Highlights

• Well-documented history
• Matching numbers example
• Highly original and in good, drivable order

The Appeal

If you ever wanted proof of Morris's meteoric rise, the Bullnose is doubtless it. While it wasn't dissimilar from the Oxford before it, the Cowley was built for the best possible value for money with a host of American parts. That made it a great potential prospect for international distribution, and at a time when Morris were making up nearly forty five percent of international sales, the Cowley offered simply excellent value that demolished any prospective competition.

When the Continental 'Red Seal' engine from Detroit ceased manufacture, Morris proved so confident in it that they effectively copied it - this time, manufacturing it with the English branch of Hotchkiss, which they later absorbed into what must have seemed like a leviathan of the motor industry to the general public.

Today, the Bullnose cars are evocative chunks of a day gone by. That veteran styling and airy cabin (not to mention a rather precarious looking rumble seat) all summate the very early days of motoring, and thanks to an excellent level of support, they remain very accessible entryways into the world of the truly vintage car.

This example has managed to survive with a remarkable level of originality. Boasting what's believed to have been only four owners from new, there's a lovely, timeworn patina to this lovely little Cowley that we're sure will charm even the most discerning enthusiast - without losing an ounce of the car's usability.

History and Paperwork

• Built in 1922
• First UK Registration in 1937
• Family owned until 1982
• Recommissioned by further owner in Ireland
• Transferred to UK by purchaser in 2016
• Purchased directly by current owner in 2021
• Available receipts for reconditioning of Dynastart and Lucas Magneto
• Well-documented history with all matching numbers

The Condition

• Hood and side screens in good condition
• Lovely general order with an ivory livery
• Some signs of wear and paint loss, commensurate with age
• This is most noticeable around the panel fits and arches
• Patina to the brasswork, commensurate with age
• Wheels carry some paint cracking, which is hardly a surprise for the car's venerable years
• Underside is in solid order with some corrosion and wear
• Cabin carries a charming patina, fitting of its antique nature
• Wooden dash is beautifully aged with a lovely grain
• All instruments are legible, and loaded with vintage charm
• Seats look newer than much of the cabin, and are free of any rips or tears
• Floors appear solid and may have been reboarded over the car's life
• Does not have a speedometer

The Mechanics

• 1.5-Litre four-cylinder engine offering 11.9 HP
• Manual transmission with 3 gears
• Smith's 5 jet carburettor
• Engine bay in good overall order with age-commensurate wear
• As expected, this veteran is a rather primitive machine with:
  • 2 Wheel brakes
  • Speed crash gearbox
  • Manual mixture and timing control
  • Cork clutch
• As a result the vendor highlights that the car requires a lot of sympathetic driving!
• We understand the car to be in good working order
• We've no reports of any specific mechanical issues

BEFORE YOU BUY