A CONVOY of Cowley-built cars were today driven from the place they were made to the former home of the man who started motor manufacturing in the city 104 years ago.

In 1913, Sir William Morris, later Lord Nuffield, saw the first Morris Oxford – known as the Bullnose because of the distinctive shape of its radiator – roll off the assembly line.

Yesterday, between 10 and 14 cars were driven to Nuffield Place to mark the reopening on the estate to the public for this year.

Classic car enthusiast Tanya Field said the event was now an important and established date in the Cowley heritage calendar since she first organised the trip in 2013 when the plant celebrated its centenary.

Nuffield Place closes to the public in the winter, but is reopened every spring by the National Trust.

The cars in the convoy were parked throughout the day in the grounds of the estate, which has been preserved to appear as it would have done in the time when Lord Nuffield lived there.

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith waved the convoy off from the Mini Plant in Cowley. Plant spokesman Steve Wrelton said: “This is a great event that celebrates the fantastic heritage of car manufacturing on this site. It’s very fitting that so many models associated with the plant are making the journey."