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`It was a terrible old thing, but, well, we had no option.' - Sir Alec Issigonis, commenting on the forced change to use the side valve engine from the 1934 Morris Eight rather than the flat four developed along with the Morris Minor Bodyshell.
The Motor TAX
Prior to the introduction of the Morris Minor, the British government taxed cars based on the size of the cylinder bore. This enforced a design that was `tall, ungainly and expensive'. It was argued - by Miles Thomas (the Chief executive of Nuffield (Morris)), that freedom from the bore tax ment an engine could be built sturdy, light and cheap. Victory in changing the assement method of the motor tax was a two edged sword for the Morris Minor.The Effect on the Morris Minor
The changes to the motor tax assement removed the need to restrict the Morris Minor to 800cc. `So instead of persevering with the flat four engine', Thomas argued, `what easier than to take the engine of the Morris Eight ... and fit it into the new body'. This had both advantages and disadvantages:advantages
- no delay in launching the car to test a new engine.
- tried and true, giving reliability from the start.
- no expensive retooling required to manufacture the new engine.
disadvantages
- old fashioned engine design.
- steering geometry compromised (taller engine).
- a performance edge given to competitors.
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All text and some images are © Kris Bubendorfer 1996, and the text may be freely copied and republished in any form on the condition the source is acknowledged.