ATTRACTIVE NEW CAR

Southland Times, Issue 23782, 1 April 1939, Page 19

ATTRACTIVE NEW CAR

1939 MORRIS EIGHT Designed on attractive lines, easy to handle and comfortable to ride in, the 1939 Morris 8 marks a definite advance in the production of light cars. One of the new models was on display in the garage of Watts, and Grieve, Ltd., yesterday and the first impression that one gained was that it was altogether more foomy than the former series. The two-door saloon, the model seen yesterdav, has a single wide door at each side and, as the front seats are hinged to fold forward as well as being adjustable, access to both front and rear seats is really easy. The new Morris 8 embodies the same characteristics of design which made the previous model so popular in its class, but it shows far-reaching improvements in many respects, both in the mechanical features of the chassis and the general lay-out of the body. Apart from the striking frontal appearance, given by the well-rounded radiator grille and the bold wings merging with it and with the bonnet sides, with the headlamps let into the wings, the car also looks well when seen from the side or the back. Because of the width of the body running boards are not necessary, and access to front or rear seats is free. The windscreen wiper is located on the engine side of the dash. The facia board is a single moulding of plastic material and carries speedometer, oilpressure gauge and electric petrol gauge, the dials of which at night have translucent indirect illumination. Built on steel frames, the front seats have a floating spring foundation for the upholstery and are mounted on flush type runners which give a considerable range of adjustments. Ample leg room is provided for the rear passengers, and the rear seat gives generous accommodation for two big adults, as the width afforded at elbow height is as much as 47in.

Luggage accommodation is particularly good for a car of this class, for an integral locker is formed in the rear panel with a large hinged lid, which is raised upwards and held securely by a stay. The spare wheel is housed in the locker in a vertical position close to the squab of the rear seat, but even so the storage space for luggage is nearly 5g cubic feet when the lid is closed. Care has been taken to make the luggage compartment watertight. Room for parcels and other small objects is provided by a tray extending the full width of the scuttle beneath the facia board. Considerable care has been taken to prevent noise, draughts and ingress of water, the scuttle being constructed so as to isolate the body from heat and fumes. Scientific use has been made of sound-deadening material. The roof guttering is carried right down in front of the door opening, so as to discharge rain water well below the floor and to prevent drippings falling on the passengers while entering or leaving the car in wet weather. The doors are fitted with rubber draught-sealing strips and the flush-fitting roofs of the sliding head saloons have concealed drainage ducts which discharge below the car.

A side-valve engine, powerful for its size, is built as a unit with a fourspeed synchro-mesh gear-box and is mounted in a chassis of orthodox, but advanced, design. The wheelbase is 7ft sin and the track 3ft B,’in at the front and 3ft lOifin at the rear. Actually the former chassis was lin longer in wheelbase and only l|ia narrower in track at the rear, but it is difficult to believe this when one examines or sits in the new model.