Description
Recently brought to the UK, this excellent -running Bullnose is one of very few surviving Morris Oxfords with the 2-door cabriolet-style bodywork featuring wind-up glass windows. In the past we have sold a similar car and at the time, we were told that the Bullnose Club knew of only three survivors. This may become the fourth! The car, first registered on September 13th 1924 comes to us from the Isle of Man, and the fact that it has original cast-alloy IOM number plates would indicate that it was on the island since at least the mid-1930s and probably from new. The Isle of Man Public Records Office register S29/ 2/ 2 is described as a ‘Register of motor cars and heavy motor vehicles with the license plates MN 2040- MN 5791. The register collects the following information: - 'Index Mark & No. on Identification Plates'; - 'Full Name of Owner and Postal Address of his usual Residence'; - 'Description or Type of Car'; - 'Type and Colour of Body of Car'; - 'Weight Unladen'; - 'Whether intended for (a) Private Use (b) Use for Trade Purpose (c) Use as a Public Conveyance'; - 'Date of Registration'; - 'If Cancelled, Date of Cancellation'. At the back of the volume there is a register of heavy motor vehicles which uses the same number sequence. 1 volume Jun 1922-Nov 1928.
Since MN 3366 is in the middle of this series, it seems likely that it was indeed registered as a new car on the island. The register seems to be available for public viewing. Tracing the history of this car will be interesting, and the Bullnose Morris Club is sure to be interested in this ultra-rare car. This Morris Oxford features prominently in our latest YouTube Pre-War cars video where the car can be seen running and driving. It has been in storage since the sad passing of its last owner, but with fresh fuel and the fitting of a new battery, the old girl fired back into life quickly. The engine has excellent oil pressure, it has a sound clutch and both the gearbox and axle function perfectly. Th seating which appears to be upholstered in Rexene may be original but that will be something for the new owner to discover. It has a working battery isolator and the dynamotor is lively. The original ‘smoker's companion' with two pipes, match holder and ash tray are a lovely period feature as is the flower vase. At present the charging system is not working but that may just be a fuse issue. We have priced this exceedingly rare 100-year-old car attractively, leaving ample scope for the new owner to carry out a few cosmetic improvements to this wonderful piece of British Motoring history.
