The six-volt Lucas lamps were a set of five, powered by a belt-driven dynamo fixed to the engine by its cylinder head studs.

There was diamond-patterned buttoned upholstery in real leather set off by mahogany cappings, and a proper door for the driver.

[1] Although first shown to the press in April 1915, the new car was not generally available until late summer that year, just when the government suddenly imposed the McKenna duties.

Three thousand engines were despatched to Morris but more than half were lost by enemy action while crossing the Atlantic, leaving around 1,500 sets of certain chassis components unsold.

It was the basic model of the Morris two-car range of the time with the Oxford, which used the same 1.5L 26 bhp engine until 1923, having leather upholstery and upgraded lighting as the de-luxe version.

The chassis was new and the suspension was updated with semi-elliptic leaf springs all round plus Smiths friction-type scissor shock absorbers.

Interesting to note that the rear brake drums include two sets of shoes, one of which is connected directly to the handbrake.

In common with the rest of the Morris range the coachwork of the now six models of Cowley was redesigned for a more pleasing appearance – with a fashionable "eddy-free" leading edge to the roof of closed cars, petrol tanks located at the rear of the chassis, chrome finish to all bright parts, and Magna-type wire wheels as standard.

[4] A revised ("transformed" said the advertising) lower body with a new 11.9 hp engine behind a new, sloping, radiator and still of the same 1548 cc was announced 28 August 1933 along with a four-speed Twin-Top synchromesh gearbox, shorter stronger cruciform chassis, leather upholstery, draught excluders over the gear lever and pedal slots and a battery master switch (in case of fire).

[7][8] Additional equipment included bumpers front and rear and luggage grid and parcel net From late 1934 this car was badged Morris Twelve Four.

Announced 28 August 1933 the 1934 Cowley Six replaced the Morris Major keeping the same 1938 cc six cylinder, side valve engine but with a new lower chassis.

Along with all other Morris cars the Cowley now has a synchromesh four-speed gearbox, dipping headlights, hydraulic shock absorbers, leather upholstery, hydraulic brakes, rear petrol tank, direction indicators, safety glass, battery master switches and automatic ignition.

It was essentially a budget version of the Morris Oxford Series III with less chrome, no heater, fixed front quarter lights and a simplified dashboard.

[13] The monocoque body shell was that of the four door Morris Oxford Series II, the Cowley also sharing its torsion beam front suspension and live rear axle but with smaller 8 in (203 mm) brake drums on early models.

[17] It was introduced in 1956, replacing the Morris Cowley MCV and was offered in van, pick-up and chassis-cab body styles.