1938 Morris Commercial 1-Tonne Truck

Morris Motors had offered a commercial derivative of its first passenger car, the Oxford, prior to World War I and,  by the 1920s, the company wanted to expand its model range into heavier commercial vehicles. In 1924 Morris Commercial Cars Ltd. was formed when William Morris took over the factory of axle manufacturer, E.G. Wrigley & Co. Ltd, in Soho, Birmingham.

By 1938, Morris Commercial was a household name, building vehicles for commercial use in a variety of shapes and sizes. On of the most successful was the 1,800cc four-cylinder 1-Tonne Truck, bought in their thousands by small and medium sized businesses.

This rather smart example was purchased for the Cooke Collection in 1977 and restored by the Collection's in-house team during the 1980s. It's finished in traditional coach painted Brown with a green canvas 'tilt', sits on yellow artillery wheels and is fitted with a tow-bar. The drop-sides have been sign-written 'The Coach House - Vintage Museum and Workshops' and the tidy interior is finished in red vinyl.

It's been on display in the Museum for many years enjoying the occasional trip out to a show. We understand that it's running and driving well and is ideal for Historic Commercial Vehicle runs and events.