Morris Ten

Morris Ten

Ten 1292cc 6-light 4-door fixed head saloon
first registered March 1933
Overview
Manufacturer Morris
Production 1932–1948
Assembly Cowley, Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Body and chassis
Class Mid-size car
Layout FR layout
Chronology
Successor Morris Oxford MO

The Morris Ten announced 1 September 1932[1] was a medium-sized car introduced for 1933 as the company's offering in the important 10 hp sector of the British market. It continued through a series of variants until October 1948 when along with Morris's Twelve and Fourteen it was replaced by the 13.5 hp Morris Oxford MO.

Morris Ten and Ten Four

Morris Ten
Morris Ten Four

Ten Four 4-door 6-light saloon
Overview
Production 1932–1935
49,238 produced (including Ten Six models)[2]
Body and chassis
Body style 4-door 6-light saloon
4-door tourer
2-door Special fixed head coupé
Open two seater
Powertrain
Engine 1,292 cc (1.3 L) Morris Sidevalve I4
Transmission 4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase 96 in (2,438 mm) [3]
Length 147 in (3,734 mm) [3]

Morris Ten was a new class of car for Morris now equipped with wire wheels and a new type of mud guarding—domed wings with wing side shields—it was powered by a Morris 1292 cc four-cylinder side-valve engine employing a single SU carburettor which produced 24 bhp at 3,200 rpm.[4] The gearbox was a four-speed manual transmission unit, and Lockheed hydraulic brakes were fitted.

The October 1932 Olympia Motor Show introductory prices:[5]

Body styles at launch in August 1932 were restricted to a saloon and two-door coupé, but a four-door tourer joined the range in December, followed in 1934 by a two-seater with dickey seat and a Traveller's Saloon.

Morris Ten 4-door 6-light saloon 1933
Ten badge

Ten Four

Twelve months later, with the introduction of the Ten Six, Four was added to the Ten's name. The chassis was strengthened, engine mountings were revised and synchromesh appeared on the gearbox. Engine output was increased to 27½ bhp by April 1934. Two tone paint schemes were optional from 1935.

Morris Ten Six

Morris Ten Six

Ten Six 4-door six-light saloon 1934
Overview
Production 1934-1935
production – see Ten-Four[2]
Body and chassis
Body style 4-door saloon
5-door Traveller's saloon
Open two-seater
4-door tourer
2-door Special coupé
Special sports
Powertrain
Engine 1,378 cc (1.4 L) Morris Sidevalve I6
Transmission 3-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase 102 in (2,591 mm) [3]

On 28 August 1933 a 12 hp six-cylinder version of the Ten was announced on the longer-wheelbase chassis of the Cowley Four.[6]

Ten Six showing air silencer and fume control
Prices[6]

A sporting version, the Ten-Six Special was also made in small numbers with tuned engine and twin SU carburettors. the standard body was an open four-seater, but some chassis were supplied to coachbuilders.

Cabriolet body by Cunard first registered August 1935

Ten Six Special sports

The Morris Ten Six Special sports displayed at Olympia in October 1933 had a long bonnet with a strap, louvred valances by the frame without running boards, low-sloping or cutaway doors, and a flared back with a low tail. Its chassis was as the Ten Six with twin carburettors, a special radiator with stone-guard, spring steering wheel, special speedometer and revolution indicator, remote gearbox control, two horns, an electric petrol pump and automatic ignition advance.[7]

Morris Ten series II

Morris Ten series II

series II 4-door six-light saloon
Easiclene pressed steel wheels
Overview
Production 1935–1937
59,364 (including Morris Twelve series II) produced[2]
Body and chassis
Body style 4-door saloon
2-door coupé
Powertrain
Engine 1,292 cc (1.3 L)Morris Sidevalve engine I4
Transmission 3-speed manual
4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase 98 in (2,489 mm) [3]

A rationalisation of the Morris range took place in 1935 and the new Ten series II shared its body and chassis with the Morris Twelve series II. A three-speed manual gearbox was fitted at first, but a four-speed reappeared as an option from 1936 and standard from 1937. Steel disc Easiclene wheels replaced the wire ones at the end of 1936. Two tone paintwork is common.

