim purchased the completed automotive from the deceased’s property.
It had been rebuilt from the bottom up. The all-steel physique hasn’t modified however the one different unique mechanical elements are the windscreen wipers and dashboard gauges.
On first look the large alloys make an impression however the actual oomph is hidden below the bonnet the place lurks a 7.75 litre constructed Ford large block V8 with fabricated headers. It's paired with a C6 Ford Three-speed automated gearbox operated by a basic Hurst quick-shift.
Morris Six mods generate ‘monumental efficiency’
The mixture gives monumental efficiency and a superb V8 rumble from the dual exit exhausts.
Issue within the double pumper Demon carb and we're speaking an absolute shed-load of energy.
In its 12 months of manufacture the Morris Six did Zero-60mph in a shade below 23 seconds. Jim reckons you would shave the 20 seconds off that now.
The entrance suspension is Jaguar XJS whereas on the rear a narrowed Ford Mustang axle transmits the ability to the street. Uprated springs and Spax fuel shocks guarantee dealing with is as much as scratch whereas enormous vented brake discs and excessive efficiency callipers carry it safely to relaxation.
Monster alloy wheels and tyres, 10in rear and 8in entrance, present the grip to match the go.
The inside has been trimmed in tan leather-based whereas new carpets, headlining and a picket sports activities steering wheel have additionally been fitted.
You’ll hit ‘extremely unlawful speeds with misleading ease’
On the time of buy the Brightwell gross sales notes suggested: “A radio, USB port and cellphone charger have been put in and the automotive comes with a detachable satnav with a big digital speedo show as the unique gauge is to not be relied upon and the automotive can get to extremely unlawful speeds with misleading ease.”
Placing that superior energy to greatest have an effect on, Morris has run a number of occasions on the now defunct Wings and Wheels air and motor present, and at Brooklands, The Shere Hill Climb in Surrey and Kop Hill Climb at Princes Risborough.
Jim, from Ashtead, Surrey, stated: “Once I purchased Morris she was the completed article. The engineer who owned her had completed a powerful rebuild job.
“Amazingly he managed to maintain every little thing inside the unique bodywork with no nasty prolonged or flared wheel arches.
“The one vital modification I've added is the louvres within the bonnet. These had been hand fabricated by ‘Metallic Micky’ most likely the one craftsman within the nation who might do that.
“They're totally useful letting the large quantity of warmth generated by the engine escape from the engine bay.”
Jim has been round automobiles most of his life however he doesn’t do any critical work on Morris. As a substitute he will get specialists in who “know what they’re doing”.
He does get his palms soiled nonetheless and is pleased doing the routine upkeep and he fitted a steering wheel knob purchased at an auto jumble. Apparently it’s “very helpful when steering with one hand and altering gears on a hill climb”.
“On one event an aged couple regarded inside Morris at a present. They noticed the steering knob on the wheel and stated ‘ooooh a disabled particular person drives it’, which raised fairly a smile amongst Jim and his associates.”
So what's Morris prefer to drive? “The journey and efficiency is, let's consider, participating!
“The large energy requires a lot respect and restraint on the roads. And within the moist it’s no enjoyable in any respect.
“It has a guide XJ6 steering rack so parking is fascinating however on the transfer it’s high-quality.”
Jim does round 1,000 miles a 12 months: “The longest journey I’ve ever completed in her was selecting her up from Leominster in Herefordshire.
“I chuckle about it now but it surely was a bit daft to leap into her having by no means pushed the automotive earlier than and set off on a 200+ mile journey house.
“I stuffed her up, checked the oil and water and set off discovering out how every little thing labored on my means.
“Because it bought darkish I even requested the fellows in a Transit who had been in a queue with me on the M4 if the again lights had been working. Anyway we bought house OK with no nasty moments.”
Jaws drop when the mighty Morris Six fires up
He added: “Most individuals love her and her floor shaking tunes. At a look she appears to be like like a 70 12 months previous basic however automotive individuals quickly see the large alloys, twin exit exhausts, bonnet louvres and oh sure, when she fires up their jaws drop.
“Aside from automobiles I really like my canines (his Airedale Terriers), gardening, strolling, DIY, boats, antiques, my spouse and my household” however, he assures, not essentially in that order.
Jim stated: “Most individuals love Morris like I do. My household tolerate my ardour for automobiles however I’m positive they assume I’m bonkers.”
He’s not trying to promote Morris however he can “all the time be tempted by the suitable value, however solely to get one thing higher”. If he had been to promote now he reckons she would fetch round £20,000.
What would he substitute her with? “I’ve owed so many automobiles through the years that it’s tough to say. I’ve had a Corvette, Daimler Jag, Escort Mexico, all kinds, and many American automobiles too. They're all price a fortune now, so I’m not too positive what I'd substitute Morris with.
“I’d fairly prefer to go the the States and choose up a Professional Road automotive, but it surely must be one thing that basically caught my eye.”
And the very best factor about driving Morris? “Onerous to say as a result of I really like every little thing about her. I’ve all the time most popular the go to the present. The bells and stripes don’t hassle me, it’s how a lot energy they've below the bonnet. The Morris Six is a wolf in sheep’s clothes.”
Jim has the Morris Six lined with the Adrian Flux basic automotive insurance coverage crew. He says his totally complete cowl, with restricted mileage and no claims bonus reductions, prices round £200 a 12 months.
He charges the service too and explains: “The underwriter took the difficulty to name me to find out about my driving historical past, to search out out what automobiles I had pushed prior to now, to ensure I might deal with one thing as highly effective as Morris.
“They realise that somebody who owns a automotive like this isn’t going to thrash it within the morning rush hour or do heavy mileage. They will storage it, take care of it, hold it working properly.”
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