The Morris Major was an Aussie-made BMC product designed especially for our market and built at Sydney’s Victoria Park factory between 1958 and 1964.

When released, it was a spunky little thing with small tailfins, and was quite advanced under the skin, featuring the willing 1622cc B-series motor, four-speed on the floor, and rack-and-pinion steering. It was no rocket ship, to be sure, but the Morris Major did compete in the Great Race at Phillip Island and in other forms of motorsport. We spotted Dave Thomas’s example at Cooly Rocks On in June, and had to take a closer look.

First published in the September 2026 issue of Street Machine

Mate, this thing is so cool; there are people all over it! How did a young bloke like yourself come to own a 1962 Morris Major?

I’ve been building a ’69 Beetle for 10 years in between house renos, and I wanted something I could take out and enjoy with the family while I finish it. I’ve always liked the shape of these Majors, and when this one popped up, I grabbed it! It was in really good nick, so I’ve just added to it.

It is a little bit of a hot rod – what have you done with it so far?

I put the Minlite rims on it. The motor has twin 1¾in SUs, extractors and a new exhaust system. It made about 50hp at the wheels [laughs]. It will sit on 100km/h okay, but it is really happy at 90km/h.

How do folks react to it?

Because I’ve debadged it, people are often confused – a lot of them think it is the Harry Potter car! But a lot of people remember them as well. We met a couple at Cooly who drove one from Sydney to Surfers for their honeymoon in 1964!

Tell us about the Beetle – are you a VW guy?

I’m not really a VW guy; I just have a passion for all classic cars. I was looking at an early Falcon but ended up seeing the Beetle, and I loved it. It was a classic case of good from afar but far from good. We’ve stripped it totally down, put new floorpans in it, and have been collecting parts. It will be low and slow, with wide, deep-dish steelies on the back.

Does a love of cars run in the family?

For sure! My dad is a mechanic by trade, working in England on Escorts and Cortinas back in the day, so he’s been amazing helping me out with the Morris. Dad and I are both car and bike mad. My daughter has inherited the interest more than my son; she loves getting out in the car.

What is the car scene like on the Tweed?

Really good. There are some great cars-and-coffee events, including some that the Street Takeover guys put on that we really enjoy.

What’s your dream car?

It used to be an AC Cobra, but they aren’t so practical now we have kids. I had a Cobra drive me to my wedding, and my wife surprised me by arriving in a ’55 Chev. So, I would say a ’56 Chev two-door pillarless.