That Ox on the Morris Badge

By Alan Gulleford

As I understand it, the Morris badge depicts an ox crossing the River Isis in Oxford. The Coat of Arms for the City of Oxford includes this badge at its centre. This gives us a hint about the various names of Morris models such as Cowley, (presumably from Cowley Road in Oxford), Isis from the river, Oxford from the city, but not the Minor or Major. Apparently most heraldic badges use Bulls but Oxford is happy with its ox. There are of course differences between oxen and bulls, where oxen are just a little less complete than bulls. (There’s a hint in there phonetically.) The ox on the Morris badge is not necessarily as happy as it once was though. The badge on Morris cars changed when the Bullnose was replaced by the Flatnose in 1927. On reading Early MG by PL Jennings I came across the following comment; “Like the Morris Garages, the ox on the Morris radiator badge seemed to resent the change in radiator shape. In the Bullnose days it was usually a happy-looking animal, placidly standing with its tail hanging down. When the radiator was changed, the ox became an angry, charging animal, with its tail curved over its back.”

The authors understand that the real reason for the change was that in the mid ‘20s it became common practice for Morris Motors to depict their badges in bold silhouette instead of bright colours or half tone in their advertisements and other material. This resulted in a certain loss of definition and it was no longer clear that it was the tail that was hanging down between the ox’s legs.

So there you have it, PC was alive and well 94 years ago too.

     ½

Subaru FF-1

http://momentcar.com/

1901 120 YEARS AGO VETERAN VEHICLES

The progressive Doctor Volkman of Oxford purchased a car from the Star Cycle Company in Rangiora. After getting driving lessons he assured his patients he would be able to travel at speeds up to 30mph and get to them at lightning speed. The machine, made by the Eadie Manufacturing Company, Redditch, England, was described as based on a Benz pattern and powered by a 2¾hp De Dion engine of the latest, water cooled, type.

1921 100 YEARS AGO VINTAGE VEHICLES

A 288ci (4720cc) 76bhp Hudson car, purchased by the Commonwealth government for the Prince of Wales visit in April 1920, cost over £2,000, was later sold to a private buyer for £2,500. A tidy profit of £500. Lavishly finished with gold mountings, the car was soon sold again, this time for £4,300 – a record for a second-hand car, according to the reporter.

1946 75 YEARS AGO PW VEHICLES

Riley’s elegant and rapid RMB 2½ litre sports saloon was introduced in October 1946 with the 16hp, twin SU, four-cylinder engine which would eventually get enough urge to reach 100mph. Sitting on a new chassis with a 9 ft 11 inch wheelbase, seven inches longer than the RMA 1½ litre, both cars had the torsionic independent front suspension.

1971 50 YEARS AGO P60 VEHICLES

Subaru launched their new Leone with three equipment levels – DL, GL and GSR. With the longitudinally mounted flat four motor sitting above the front wheels conversion to a fourwheel drive was a straightforward matter. The four-wheel drive FF-1 which, in 1972 was offered as a station wagon completely turned the four-wheel drive market on its head. Initially there wasn’t a Hi-Lo option, but it was a great all road vehicle and a genuine mould-breaker.

1991 30 YEARS AGO P80 VEHICLES

Twenty years later, 4WD Subarus were almost dominating the ski-field car parks, performing admirably in the rally circuits and building a competitive image. Christchurch racing driver Trevor Crowe marketed the Crowe Sport 2.2 litre Legacys.

For $42,000 you got a full body kit, leather trimmed sports seats, Momo steering wheel, lower stiffer suspension and a tuned extractor exhaust, all sitting on Michelin 60 tyres.

Graeme Rice’s compilation of developments in the motoring world this month in history.

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