Morris Isis (1955 – 1958) Review

By the time the Morris Isis replaced the Six in 1954, BMC’s model rationalization process was well underway. Effectively an upmarket version of the mid-range Oxford, it was fitted with Austin’s new C-series 2639cc six-cylinder engine. Styling was pretty similar to that of the Oxford, but the bonnet was necessarily stretched to accommodate the longer engine – and beefed-up suspension and brakes were fitted. The Traveller version was an early version of a people carrier, as it offered a third row of seats, allowing eight people to be carried in relative comfort.

The Isis Traveller also featured a wood panelled around the load area. Performance was reasonable, but handling lacked the finesse of its smaller cousins – and sales were slow as a result. When the Oxford was restyled in 1956, the Isis was re-modelled to match, and the wood-lined estate was dropped from the lineup. Power output was raised to 90bhp at the same time. Effectively the car was marking time to the introduction of the Farina bodied replacement in 1958.