Classic British Cars - Morris Oxford and Wolseley Fifteen

[@68Bards]

John Peel - perfect for voicing this sort of footage.

[@nigelmattravers5913]

The commentary by the late great John Peel is worth the video alone!

[@jackjacko8706]

My father had this model and the previous one , early fifties in Australia. Very tough car, considering that roads were unsealed then. We traveled over 500 miles on holidays each year to visit relatives . A two day trip. But an adventure. Now I realise that the car then was part of the family.

[@sturdle]

it is very touching.... thanks for this.....passed on to a lot of my old pals of that era.....

[@regsparkes6507]

Oh , how I miss these fine cars. I still remember the BMC cars that went through our family. What wonderful and 'friendly' car's they were too.

[@yumeneko63]

It is so lovely to realize that English people have such personal attachment and sentimental values to their automobiles. I used to think that only the Japanese people would attach themselves emotionally to their automobiles. I like old English cars amongst all other European cars, aside Japanese cars. My favorite car is Honda S2000. I have owned two MGBs, a series lll Austin Mini Cooper S, a MG Midget 1500, Sunbeam Rapier Series V, and Triumph TR8.

[@johnnylutrell7189]

Acuridge 38 9b9

[@MrDaiseymay]

I have been driving for 60 years, and owned only five cars, my current one, for 20 years. I shan't part with it, only 58 thou on the clock.

[@brendanhurley8780]

This is lovely video.

[@clivewebb2361]

Very well-judged driving at 5:32...that Austin Cambridge nearly crashes into the gatepost! My first car in 1981 was a Wolseley 1500 - all my friends had Datsuns and Fiats. 37 years later I've graduated to a 1958 MG Magnette! These 'heaps' are gorgeous, lovable old cars.

[@mrbigarms]

Charming, a pity it cut off before the end, I would have liked to see more of that lovely little Wolseley 1500!

[@promerops]

In this video we are shown and told about people touring long distances in their British cars. It rather puts the lie to the tripe many talk about the unreliability of British cars and, particularly, their electrics. It bears out my own experience, including some 20 000 miles in four months, touring the UK and Western Europe in a 1962 Minor.

[@DanafoxyVixen]

I used to own a '79 Morris Marina (one of the so called worst British cars ever) , got it in 1999 and had it for 6 years, putting some 80,000 miles on it in that time. darn thing was very reliable while I owned it and the only issue I had was a sticking starter and was easily fixed in 15mins..

[@archygrey9093]

British cars got the reputation for being unreliable and badly built much later in the 70s and 80s for good reason, these 50s cars however were quite reliable.

[@bohemian46]

I owned a '53 Oxford. Bought in Pacific Grove, Calif in 1964 for $50. I miss it. I replaced it with a '56 Oxford. Excellent but prefer the earlier one. Brits and British cars have character.

[@46danz]

The Wolsley is a lovely car,

[@albertfbowden9380]

A great vehicle. I had a 1958 Morris Oxford Traveler in the early sixties. We used it a lot for Camping with our small family. The roof was sturdy, proof in that I built a double bed up there, that converted to a 2 person tent. A ladder was mounted on the back. I still have some photos of this.

[@MrBongoagogo]

Albert F Bowden hello Albert my brother had a 1958 Morris Oxford station wagon getting rare.with the 1500 in it mate.

[@1968davidcassin]

love this

[@davidsmith2356]

My Father had a Morris Oxford a later model than that shown. I used to love washing and polishing it.

[@MrDaiseymay]

How so VERY British. When foreign visitors or immigrants ask ,what is Britishness, it's hard to put into words, we need examples ,this is one.

[@Seminal_Ideas]

Well said that man.

[@russellwade7810]

My dad had a Morris Oxford car back in the seventies how strange is that 50 years on i now live in Oxfordshire

[@graemedurie9094]

The Wolseley 1500 started out as an update for the Morris Minor. It's the same basic body, just slightly larger, still very much a small car though. The engine's larger of course (could not have been much smaller) as is the boot. Here in OZ, the Riley was never sold, but there were Austin and Morris versions, same mechanically but less well trimmed. To make the origin very clear, the Morris version was called the Major. Then after a year or so, the Wolseley and Austin were dropped to be replaced by a Morris Elite, with a slightly larger engine in a squared-up body. This became quite a popular second car, good to take shopping with easy-to-park dimensions but still big enough for a week's groceries.

