Partly the reason why Morris badged versions of the FWD cars were made was to remedy the perception of Morris being neglected under BMC as well as to use the FWD cars as another way to integrate the BMC range after the Farina B / Farina C.
My contention though is that BMC should not have fully committed to FWD for all models early on, rather Morris should have been allowed to properly utilize its mechanicals to produce a profitable yet related range of conventional RWD cars possibly with independent suspension from the early-1960s onwards until the issues with the FWD have been ironed out to gradually be adopted over time across much of the Morris range.
The ATL Morris range could have produced an entry-level 3-box 2-door saloon car say Morris Farina to either sit between both the Austin Mini and Austin ADO16 or a shade above the Austin ADO16 in terms of size (think Vauxhall Viva HA / Ford Anglia 105E) to replace both the Austin A40 Farina and Morris Minor. The early 2/4-door Morris Marina meanwhile would sit between the Austin ADO16 and Austin ADO17 in terms of size and engines (butterflying away the OTL Austin Maxi whose elements would be adopted by updated versions of ADO16), with a larger RWD Morris 2/4-door saloon model loosely derived from the MG Magnette ZB sitting between the Austin ADO17 and Austin 3-litre (unless the latter is rebadged under another marque).
That is assuming Morris goes completely down the conventional RWD route as opposed to producing RWD cars with Hydrolastic / Hydragas suspension. As for ATL Morris not receiving an equivalent of the Austin Mini, the Morris Farina should be adequate as an effective and profitable challenger to steal sales from its RWD rivals until the late-1960s / early-1970s, where it could be replaced by a BMC equivalent of the Renault 7 and Volkswagen Derby if the issues of the FWD layout have already been ironed out by that point.
My contention though is that BMC should not have fully committed to FWD for all models early on, rather Morris should have been allowed to properly utilize its mechanicals to produce a profitable yet related range of conventional RWD cars possibly with independent suspension from the early-1960s onwards until the issues with the FWD have been ironed out to gradually be adopted over time across much of the Morris range.
The ATL Morris range could have produced an entry-level 3-box 2-door saloon car say Morris Farina to either sit between both the Austin Mini and Austin ADO16 or a shade above the Austin ADO16 in terms of size (think Vauxhall Viva HA / Ford Anglia 105E) to replace both the Austin A40 Farina and Morris Minor. The early 2/4-door Morris Marina meanwhile would sit between the Austin ADO16 and Austin ADO17 in terms of size and engines (butterflying away the OTL Austin Maxi whose elements would be adopted by updated versions of ADO16), with a larger RWD Morris 2/4-door saloon model loosely derived from the MG Magnette ZB sitting between the Austin ADO17 and Austin 3-litre (unless the latter is rebadged under another marque).
That is assuming Morris goes completely down the conventional RWD route as opposed to producing RWD cars with Hydrolastic / Hydragas suspension. As for ATL Morris not receiving an equivalent of the Austin Mini, the Morris Farina should be adequate as an effective and profitable challenger to steal sales from its RWD rivals until the late-1960s / early-1970s, where it could be replaced by a BMC equivalent of the Renault 7 and Volkswagen Derby if the issues of the FWD layout have already been ironed out by that point.