THE WORLD’S RAREST WEDGE? – A 1975 MORRIS

This is not just one of the very few surviving Morris-badged Wedges but the first made on the production line. Chassis Number 00099 left Cowley in 1975 and Leyland despatched it to Longbridge to assess the factory’s build quality. Alas, the Morris became lost in the system but was eventually registered and sold in January 1977 – hence the ‘R’ suffix.

When British Leyland staged the press launch for the new ‘18/22’ series on the 13 February 1975, many observers were intrigued to note the Corporation was still using separate Austin, Morris and Wolseley badges. The dealership network was still not fully integrated despite the BMC/Leyland merger taking place over seven years earlier.

Austins sported trapezoidal-shaped headlamps, while the Morris and the Wolseley had a different shaped bonnet and quad lights. BL sold the Austin and Morris 1800/2200 as either a base or an HL (‘High Line’), the latter with a voltmeter, clock, a rear folding armrest, a fuel cap lock and vinyl rear three-quarter panels as standard. Meanwhile, the Wolseley was the undoubted flagship of the range.

However, BL dispensed with the separate Austin, Morris and Wolseley names in September 1975, following the impact of The Ryder Report. Leyland rebranded the 18/22 line-up as the ‘Princess’. The narrative then jumps two decades when the famous classic car writer Nick Larkin acquired a white Morris. He also asked the vendor to inform him of any other Wedges – and they contacted him shortly afterwards with news of a Flamenco Red example in a somewhat dubious state of repair. Naturally, he felt obliged to save it.

The Leyland Princess Enthusiasts’ Club revived this car between 2014 and 2015. W.B. and Sons Ltd. Auctioned the Morris on the 4 December 2021. Simon Hayes of The Leyland Princess and Ambassador Enthusiasts’ Club now takes up the story: “She was used for the drama Outlander but has sat in storage ever since. Her paint appears to have been flatted down (it’s assumed to make her less shiny for filming purposes) and from memory her paint had some reaction so it’s safe to say some recommissioning work and paint will be needed.”

And the Morris is now for sale. Whoever becomes its owner will have the privilege of driving a vital artefact of motoring history.

With thanks to: Simon Hayes and https://www.facebook.com/groups/594848132786017