[@MrBongoagogo]

Graeme Durie my brother had a 1958 Morris Cowley station wagon in nz great looking and soild

[@graemedurie9094]

I don't remember that on the market here, nor the sedan either. There were the MO Oxfords, looking like a slightly inflated Minor, with the side valve engine and absolutely zero performance. Then came the squared up body for the Oxford and if I recall correctly the Cowley was a less elaborately trimmed version of that with a smaller engine. At least by this stage, these were the ohv B series. While I do remember the Oxford sedans, not so station wagons. Perhaps the Cowley was reserved for the home market, NZ and some others. Neither the sedan or station wagon would have been competitive against Holdens and Zephyrs.

[@MrBongoagogo]

yes your right mate it was a 1958 Morris Oxford great looking old station wagon with the 1500 motor.

[@graemedurie9094]

Yes, but no memory of a station wagon version here.

[@neville132bbk]

My first car, in 1975, was a W 1500.... once it had been made able to pass its Warrant of Fitness it was a great weee thing... single carb where the Riley had a twin. Quite well powered i thought for the size and weight. We got rid of it 2 years later and bought a 1963 Wolseley 16/60 ( my parents had had 2 in Dunedin )...should have kept both and spent the $$ on them to keep them pristine,,, but as a struggling teacher....

[@ugojoke6747]

I learned to drive in a Wolseley 1500 back in the 1960s It seemed very old fashioned by then.

[@Phiyedough]

The title is a bit misleading and I was not expecting it to be the BMC 1500cc car but some big exotic pre-war 15 horsepower motor. Nevertheless it brought back happy memories of my own very similar Riley 1.5. These cars were designed as the replacement for the Minor but I think they realised that the Moggie had already acquired cult status and was not ready to be scrapped from the range.

[@SteveHall1962]

Captivating video, but sad how much he misses his dear wife Maisie.

[@dutchvanhelsing6671]

Blees Him. May he live for ever.

[@jaygriffiths6793]

You find this rather touching and I find that rather charming.

[@MegAndJas]

20 years on and I note that the Wolseley 1500 at the end of this film, reg 1516 FD appears to be no longer on the road, or at least the reg number is on another vehicle, a Mercedes 280 current MOT until September 2019!

[@jaswmclark]

My father had one of each, at different times. Not the best vehicles for long trips in Canadian winters but they did get you there.

[@debeeriz]

l had 2 oxfords, very reliable, rust was the biggest problem, and they overheated on long hills in the hot summers

[@blxtothis]

This was an old documentary from the mainstream media, narrated by the very famous and popular (in the UK) DJ John Peel (Stage name, his real surname was Ravenscrot)

[@DanafoxyVixen]

"This was an old documentary from the mainstream media" Cant we just say it was off a TV show anymore? also, if it wasn't mainstream, then no one would get to see it, making the whole thing pointless

[@richardsatchwell9127]

When I worked at enterprise garage,Bridgnorth......VW 666 was the number plate on our breakdown truck

[@johnknipe5673]

In the late sixties I had 6699 VW on a green Ford Zephyr auto.

[@04jhowarth]

Would love to know what piece he was playing.

[@ianbuchan1793]

What else did your Chair Master used to do on your trips to the country ? Im serious here ok

[@pandg48]

Am I right the number plate GJG655 says this was registered in Gujrat India!!

[@nosnibor800]

My father had one: 1500cc side valve. Leather bench seats. Comfortable.

[@brucegporter1088]

My first car was a 1953 Morris Oxford which I bought in Christchurch New Zealand in 1972 for $200 she was gunmetal grey in excellent condition They were popular down here as taxis too, reliable and easy to maintain. The only issue was the rear frost plug on the engine..if it required replacing then the motor had to be removed but, someone came up with a solution..cut an access hole in the firewall to get at the plug then screw a cover over the hole.

