1970 Morris 1800 Mk.

II Saloon – 36,000 miles from new and never restoredReg.

no.

XMO 162HChassis no.

MHS8 18852AEngine no.

18H 303BH 1427When it came to designing BMC’s new 1800 range of large family cars, Sir Alec Issigonis took the formula that had worked so well with the Mini and 1100 – transverse engine, front wheel drive – and applied it on a larger scale.

The result, in 1964, was a vehicle that was very different from most of its domestic competition, which stuck to a traditional layout and would continue to do so for at least another decade.

The ‘Landcrab’ - as it came to be known due to its distinctive proportions - reaped several benefits from this different direction; like with Issigonis’ smaller cars, the interior space was maximised by the lack of a transmission tunnel, with all Landcrabs being extremely comfortable places to sit.

Comfort was also enhanced by the Hydrolastic suspension system.

This coped superbly on bumpy roads, and together with the extremely hig...