Morris

Introduced in 1966, the Morris 1800 was the Morris-badged version of BMC’s innovative ADO17 family, joining the Austin 1800 that had debuted two years earlier. Nicknamed the “Landcrab” because of its unusually wide stance and low-slung proportions, the Morris 1800 offered exceptional interior space, impressive ride comfort and advanced engineering for its time. Designed under the direction of Alec Issigonis and styled with input from Pininfarina, it featured front-wheel drive, Hydrolastic suspension and a remarkably rigid monocoque body. Power came from BMC’s 1,798 cc four-cylinder engine, later joined by a 2,227 cc six-cylinder version marketed as the Morris 2200. Although its unconventional styling divided opinion and early cars required a series of refinements, the Morris 1800 earned a reputation for durability and excellent road holding.

Introduced in May 1968, the Mark II brought a series of improvements. The most obvious changes were a redesigned front grille and new vertical rear lights, giving the car a stronger family resemblance to the smaller 1100 and 1300 models. Inside, the original futuristic dashboard was replaced by a more conventional and cost-effective interior. Mechanical updates included revised gearing, larger wheels and an increase in engine output to 86 hp. Later in 1968, the sporting 1800 S was introduced with twin carburettors and 95 hp, while an even more powerful version followed in 1970.