Emir of Kano Abdullahi Bayero Posing With His Customized Morris 8 Gift In 1935

Emir of Kano Abdullahi Bayero seen here posing with his customised Morris 8 gift in 1935

Morris Motors sent the Morris 8 to him, a year after Bayero visited Morris company in England.

The success of Eight enabled Morris Motors to regain its position as Britain’s largest motor manufacturer.

The Morris Eight, first seen in 1935, was the best-selling Morris to date and the most popular British car of the late 1930s. The small family car was produced by Morris Motors from 1935 to 1948.

The Eight tourer was inspired by the sales popularity of the Ford Model Y that entered the market in 1932, with Morris going to the extent of using the same styling and engine with the Model Y.

The success of the Eight enabled Morris Motors to regain its position as Britain’s largest motor manufacturer.

Emir of Kano is one of several local chiefs who visited Morris Motors works in 1934

A year before the Eight entered the market, the Emir of Kano Abdullahi Bayero visited the Morris company in England, and as an act of appreciation, Morris Motors sent him one copy as a gift the following year.

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In a rare picture taken in 1935, the former Emir of Kano Abdullahi Bayero, can be seen posing by his customised 1935 Morris 8.

The Morris 8 was one of several cars in the Emir’s garage. A 1952 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith used for ferrying the Queen of England, Elizabeth II, during her visit to Nigeria in 1956, was acquired by the Emir during his reign.

This luxury car, originally owned by an Armenian-British millionaire Nubar Gulbenkian, which was handed down to successor, Alhaji Mohammed Sanusi I, still sits in the emirate’s garage.

The Rolls-Royce currently wears the Nigerian Green-White-Green colour. It has a customised plate number “Amir Kano”, which means Emir of Kano.

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