Introduced in October of 1948, the Morris Oxford MO was not only one of the Nuffield group’s first post World War II releases, it also set a new trend as one of four cars produced by the group (the Morris Six, the Wolseley 4/50 and Wolseley 6/80) that shared the same basic hull/four-door passenger cabin.

The MO stood out as the only one of the four to be fitted with a brand-new side valve 1476cc engine. It also boasted the shortest wheelbase them all.

The UK motor trade of the time wasted little time in illuminating the very strong resemblance between the Oxford MO and the Minor.

There were those thais went as far as saying that the Minor looked like an MO that had shrunk in the wash".

Apart from the MO's front grille, which was slightly more elaborate than on the Minor, the Oxford was almost an exact enlarged facsimile of its more compact stable mate.

Sir Alec Issigonis played a crucial role in the design and development of the Morris Oxford MO, which made its debut in 1948. This car represents a significant aspect of his early work at Morris Motors prior to his rise to prominence as the designer of the Mini.

The Morris Oxford MO represents a significant post-war design, with Issigonis being one of the foremost engineers of that era. His involvement with the Oxford MO was significant, as it effectively highlighted his talents and design philosophy, particularly his focus on simplicity and innovative engineering solutions.

The Morris Oxford MO, while more conventional in design than Issigonis's later Mini, nonetheless showcases principles that define his approach, particularly his emphasis on practicality and robust engineering.

The MO was distinguished by its unitary construction, representing an innovative approach for its era and serving as a precursor to the more advanced designs that Issigonis would later pioneer in his career.

Although the slogan was never used in any of Morris’s sales literature, the general feeling on the street was that if you wanted a Minor, but one with more power, luxury and space, the next step up from the small Morris was the Oxford MO.

Once again history would prove that the Minor was a much superior car, with the MO generally failing to capture the public's imagination, meaning a much shorter production life, just six years compared to the Minor's 23.

The Morris Oxford MO featured a 1.5-liter (1476 cc) side-valve, inline-four engine, recognised as the Morris USHM2 engine. The USHM2 represents a pre-war design, delivering approximately 40 horsepower. Straightforward and durable, the USHM2 engine characteristic of its time, engineered for reliability and ease of maintenance over performance, sufficient for the Oxford MO’s role as a practical, family-oriented saloon car.

Independent front suspension (by torsion bars) was fitted, but its effectiveness was questionable, forcing Morris to fit telescopic shock absorbers in 1950.

  Changes to the Oxford MO during its production run were minimal. In 1952 a two-door Traveller estate appeared, while later a  van and pick-up versions were also released.

The Morris Oxford MO was finally replaced by the Oxford Series II in May 1954.