With the exception of the tiny Bond Minicar, most of these other new 1948 models had quite short production lifespans. Especially in comparison to the other more significant new game-changing British cars also first launched 75 years ago, such as the real stars of the now legendary October 1948 London Motor Show at Earls Court, the first British Show to be held since 1939.
Stealing that show in the glamour stakes was the soft-top Jaguar XK, first unveiled as the sporting two-seater XK120. Stylish Coupe and Drop Head models were later added to the XK120 range, up until this model was ultimately replaced by the livelier XK140, which ran from 1952-57. 1957 saw the introduction of the final XK derivative, the more powerful XK150, this model running until 1961, when it was superseded but the infamous Jaguar E-Type/XK-E. In total Jaguar produced 12,061 XKs over the models’ lengthy 13 year life span. This desirable Coventry cat shared the limelight at the ’48 Earls Court Motor Show with another very important (but rather more humble) British Motor car; the Morris Minor.
Affectionately named the ‘Moggie Minor’, this rounded Alec Issigonis family car was built in the UK for 23 years, with the last Minor Traveller (estate) and light commercial versions lasting until 1971. Such was the popularity of the Morris overseas, production of the Moggie continued in New Zealand right up until 1976, to give a 28 year career. The original 1948 Morris Minor was known as the MM, this model, with its low headlights and split windscreen lasting until 1953. Between 1952-56, the Series II Minor continued, giving way to the more powerful Minor 1000 in 1956, powered by a BMC Austin A30 948cc A-Series engine.
In 1962, this motor grew to 1098cc to see the Minor then unchanged until production ceased in 1971, to be replaced by the rather unloved Marina. It is worth noting that the Minor MM shared the Morris display stand at the 48’ Earls Court Show with a pair of other brand new Morris models, both much shorter lived with a more ‘regular’ life span of seven years; the motor industry norm at the time. These were the new Morris Oxford MO and Six, which both shared the Minor’s rotund ‘family look’ styling but in enlarged form, as did the Nuffield Group’s costlier badge-engineered Wolseley 4/50 and 6/80 derivatives, also launched at the same Show.