› Classic car collection the hobby of a lifetime

A spectacular red vintage car turned heads as it was driven down Oxford Tce last week by Christchurch Hospital’s Senior Operations Manager George Schwass. The 1939 Morris Eight Series E convertible is one of five Morris 8s George has bought and restored over many years. He gave it an outing to collect Interim Regional Director Te Wai Pounamu and Interim District Director Waitaha Canterbury and Te Tai o Poutini West Coast Peter Bramley, along with Christchurch Hospital General Manager Pauline Clark, for an annual trip to the Clinical Coding department in Stewart St. The car is commonly known as an 8/40 – 8 for 8 horsepower and 40 for 40 miles per gallon of petrol, says George. “It was made in England but assembled in Australia. Many were confiscated by the Australian government during World War 2 and used as radio cars for the Home Guard. There are only two left in New Zealand.”

George’s other Morris 8 cars are from 1935 to 1949. Only one of the cars has been given a nickname – Betsy the black one. “I got my driver’s license and Dad paid 100 pounds for it for me. My (now) wife Lynette (43 years married) named her and we took Betsy on beaches, dirt tracks and up mountains when we were courting.”

Senior Operations Manager George Schwass driving Interim Regional Director Te Wai Pounamu Interim District Director Waitaha Canterbury and Te Tai o Poutini West Coast Peter Bramley and Christchurch Hospital General Manager Pauline Clark down Oxford Tce in his 1939 Morris Eight Series E convertible

The (now red) 1939 Morris Eight Series E convertible as it was when George bought it in 2016

George’s collection of five Morris Eight series cars. ‘Betsy’ is second from left