Mors Model A

Emile Mors built his first automobile in 1895, following the design of employee Henri Brasier.

In 1897 Mors entered production with a V4 engine with water-cooled cylinder heads and air-cooled barrels. The power unit was mounted under the bench seat to allow easy access. By 1898 Mors had produced nearly 200 vehicles.

The ‘Petit Duc’ of 1898 was the first front-engine car from the company, and with 850cc flat-twin power unit. The car had three forward and three reverse gears, with a cone clutch and drive to the rear wheels by chain. Handlebar steering was replaced by a wheel in 1901.

Emile Mors was one of the first manufacturers to recognise that success in motor racing would improve both the ‘breed’ and sales, his cars proving to be the equal of Panhard-Levassor in Grand Prix and Gordon Bennett races, famously, with driver Henri Fournier. Mors ended racing in 1908 when the company hit financial difficulties. Andre Citroen joined the company in 1909 and under his management business improved until the company was absorbed into Citroen’s own concern in 1925.

About this vehicle

This is an original, and now extremely rare, 1899 ‘Petit Duc’ with folding ‘dickey’ seat at the rear and with handlebar steering. 

With the registration F7 it was the first privately taxed car in Essex, registered in January 1904 (when it first became law to register motor vehicles) to the Rev. RVO Graves, the previous six numbers having been allotted to Essex County Council. 

The car was purchased in Paris in September 1899 for the equivalent of £262.10s and imported to England the following month by Frank Wellington, a well-known motor engineer, salesman and racing driver of the time. The Rev. Graves, who was vicar at Tolleshunt d’Arcy for 55 years and died in 1942, age 84, sold the car in 1928 to a Mr Drake of nearby Maldon.

It is said that Mr Drake bought the Mors for its engine which he needed to power his saw bench. Whether this ever happened we don’t know, but we do know that Richard Shuttleworth purchased the car in 1930.

Old information says the car ran on the 1900 London to Brighton run, but there was no event in that year and checks have been unable to substantiate it taking part in any similar car runs of that period.

Specification