Morris Oxford 1963

They are such a nice looking car,.. would be good if a few more got a bit of treatment (obviously have stock ones is also good ) ...

Trying to work out the heritage for "in keeping" engine swaps. I guess it's BL .. so Rover? K-Series?

I think it could very easily take a bit of lowering and larger steels (14 or 15") ,.. bit of dish to them would be good.. or some spacers to get them out a bit more and fill those arches. I love the grill on it.

That's such a cool motor I'd love to see one like with all modern high performance running gear so it handles and goes but absolutely stock bodied. Kind of like the pro touring thing they do on muscle cars in the states. Just imagine this one low with some nice dished 17's on it, low profiles and maybe a slight tint on the glass. I'd keep the inside stock but maybe retrim in soft leather and install a very subtle stereo and some a/c.

There's probably not a lot without getting into major surgery. MGB engine and brakes would be fairly simple I'd guess. I'd be just as happy cruising it around as is

I guess I've kinda got to respond to this haven't I

Wheels are 4 x 4.5" and 15" TR6 wheels are bolt ons. Same stud pattern as MGB & Stag. That stud pattern also opens up options of a lot of the J stuff too!

Easiest engine upgrade is 1800 MGB though it is a little more involved than just bolting it on unless you find an early 3 bearing 1800. MGB motor can eb tuned to around 120hp with out spending too much but a newer engine might make more sense if you wanted more power. I have seen photos of one with a Montego Diesel engine in so that would imply that other later Rover engines would go in without too much difficulty.

The drums are pretty good and I have heard that just adding a remote servo can improve them quite a bit unless you are circuit racing or driving down mountains regularly. MGB discs can be adapted to fit and I'll be doing it with mine soon and while it isn't directly bolt on stuff there's not too much invovled. No ones ever written it down though so I'll be trying to put that right!

Finally as a plug, if you're planning on keeping the car any length of time can I suggest you join the Cambridge-Oxford OC. Its a great forward thinking club and there's always loads of spares advertised in the magazine. If you need anything at the moment then there's two main specialists, Earlpart near Derby and NTG in Ipswich. Many service parts are common with the MG's though - I bought a spin on filter conversion from Moss as they were doing them cheap a while ago.


Oh, a pic of mine ;D

Gotta agree with Seth - my A60 truck's running a 3 bearing MGB engine with an unknown hopped-up cam, mildly reworked head, very light flywheel, electronic ignition and twin choke downdraft Webber conversion, all hooked up to the original 'crash-first' 4-on-the-tree. Oh, and the original very narrow drums! Goes very well, stops eventually! That'll be getting TR6 wheels and an MGB disc conversion (only the uprights, with an aftermarket 'huge disc and caliper' conversion), and maybe lowered further on coilovers...
Dale

I'm glad I'm getting a positive response from the forum and people like my old farina . Lots of good ideas! I think, for the time being atleast id like to keep it fairly original. Can an overdrive MGB gearbox be made to fit? I'm hoping to use it as a wedding car in December, but at the minute its no where near good enough. Ill start tarting it up but if its not done in time ill have to hire a Daimler limo (maybe i can have it slammed by the limo firm:))

Ive got the farina brocure from earlpart, although the first time I went there for parts for my MK2 2.5PI I was quickly ushered out after seeing the old cambridges in the yard and remarking "I used to race those" The cup of tea I had been promised quickly vanished too.

I'm thinking of joining the COOC as theres a club sticker on the windscreen and they may know some of the cars history, Ive been on the forum a few times but its prety dead in there (understatement of the century)

Ive got a set of refurbed stag alloys with new fat tyres that I may try out, just to see how they look, but I'm imagining they must look pretty cack.

Very nice car BTW Seth. It looks like a 57 Chevy (or similar!) Do the Oxford/Cambridge purists have much to say about it?

Some people look down the end of their nose at you if you have the incorrect battery or tyres. "not as Morris intended"

Oxfords and Cambridges are now very very old. Isnt the fact that it still exists and is being enjoyed enough? Thats got to be the most important thing.

there very loosely based around the minor mechanics, as was the marina.. and most other bl stuff! A popular minor mod is (or was) to put the fiat twink in, with a bit of bellhousing modding, brake upgrades marina/mgb ital etc i have an old magazine with an article by the beardmore brothers i think somewhere about think its a street machine from the 80's!
a period fast farina could be powered by an mga motor which is a reworked b series. (twin cam setup i think?) but these are probarbly quite rare!
there is a telescopic rear shock kit for the mgb, that looks like it will go straight on an oxford, also there are companies that recon the old lever arm type armstrong/ aftermarket units
if you get stuck with anything, wiring, grease nipple locations etc i have a oxford haynes manual, with all that stuff in! (get a grease gun if you don't allready have one! theres nipples everywhere!)

Hi Silvermachine, how much would you want for the oxford manual? I had read theres alot of grease nipples on the thing, last time I was at my parents my dad dug out an old grease gun he used to use on his Ital van although if I'm honest I don't know how to use it! I havent even got a set of feeler gauges but my mussus grandad says he has a set stashed away.

Owning a "mature" car is alot more involved than a modern machine where all you have to do is add petrol and change the oil once in a while. Great fun though.

Saying about banger drivers, I bought this car from a banger driver, who had bought it from another driver with a blown engine. It was one of those cars that was "too good to race" so he dropped a low mileage engine and box in and flogged it to me. Ive had nothing but support from my banger racing chums, and lots of offers of parts and advice.

I'm going onto the COOC website now so find out how to join.. looks like its a must do for any farina owner.

Just had a thought... I'm sure I remember someone telling me that some sherpa van parts fit. Is this true?