Special coupé series II

Morris Ten series III

Morris Ten series III

Ten series M saloon 1938
Overview
Production 1938
13,719 produced[2]
Body and chassis
Body style 4-door saloon
3-foot coupé
Powertrain
Engine 1,292 cc (1.3 L) Morris overhead valve engine I4
Transmission 4-apeed manual [8]
Dimensions
Wheelbase 98 in (2,489 mm) [3]
Length 160 in (4,064 mm) [8]
Width 61 in (1,549 mm)[8]
Height 64 in (1,626 mm)[8]

For 1938 the engine was updated to overhead valve as fitted to the Wolseley Ten increasing the power output from 27 to 37.5 bhp.[2] The chromium-plated radiator surround was replaced by a painted one, and all paint schemes were single, rather than two-tone.

Morris Ten series M

Morris Ten series M

1940 car in Victoria Australia
Overview
Production 1938–1948
27,020 produced pre war[2]
53,566 produced post war[9]
Assembly United Kingdom
Australia [10]
Body and chassis
Body style 4-door saloon
2-door pick up (wartime only)
Related Wolseley Ten
Powertrain
Engine 1,140 cc (1.1 L) Morris XPAG overhead valve engine I4
Transmission 4-speed manual [8]
Dimensions
Wheelbase 94 in (2,388 mm) [3]
Length 158 in (4,013 mm) [3]
Width 61 in (1,549 mm)[8]
Height 65 in (1,651 mm)[8]

A completely new car with unitary construction. The engine, with an output of 37 bhp (28 kW) at 4600 rpm[11] was new and was also fitted to the MG TC sports car in a higher state of tune. The chassis was very conventional for the time, with solid axles front and rear, and the suspension used leaf springs all round. The car had a top speed of around 62 miles per hour (100 km/h).[11]

Only saloon bodies with optional sun roof were made for the civilian market but a range of pick up bodies were fitted during World War II as one of among many similar products by British manufactures collectively known by the nickname "Tillies". The car was also assembled in India as the Hindustan 10 .

Postwar models can be distinguished from those made before 1940 by a cosmetic change to the radiator grille, the later versions being rounder, faired in to the engine side panels and without the Morris badge at the top.

Postwar car with new grille

References

  1. ↑ Cars Of 1933. The Times, Thursday, Sep 01, 1932; pg. 7; Issue 46227. (907 words)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sedgwick, M.; Gillies (1989). A-Z of Cars of the 1930s. Devon, UK: Bay View Books. ISBN 1-870979-38-9.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Culshaw; Horrobin (1974). Complete Catalogue of British Cars. London: Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-16689-2.
  4. ↑ Cars Of To-Day. The Times, Tuesday, Oct 11, 1932; pg. 9; Issue 46261
  5. ↑ The Olympia Show. The Times, Friday, Oct 14, 1932; pg. 7; Issue 46264
  6. 1 2 Cars Of 1934. The Times, Monday, Aug 28, 1933; pg. 6; Issue 46534.
  7. 1 2 The Olympia Show. The Times, Saturday, Oct 14, 1933; pg. 7; Issue 46575
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Second Hand car guide supplement". Practical Motorist. 6 Nbr 68: between pages 768 & 769. April 1960.
  9. ↑ Sedgwick, Michael; Gillies Mark (1986). A-Z of Cars 1945–1970. Devon, UK: Bay View Books. ISBN 1-870979-39-7.
  10. ↑ Gavin Farmer, Great Ideas in Motion, A History of Chrysler in Australia, 2010, page 405
  11. 1 2 Robson, Graham (2000). A to Z of British Cars 1945–1980. Devon, UK: Herridge. ISBN 0-9541063-9-3.
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