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Morris 8


Morris 8
Photo Information
Copyright: Renier Figuracion (kiwi_explorer) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 398 W: 18 N: 426] (2659)
Genre: Places
Medium: Black & White
Date Taken: 2008-02-24
Categories: Event
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-02-26 13:11
Viewed: 1857
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I took this photo last Sunday during a classic car exhibition. I am not a car enthusiast so I have very little knowledge on these cars ... I just went to the exhibition to experiment in taking photos on cars. So, I did a little background research on my subject and found out that its history is just as fascinating as the architecture of the car itself. Comparing their original purchase value and what they are worth now ... it is quite a solid investment. Anyway, here is some information about this car model.

Morris Eight was the most successful of all the pre-war Morris cars - and the one which helped to lift Morris Motors Ltd. out of the depression years. By July 1935, only nine months after its introduction (during which period the Road Fund Tax on an 8hp car was reduced by 25 per cent to £6pa) over 50,000 Eights of all body types had been sold. This success continued despite competition from other small car manufacturers, including the Ford 8hp saloon which was reduced at the Ford Motor Show in October 1935 from £110 to £100 with the boast that 'This makes the £100 saloon car produced in Great Britain'. Fords cautiously included the word 'saloon' in this announcement, remembering that a Morris Minor two-seater had been available at that figure during the 1931-33 seasons, and Austin's £100 two-seater, the Austin Seven Opal, was already on the market.

The Morris Eight, as announced in August and introduced at the Motor Show in October 1934, gave the prospective purchaser an option of two open models, a two-seater and a four-seat tourer; and two-door or four-door saloons with a Pytchley sliding-head or fixed-head. A 5cwt van version was available with a light body thanks to the generous use of plymax panels which kept the unladen weight of this small commercial below 12cwt, thus qualifying for the £10 annual Road Fund Tax. Colour choice on the cheaper fixed-head saloons was limited to an all-black or a two-tone red and black body with the usual Morris practice of stove enamelled wheels, wings, and aprons in black. To keep the price to £120 for the two-door, or an additional £10 for the four-door body, the trimming was in a red 'Karhyde' leathercloth, while bumpers and Lucas Trafficators were extra. Slightly up-market, the deluxe sliding-head versions must have been a good buy when for an additional £12 10s one had an Eight complete with front and rear bumpers, trafficators, luggage grid, real leather upholstery, and a choice of three two-tone colour schemes.

Morris Eight. 1935 Series I & Series II Data Sheet
Engine: Type 'UB'. Four-cylinder, side-valve. 918.6cc, 57mm bore x 90mm stroke. Three-bearing crankshaft. Aluminium pistons. 5.8:1 compression ratio. 23.5bhp at peak 3,900rpm. Coil ignition. Cooling system thermo-syphon aided by fan. SU carburettor, 7/8in. diameter. Three-speed gearbox with synchromesh top and third. Clutch, single-plate Borg & Beck 6¼in diameter. Lockheed hydraulic brakes. Rear mounted petrol tank, 5½-gallons. SU electric petrol pump. Spiral-bevel final drive. Bishop-Cam steering. 6-volt electric system, negative earth. Propellor shaft with fabric disc universal joints to chassis 48612, later chassis Hardy-Spicer needle bearings. Armstrong hydraulic shock absorbers. Wheelbase 90in. Track 45in. Wheels, 6-stud. 1935 Series I, Magna wire wheels 2.25in x 17in with 450-17 tyres. Series II, Easiclean spoked disc wheels 2.5in x 17in with 450-17 tyres. Export cars 3in x 16in wheels with 500-16 tyres. 1935 Series I 5cwt vans, wire wheels 2.15in x 18in with 400-18 tyres. Export vans 2.5in x 17in Magna wire wheels with 450-17 tyres.
zhelach, Travelcam, japiey, John_F_Kennedy, vandana2923, Ramdan, azaf1, Refugee has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Renier!
Another beautiful old car! Good compositio, details and lights! Good note!
TFS, Best regards, Zorica

Hi, Renier!

Beautiful and elegant! Good cropping and nice tones.

jazmin

HI Renier

Awesome macro of this awesome car. Truly a classic!

Maybe a touch more contrast would be good in this compo but nonetheless a great posting. Excellent note!

TFS,
Martyn

Hi Renier,

A great tribute to MORRIS :)
Appreciate this heart in you.
The old car was a fantasy in us ...
Thank you.

jp

  • Great 
  • azaf1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 740 W: 61 N: 1255] (6932)
  • [2008-02-27 2:50]

Hi Renier
There are still some of them around and they so tiny. My friend used to have one back in the 60's and it was great fun
TFS
Argiris

Howdy Renier!
Amazing details. Wonderful light, sharp and contrast.
Good capture.
TFS!

  • Great 
  • mbrito Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1626 W: 118 N: 2805] (11304)
  • [2008-02-27 6:14]

Great capture, very elegant composition, excelent b/w work.
My regards, jmb

Great Detail Renier, I thought it was a Bentley at first, I like your Black and White photography, it really brings out the detail

Hello Renier,
Beautiful ornament of the old classic car.
You got that nice metal texture in your shot.
Good control over light and contrast. TFS
Vandana
later

Hi Renier,
Elegance... and you did a very nice shot to the ornament. Nice tones, great details and sharpness, mate.
TFS
Ramdan.

Hi, Renier!
Beautiful picture of the designed shapes!
lena

Hello Renier,
Fine details have been captured, and I can actually see this is car of some age!
Dynamic framing and good lines, the B&W vintage car series works well!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • eosnut Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 588 W: 164 N: 1399] (10095)
  • [2008-04-04 1:01]

Hi Renier,
Thanks for posting this stunning image of the old "Morrie Eight". My dad was a mechanic, he fixed our neighbours Morrie, and I learned to drive it, admittedly, in our back yard.
I was eight years old at the time.
Cheers,
Pete.

Hi Renier
very nice particular and black and white
light perfect
ciao
Lucio

Quite a few of these on the streets when I was growing up Renier. Your PP work has worked well considering the amount of shine on the vehicle. A good tight crop and some lovely grain in the finished result. Well done,
David

Many thanks for your comment on ‘Windeward and MiliMili I’

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