On the subject of BL's east west engined cars, there was a whole family of
badge engineered stuff.
The mini started the rage (about 1959?), and this was followed reasonably
quickly by the 1100. It was a larger body/floor pan, but had the same running
gear as the mini.
The 1100 was the best selling car in the UK for about a decade. However it
suffered from the usual rust problems. I always enjoyed driving an 1100.
They were badged as Morris, Austin, MG, Riley, Wolseley, and even a Vanden Plas.
Later the 1275GT engine was put into what was called the 1300. Out here in OZ,
we had a different Morris 1300, whihc had an OHC engine and 5 speed gwhich
sounds as though it came out of the Austin Maxi?.
The 1800 was agin the (MGB). This was very like driving a bus, since the
steering wheel was set at the
same sort of angle as the mini. However it gave a tremendous ride. The gear
change wqs activated by cables on the mark 1's, and by rods on the mark 2's.
The 2200 was the last (of my knowledge) and looked like a cross between a TR7
and the 1800. It was very wedge shaped.
The 1800 was known as a "land crab", and the mini is commonly referred to as
a "flying brick" (at least out here in OZ).
There was a good article on the 1100/1300 in Classic Car a few months back.
Arthur
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