Several updates to the original design were introduced, many of these changes intended to make the cars more suitable for the tough Australian driving conditions, and to bolster its competitiveness with top selling rivals such as Holden and Volkswagen.

DO1115 interiors adopted a more supportive new front bench seat, cranked gear selector, dished twin spoke steering wheel, ventilation system (heater optional), and two round instrument clusters housed in a hooded nacelle now located conventionally and common to both models.

The Series II received highly favourable reviews from the motoring press of the time, with its sweeping array of detail improvements, its enhanced handling characteristics and attractive pricing (£997/10s - inflation adjusted to 2015: $29,127.00 AUD)[7] earning much praise.

The Elite was powered by the enlarged 1622 cc engine [11] with greater performance, this version employing a Zenith VN type carburettor with a dry element air filter and Goss mechanical fuel pump.

Telescopic rear shock absorbers, stronger fine spline axle shafts,[12] seat belt mounting points and uprated front suspension rubbers featured among other technical revisions.

A visually striking facelift was achieved with only minimal changes to sheet metal; this constituted bright window surrounds, a new full width radiator grille closely resembling that of the Mk VI Morris Oxford, and a "rocket" colour flash on the tailfins.

The retail price was also lowered from the previous Series II listing (to £940/0/0 - or, approximately $25,952.44 AUD when adjusted for inflation in 2015),[7] making this already highly competitive Major an outstanding value package in the somewhat volatile auto market of 1962.