One of the best-known and most readily recognised vintage cars, the Bullnose Oxford had its roots in the Edwardian era.

The first examples, fitted with 8.9hp White & Poppe engines, were manufactured in 1913, embodying Morris' successful formula of offering technically unexciting but well built and well equipped cars at a bargain price.

Production at Morris' Cowley factory began in March 1913 and by the end of that first year, 393 cars had been sold.

The Oxford and its close relation, the Continental-engined Cowley, evolved gradually, both models switching to engines made by Hotchkiss' Coventry subsidiary in 1919.

A close copy of the Continental, the Hotchkiss engine was made in 1,548cc, 11.9hp form initially, a larger (1,802cc) 13.9hp version becoming available in 1923.

The Oxford received the larger 1,800cc 13.9hp unit with a 3-speed manual gearbox.

Being essentially a French firm making machine gun parts in the Great War, Hotchkiss steadfastly produced their engines with metri...