‘Built for comfort, not speed’, is an expression that perfectly sums up the MO’s driving experience. Progress can’t be rushed when behind the wheel. That doesn’t mean to say that it is uncomfortably slow – by the standards of the late 1940s, performance was quite acceptable. Even today, a healthy cruising speed of 55-60mph ensures that the Morris can hold its own on modern roads. It just won’t blow anyone away.

Provided you’re not looking for road-burning performance, the MO should charm and impress. Roadholding is respectable, with independent front suspension and – unusually for its day – rack-and-pinion steering providing stable direction changes. Well-padded bench seats are comfortable, but hardly encourage spirited cornering. Together with a column gearchange, this sets the tone of the driving experience as being a relaxed affair. 

All you have to do is settle back behind the large chrome-spoked steering wheel, and pilot the Oxford, like a motor cruiser meandering along a river. This is what the classic driving experience is all about.

VITAL STATISTICS

Morris Oxford MO (1948-1954)

Engine                                    1476cc/4-cyl/SV

Power (bhp@rpm)                  41bhp@4200rpm

Torque (lb ft@rpm)                 65lb ft@1800rpm

Top speed                                50mph

0-60mph                                  31sec

Consumption                            31mpg 

Gearbox                                    4-spd manual

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

BODYWORK & CHASSIS
 

Start your checks with the sills. The outer sills are bolted on and are non-structural items – if they are corroded, club member John Valentine can provide replacements. The inner sills are a different story. Look out for evidence of poor repair work, or old underseal concealing rot.

Watch out for dropping front doors. This could be down to worn hinges, although the more serious cause is severe rot in the A-posts – if strength is lost here, opening the doors will make the weakened areas worse. Repairs here are complex. 

The chassis legs not only support the weight of the engine and gearbox, but take the load from the front suspension. These box sections can suffer, and need to be in good order. 

Corrosion at the bottom of the doors should be easy to identify, unless if excessive quantities of filler have been used to disguise this – take a close look at the curved contours at the bottom of the panels, looking for unevenness. Replacement panels are extremely scarce secondhand.

If you’re looking at the ultra-rare Traveller derivative, bear in mind that the condition of the wood should be reflected in the asking price. Replacing sections is a huge undertaking.

ENGINE

The sturdy sidevalve engine – shared with the J-type van – is relatively unstressed with its low power output, so should soldier on for many miles if cared for. Ask how regularly it has been serviced. 

RUNNING GEAR

The rear suspension leaf springs are bolted at their front edges to a pair of spring hangers. With their enclosed design encouraging rust, look out for patchwork repairs. The rear chassis box sections are similarly critical to strength.

The torsion bar front suspension uses trunnions and king pins, which wear out if greasing is neglected. Fortunately, total failure of this system is rare. Jack up the front of the car and check for play in the swivel pins. The club plans to have undersized trunnions and matching kingpins remade to deal with this problem.

With a column change controlling the four-speed gearbox, any vagueness in the system can be removed by adjusting the balljoints linkages. A serviced three-synchro unit also rarely gives problems if serviced.

BRAKES

The all-round drum brake system can suffer if the car hasn’t been used for a while, with wheel cylinders prone to sticking. Fortunately, these are shared with the MG TD, so sourcing new items shouldn’t be an issue. The master cylinder is located in the chassis leg beneath the driver’s floor. This makes it easy to neglect, so check the fluid level. Master and wheel cylinders can be re-conditioned if required.

INTERIOR

Damaged or missing brightwork will be difficult to replace, as nothing is currently available new. The same goes for the interior. While smaller items, such as door seals, are remanufactured, instruments and controls will require reconditioning, or tracking down secondhand – not an easy task. 

OUR VERDICT

If your classic car checklist includes usability, solidity, appealing looks and plenty of period charm, then look no further than the MO Oxford. With the uncanny ability to make you feel special whenever you slide across that commodious bench seat, this slice of motoring history is still capable of regular use, over 60 years since it was launched.

The 6/80 & MO Club actively works to keep its members’ cars on the road, supplying spare parts and even having batches of scarce items remanufactured. If you’re searching for an MO, joining the club should be your first step. Of course, the MO four-door saloon was simply one model in the Nuffield range of cars. If you crave more power and greater luxury, the six-cylinder Morris Six and Wolseley 6/80 derivatives can certainly deliver, while the four-cylinder Wolseley 4/50 is a step up from the Oxford. You could even strike lucky and stumble across a super-rare Traveller or commercial variant.

Some classics never get the attention they deserve. Take the Morris Oxford MO as a prime example. When it was launched at the 1948 Earls Court Motor Show, as part of a new wave of post-war cars, the MO epitomised modern family motoring.

Monocoque construction, full-width transatlantic styling, independent front suspension, four-speed gearbox – the Oxford was at the forefront of saloon technology. Only an all-new sidevalve engine was a strangely old-fashioned part of the package. Solid, sturdy and dignified, with accommodation for up to six, the big Morris was the next step up from the smaller Minor, which it was designed alongside.

Now, the MO is largely forgotten within the classic world, so often overlooked in favour of its Minor sibling. While other saloons dominate the limelight, the same cannot be said for the Oxford. This doesn’t make sense, as these cars offer a huge amount of motoring enjoyment for a relatively small outlay. Oozing with ’40s charm, life with an MO is an enjoyable affair – just ask Classic Car Weekly’s very own Nick Larkin, a serial MO owner.