Lot 284: 1935 Morris Eight four-door saloon (catalogued as Morris) at the Mathewsons December 2026 auction

What to check on any Morris Eight Series I

• Chassis: the side members are channel sections fitted with the open side facing outwards, which traps water and mud. Inspect them along their length, especially near the wheelarches, and look for bodged plating.
• Look for cracks behind the front spring hangers and, less often, the rear ones.
• Wooden framing: saloons have wood in the body frame, including the ash door frames and around the rear wheelarches, and tourers are built entirely around a wooden frame. Removing the rear seat helps you see the framing. Look for rot, splits, missing sections and woodworm.
• Open and close each door. Dropped doors, uneven gaps or doors that need lifting to latch suggest tired or rotten framing. Excessive body shake on the move is another sign.
• Panel rust: check the running boards and their joints with the front wings, door bottoms and around the rear wheelarches. Running boards are relatively easy to remake.
• The side-valve unit uses white metal bearings. Listen for knocking on start-up and check the oil pressure gauge or warning arrangement.

Full Morris Eight Series I buyer's guide →

Checks for this car

• Check the wooden body framing.
• Check the 6 volt electrics.
• Check the brakes.