PRAISE FOR NEW MORRIS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29909, 24 August 1962, Page 9

PRAISE FOR NEW MORRIS

THE new Morris 1100 has been hailed by motoring writers in Britain as a major advance in the motor industry, mainly because of its unusual and effective suspension system. The “Financial Times’’ describes the suspension as an important technical breakthrough. However, it says, the public may not be as quick to recognise the merits of the new system as the motoring press has been, as “. . . every important new advance in car design seems to need a gestation period while public scepticism is overcome.” The “Financial Times” suggests the suspension systems could also be applied to larger cars, and says big B.M.C.

models of the future should be as spacious for their size as the little ones.

“The B.M.C. technical formula seems to combine the boldness of Citroen with the simplicity and, it is to be hoped, reliability of the Volkswagen. This promises well for staying power in or out of the Common Market.”

The motoring correspondent of “The Times” says the suspension system has been tested over 500,000 miles and has taken six years to develop.

Testing the car over some of the worst roads and tracks, the correspondent says he found the system provided a remarkably level ride, with complete stability and light steering over rutted and potholed tracks. Cornering almost surpasses the precision of the minis.

The correspondent predicts the Morris will be the car of the year in Britain, and will have a great impact on European markets. The magazine, “The Motor," has devoted an editorial, headlined “The courage to be different,” to the announcement of the Morris. Nine pages are also devoted to a detailed description of the car and its suspension system.