[@nosnibor800]

@@brucegporter1088 Interesting. They were exported all over the world it seems. After WW2 most cars were all getting over head valve engines, so the side valve was retrospect to pre-war. However, side valve engines were very quiet compared to the new OHV engines, but not as economical. Ours used to do 25mpg.

[@brucegporter1088]

@@nosnibor800 I saw a 1953 Morris Oxford for sale in the UK by a dealer recently. One family owner 80,000 miles For £18,995 😱 I should have kept mine for 40yrs then exported it back to the UK..!

[@pw191164]

It was all going well till he mentioned Maisy's pee pot, rather to descriptive I feel, kettle was a good idea though, typically English.

[@edwardcharles9764]

paul karibu no worse than the she wee today!

[@gilbertoviolato4174]

meu pai teve um morris ten era muito bonito

[@RoSouza]

+Gilberto Violato - Meu pai tbm teve um Morris, e foi muito marcante em minha infância. rsrs

[@Seminal_Ideas]

The very epitome of Britishness. THESE, are our people. Refined restrained and resolute. The cars reflect that small "c" conservative stoicism. An age gone by unfortunately.

[@cstoreyqc]

Unfortunately the commentary is slightly overdone and has some exaggerations in it . There certainly were not 5 year waiting lists for any cars, let alone side valve Morris Oxfords, in 1953, at which stage the car was about to be replaced by the more bulbous 1489cc B series engined car which would carry on being made in India until about 2010 . This had the same engine as was featured in the Wolseley 1500 which occupies the second half of the film

[@richardobrien3054]

Certainly when they introduced these post war models (1948) you'd struggle to get one in Britain. 90% of '49 Minors (lowlights) went abroad. The Oxford in this film is later, 1953? Morris were keeping up far better with orders by then. I know what you mean 5 years is a bit out...

[@kingofdubb2133]

It was made in India as the Hindustan Ambassador up until 2014

[@eduardobarboza479]

Me gusta estos coches pero encuentro poca información de ellos

[@catfirst2593]

What this supposed to be...parts of a half of some sort of documentary?

[@dufus7396]

Boot struts never been regassed ever..

[@frederickbowdler1509]

We had a morris hybrids in 1948 the stereo was a bit mono and the crossplies were radial we eventually took out the engine and put the cart 🐴 on the front carrots were on ration but we managed and the cbe we got cheered us all up. except i returned mine to the Palace as i dont like honours and of course did not like the stupid empire. I particularly like the upholstery in these old motors proper steel sprung and coir luvly!

[@bigboy9693]

These cars don't have a speedo, they have a calendar .

[@brigidpark276]

I am Queen of cars

[@robinwilliams3844]

QUEEN OF TARTS

[@ranamitra9261]

Probably these cars were known to be as Hindustan 14 in India.

[@2ndbaritone]

3'26 looks like Grindelwald

[@joshoregon7558]

Hi pals

[@joshoregon7558]

The UK government has signed the auctioning of seized cars at 70% off the market price.. Mr Moore( [e-mail]) works with the government , he helps with the paperwork . hurry guys !! you could get a Ferrari for 50,000bp

[@anthonycouldlewissimmons]

my dad had mrri

[@flemmingranch8777]

Herlige gamle biler med stil og flotte former. Smukt.......

[@crobulari2328]

Morris Oxford. A friends father had one with a flat head side valve engine in it. What a gutless swine it was. Slowed right down on small hills, Awful. Then he got a Mk 1 Ford consul. What a difference, the Ford went lovely up hill and with good acceleration something that the Oxford never had.

[@4205lr]

0 to 50 in 30 seconds. I had one in 1961. Nice car but sluggish.

[@rayrobt]

But did the Ford have only THREE forward gears compared with the Morris which had FOUR forward gears ?

[@DanafoxyVixen]

If only he had the brains to get the OHV based oxford. even back then anyone with a brain knew sidevalves (from any maker) were slow

[@frederickbowdler1509]

John peel makes( crap) British engineering sound good not fooling me!!! We could make warship guns like gold but the proletariat had crappy morrises

[@dutchvanhelsing6671]

The little where that was made is around the corner for me..still an ugly car though...maybe because my Uncle committed suicide i an Austin van