Description
Pavilion Gardens | Buxton, Derbyshire
Viewing: Tues 28th April 2026 from 12pm
Auction: Wed 29th April 2026 from 9am
Location: St John's Rd, Buxton SK17 6BE
1933 Morris Cowley Six Saloon
Extensively restored between 2014 and 2016
Estimate
£12, 000 - £15, 000
Registration No: CG 5914
Chassis No: 974
MOT: Exempt
Desirable six-cylinder pre-war Morris, and the oldest known survivor to the Morris Register
Purchased by the vendor in 2014 as a complete restoration project
Lavished with an extensive restoration over the following two years, and still presents very well
Just c. 1, 000 miles covered since the completion of the restoration, and a regular show attendee thereafter
After the popular ‘Bullnose’ and ‘Flatnose’ Cowley models of the 1920s, Morris modernised considerably in the 1930s, and participated in the craze for six-cylinders. A new range of sixes commenced with the Isis, a sizeable SOHC machine of 2, 468cc, and the sidevalve Oxford Six of 1, 938cc. Both were announced in August, 1929. A more junior model, the Major, was announced for 1931 and consisted of a 1, 803cc sidevalve engine dropped into a reinforced Cowley chassis. A big brother, the 3, 485cc Morris Twenty-Five, also sidevalve, débuted at the 1932 Motor Exhibition. A big restyling occurred for 1934, and it saw the Major renamed the Cowley Six while growing to 1, 938cc (the Oxford had been increased to 2, 062cc for 1933). Strictly speaking, it was only produced for one year, as it was renamed again as the 15/ 6 for 1935. Like all its 1934 siblings, the Cowley had a four-speed gearbox with synchromesh on the upper three, dipping headlights, hydraulic shock absorbers, leather upholstery, hydraulic brakes, trafficators, and safety glass. Offered as a fixed-head or sliding-head Saloon, or the trendy Special Coupé, only around 3, 960 1934 Cowley Sixes were produced and there may be as few as fifteen survivors in Britain.
This beautifully restored Cowley Six Saloon with sunshine roof is a very special survivor. As car number 974 with engine number 15150, it is the oldest surviving Cowley Six on the Morris Register’s database. Built in late 1933 for the 1934 model year, it was registered in Hampshire on November 22nd, but the handwritten notes reveal it was first owned by two brothers who bought it through a friend in the garage trade. The brothers were Henry Charles Hart and William Thomas Grimstead Hart of Lowes Farm, Barton St. David, Somerset, and they drove it for 27 years. It required no major repairs, but was apparently laid up in 1962 and left at the side of the road.
It re-entered DVLA records in 1983 with Roderick Williams of Marston Magna. He sold it in 1992, and the next owner retained it until 2014, when it departed Somerset for the first time to live with our vendor. It needed restoration, and sections of the wooden frame were renewed as necessary. The rear wings were replaced, the car was repainted, and the clutch and brakes were overhauled. However, the interior remains wonderfully original, and the engine required no restoration, just routine servicing. Its post-restoration début was at the Morris Register’s Thoresby Hall rally in 2016. It has since covered 1, 000 miles, mainly attending shows, and has appeared at the NEC. The history file includes a buff logbook, an old V5 and the V5C, plus pre-restoration photos, and an original operating manual and lubrication chart.
** Bidding will take place live at the venue, online via our H&H website, by telephone and commission - T&Cs apply**
Parking and entry into the auction is free for auction attendees with a catalogue, available at the door.
Catalogues can be purchased for £20 (admits 2 people).
