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1956 Morris Isis MkI

1956 Morris Isis MkI in My Week with Marilyn, Movie, 2011 IMDB

Class: Cars, Sedan — Model origin: UK

1956 Morris Isis MkI

Position 00:05:10 [*] Background vehicle

Owner of this vehicle: Denters

Comments about this vehicle

AuthorMessage

dsl SX

2012-05-26 03:36

1956-8 Morris Isis S2.

johnfromstaffs EN

2012-05-26 09:19

Sorry to be picky, but this is not correct. The car is an Isis Series I from 1956. The flat bonnet, air scoop in front of the windscreen and rounded rear wings are the main features showing the difference, the style of front grille shown, while used on all Series II cars was introduced on the Series I earlier in 1956. Since the total production of Series I was only 8,541, this is a very rare car. The Series II is even rarer, having sold only 3,614 during its run.

The styling cues adopted on the Isis SII can be seen on the Oxford SIII in the background.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/philippos/4439576060/

-- Last edit: 2012-05-26 17:14:02

dsl SX

2012-05-26 12:06

@john - no apology needed - I've learned something.

johnfromstaffs EN

2012-05-26 17:10

It always seems impolite just to make a bald statement, especially as we all do this for fun.

I've wondered why the big Morrises never sold well. The Six Series MS only sold half as many as the Wolseley 6/80, and Isis sales were pathetic compared with the pre-Farina Westminsters at just over 12,000 compared with 60,000 Austins. From memory, the Austins were always a bit cheaper than the Morris, and a bit more flash, although their coil spring front suspension was too soft and bouncy, especially when worn. The other thing would be the better trimmed Wolseleys and the seperate 6/90 model which sold 12,000 cars during the period, no doubt overshadowing the Morris. If you could afford to run a thirsty six cylinder car why not get a Wolseley, or even go for a Riley?

BMC must have learnt something, there was never a big Farina Morris, and the only big cars offered subsequently were Australian, except the 1800/2200 Landcrabs.

-- Last edit: 2012-05-26 17:11:36

dsl SX

2012-05-27 06:17

Interesting - for me (um - how do I say this politely?) somewhat younger, Austin and Morris were largely interchangeable - no residual difference in image or stature. Even the idea that early 70s Morris was boring (rwd Marina) and Austin exciting (fwd Allegro) collapsed because the Allegrot was so crap. Have just read Robson Cars of BMC and can see why the Austin Morris divide existed and its roots, but it had largely healed for my childhood. Read a comment recently that there were instructions from the top that all works rally Mini Cooper S had to mix and match their brand badges to avoid any apparent favouritism, and this was forced onto works-supported teams racing Cooper S as well. I do remember being puzzled when vans suddenly sprang the wrong badge late in their lives (eg Austin Minor, Morris A60). Robson also mentions that there was very nearly a Morris Maxi - interesting thought whether that would have lifted the model into sales success or a wise decision that it was never going to succeed, whatever efforts were flung at it.

johnfromstaffs EN

2012-05-27 08:42

I do not care about my age, no worries. At 64 I am just about to leave home to go racing my 16 foot dinghy with my crew who is ten years older than me - and we do well!

Another thought about large Morris sales, until the introduction of the MO Oxford and MS Six their largest post WW2 car was the Ten Series M at 1142cc. Perhaps the car buying public had not been educated into thinking that large cars could be had from Morris Motors, you bought a Wolseley instead. I come from a Morris owning family, starting with an early thirties Major before my time, then a 1936 Ten which I do remember, Oxfords from MO to Series III, and Minors from 1952 MM to 1960 1000, the last Morris Dad had being a Landcrab 1800.

Dad only bought one "Rootesian" car, a 1978 Chrysler 2-litre.

chris40 UK

2012-05-27 09:25

Is it perhaps significant that, until well into the BMC era, there were separate dealer networks for Austin and ex-Nuffield marques?
I always thought that the S1 & S2 Isises were odd-looking cars. The longer bonnet ruined the proportions of the Oxford bodies, which were strange at the time but very practical.

Denters

2013-04-12 15:22

This is my brother's Isis.

Shortly I'm taking it for three days of filming on 'Breathless' (a forthcoming ITV period drama) in which the lead character, played by Jack Davenport, 'owns' the car.

Last year it was used in the 'Endeavour' pilot.

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