Supplied to the owner of Morris Motors for his use, this car is the prototype for the Oxford F-type ‘Silent Six’, of which only about fifty were ever built due to engine unreliability and cost.

After eight successful years of the now-famous Morris Oxford ‘Bullnose’, named for its distinctive rounded bonnet and radiator design, the Oxford F-type ‘Silent Six’ was Morris Motors’ attempt to move more upmarket with a bigger engine and added luxury.

This prototype boasted a six-cylinder engine and a chassis that were both extended from the standard four-cyclinder ‘Bullnose’. This example has the most luxurious coachwork, with many details reminiscent of Great Western Railway furnishings.

The F-type, however, was not a great success due to severe engine vibration and a tendency for the crankshaft to break. It was also a costly car to produce so Morris wisely chose to concentrate his efforts on the market for cheaper family cars.

When this car was retired from use, it was kept on display in the factory at Cowley, Oxford and later restored by Kennings Ltd of Sheffield in 1977. It is now the only F-type in existence.